UTU downplays transit zones
LOS ANGELES -- General Chairperson James A. Williams, who represents UTU workers on the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), believes the recently resurrected plans for a separate San Fernando Valley bus district amount to "much ado about nothing."

Early last month, local officials intent on trying to spin off a new transit agency from the MTA heard a consultant's report that gave, at best, a cautious assessment of the initiative, generously terming it "feasible."

For the San Fernando Valley Transportation Zone Interim Joint Powers Authority, it was enough encouragement to revive an idea that faces strong opposition, and not just from UTU members.

The pro-zone Joint Powers Authority, which had been set to dissolve at the end of December, voted to remain in existence and continue pursuing what was recently thought to be a dead-end project. In addition, the Joint Powers Authority also moved to request from the MTA and the Southern California Association of Governments up to $300,000 to proceed with additional feasibility studies.

Those looking to create a breakaway transit zone claim the idea is to provide more efficient service with more local control.

UTU OPPOSES PLAN
Those opposed to the plan, including the UTU, point out that the so-called efficiencies come primarily from an attempt to avoid existing labor contracts through the creation of a new transit agency.

"Apparently, those who are now grabbing headlines by reviving their doomed proposals for spin-off transit districts have a poor grasp of the economic realities that would greet their creation," Williams noted. "Not only that, but they seem to have already forgotten about the outcome of our recent actions, and about our determination to fight for that outcome."

LEGISLATION SUPPORTS LABOR
In the wake of a 32-day strike that began last September 16, a new three-year UTU contract was ratified. In that contract, the MTA agreed that if any spin-off zones were created, positions in the new zones would be filled by UTU members, who would bring with them their existing contract terms.

In addition, in an attempt to encourage UTU workers and their supporters to return to their jobs, California Gov. Gray Davis had signed legislation during the negotiations that most observers believed put a permanent end to spin-off plans.

The legislation, S.B. 1101, sponsored by state Sen. Kevin Murray (D-Culver City), requires transit agencies to abide by all existing labor contracts if they decide to create smaller suburban transit zones.

"Even at their most optimistic," Williams said, "the 'spin-off doctors' must realize they're looking at more than a long shot.

"What they heard from their consultant should have been enough to make them understand they don't have much of a chance for success. As far as I can tell, this whole thing is much ado about nothing."

"We are unequivocally opposed to the concept of transit zones," UTU spokesperson Goldy Norton said, "and the MTA has, in our labor contract, certain obligations which must be met before it can even consider an application."

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