CAT hopes to sit down with union for negotiations this week

(Carlisle) -- Capital Area Transit's General Manager hopes to get to the negotiating table this week, after recent service disruptions. Drivers have been working without a contract since June,

Pay and work rules are at the center of the dispute between the union that represents drivers and CAT, according to General Manager Bill Jones.

Nearly a fourth of CAT's fixed route drivers were not at work on February 24th, forcing the public transportation service to cancel some routes.

But recently, enough drivers returned to keep all routes running. Jones says the dispute is just a part of a long relationship.

"These type of things are to be expected. I've been married for 33 years. My wife and I, we've had disagreements, but at the end of the day we kiss and make up. This agreement will. It's inevitable disagreements will happen, but also, we will resolve it."

The union has previously said any absences occurred because of staffing problems, and has filed for binding arbitration to resolve the contract dispute.

"I would say it's very positive overall. In any relationship, you're going to have disagreements, and this is a disagreement, and we'll resolve it," says Jones.

Leaders at Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1436 did not return multiple requests for comment.

CAT serves about 3 million riders every year in Dauphin and Cumberland County.

Source: WITF.org