St. Louis - MetroLink, buses running on time today
Metro's buses and light-rail trains were running on normal timetables today despite fears that labor strife would interrupt service on the region's largest transit system.
Leaders of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 788 promised last week that operators, mechanics and clerical staff would not walk off the job early this week. The union has authorized a strike.
Metro and the Amalgamated Transit Union are meeting with an arbitrator. Metro wants to make changes to retirement benefits for new hires. The union objects to the changes and has also expressed concern about salary and medical benefits.
Metro President John Nations said there was a slight uptick in absences among MetroLink operators this morning. While there might be one or two absences under normal conditions, five operators called in with absences. Metro supervisors filled in for the absent operators.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/traffic/along-for-the-ride/d62a9eb1-418e-58e1-aafe-8e83d0e662b3.html
