Transit dispute put scare in national unions [View All]

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/mostread/s_600758.html

By Jim Ritchie
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, November 30, 2008

The AFL-CIO intervened in Allegheny County's transit talks because the contract dispute became a threat to labor agreements everywhere, a local labor expert said.

The labor group representing 10.5 million workers mediated a proposed contract between Port Authority and its drivers union to prevent any possible backlash against labor that could be generated by a strike, and to avoid contract problems for other unions.

"What we're seeing is truly unique," said James Craft, a University of Pittsburgh business professor. "I've never seen a situation where the AFL-CIO acts as an intermediary."

The potential for a transit strike and a union-busting contract occurring in arguably the nation's greatest labor city just before the inauguration of a pro-labor president was unsettling to labor leaders.

"Number one, they wanted to prevent the black eye of shutting down the transit system in Pittsburgh and two, they don't want to mess around with this business of an employer imposing a contract," Craft said.

The union and Port Authority announced a tentative agreement Tuesday.

FULL story at link.