Union leader claims Intercity Transit’s lawyer proposed mediation

A union leader aiding Intercity Transit’s bus operators claimed the lawyer representing the transportation agency in contract negotiations has proposed entering mediation.

Michael Cornelius, a Amalgamated Transit Union international vice president, told Intercity Transit Authority's Board of Directors that Jonathan Lee, of Summit Law, requested mediation in their last bargaining session. He made his remarks on March 19.

ATU 1765, which also represents dial-a-lift dispatchers and customer care representatives, has been in negotiations for a new contract since November 2024.

The workers are still working with a contract as the provisions of the last agreement are in effect without a new one. The most recent contract expired at the end of last year.

Cornelius, who supports the union in bargaining sessions, believed neither the union nor the agency would benefit from mediation as it would only prolong negotiations. Entering mediation would mean having a third-party mediator to settle the negotiation.

He rejected the proposal, saying they have been continuing to make progress, and the union has narrowed its demands to two issues.

The first is wage increase, specifically during the second and third year of the contract.

According to Cornelius, the agency and the union have agreed to a 7% increase for 2025. On March 5, an update by IT staff to their board of directors mentioned the agency was offering a 4.25% increase while the union was requesting 8%.

As for the second and third year, Cornelius said the union is now requesting a 5% increase for both years while the agency was offering 3.5% and 3%, respectively.

The second remaining issue for the union is how the terms “serious” and “accidents” are understood in the contract, something Cornelius said they could return to after the contract has been ratified.

Cornelius also urged the board to act on the contract now, saying they have the authority to direct the agency.

“The last time I checked, it says ‘authority board,’ and that usually means that you have some authority here. It usually doesn't mean that you just yield your authority to local managers that are supposed to work under your direction,” Cornelius said.

“I don't know what the motivation is. I know (Jonathan) Lee. I think he's a good man. I think he represents his clients well and effectively, but if this goes to mediation, you're not benefiting, our members are benefiting, but the law firm, as a matter of actual fact, certainly benefits from that.”

Cornelius was joined by 17 other people who gave oral comments in support of the union during the board’s meeting. While several of those people were members of the union, there were also residents who went to the meeting just to express solidarity.

Before the meeting ended, Board member Kelly Von Holtz suggested amending the agenda so they could have a closed session, to which the board agreed to.

It was mentioned that the purpose of the session was to discuss “labor and collective bargaining matters.” Originally planned for just 15 minutes, the session was extended to continue for an additional hour.