April 19th, 2013 by WCBC Radio
Contract talks between Allegany County and the union representing county transit employees have broken off- but the hope is that the negotiations will resume at some point in the near future. The previous contract expired last summer. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees represents the transit employees, including its bus drivers. Brian Westfall, county director of human resources, in an email responding to a request for comment from the Cumberland Times-News said he wouldn’t describe the situation as being at an impasse, saying rather the talks have not been productive. There are 24 workers in the transit workers bargaining unit, including bus drivers. WCBC News has learned that the issue in contract talks between AFSCME and the county lies with the subject of overtime money. In the past several years, the county has altered routes to address drastic overtime money costing the county upwards of $125,000. The county has pointed to problems regarding routes not running on time, as well as drivers taking multiple days off, leading to the need for overtime. AFSCME drivers are angry, demanding compensation in lieu of overtime, stalling talks. AFSCME representative John Royer phoned into WCBC’s “Dave Norman Show” Thursday to discuss the matter and he placed the blame for no new contract soley on the county.
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