9 pickets arrested at Westchester bus depot; mediator called in (Bee-Line)

[struggle4progress]

<snip> "We can't just stand there when they send buses out with nonmembers behind the wheel," Winberry said. "When they provoke confrontation they make it that much harder to reach a settlement."

The strike by 568 drivers has kept the county Bee-Line, which is operated by Liberty Lines, off the streets since March 3, forcing 55,000 riders to seek alternate transportation.

Liberty Lines spokesman Geoff Thompson denied that the bus that left the depot in Valhalla was being used to train replacement drivers. He said the driver was part of a training program that was under way before the strike.

Meanwhile, the union called in a federal mediator, Peter Donatello, to assist the contract talks when they resume Wednesday morning in Rye Brook. <snip>

http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--busstrike0329mar29,0,5345494.story?coll=ny-region-apnewyork