Willie Brown Played Role In Muni's Tentative Contract Agreement
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— It seems former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown was the secret weapon that broke the impasse between the San Francisco's Municipal Transportation Agency and operators.
Transport Workers Union Local 250, whose workers took part in a sickout that stalled the city's famed cable cars and disrupted other service, confirmed on Monday it has reached a tentative agreement on a new contract. They'll present the terms, agreed upon last Friday, to their members during a special meeting Monday.
Transportation Agency Director Ed Reiskin said the former mayor's mediation skills came into play.
"What's different is that Willie Brown was willing to step in and mediate between the two sides. Obviously we were not making progress, not long ago. He was able to step in and get to an agreement that works for both parties," he said.
Operators will vote on the tentative agreement on July 7th. Reiskin said he's cautiously optimistic. Terms of the new deal were not disclosed.
"I guess I'd be a fool to speculate at this point, but my understanding is that the union leadership was happy with this agreement and will be working to secure ratification by the membership."
San Francisco transit spokesman Paul Rose said the agency plans to discuss rescinding the previous contract offer and extending the deadline for a new deal at Monday's meeting.
The deal comes about four weeks after drivers called in sick after overwhelmingly rejecting a contract they said would have required them to pay more for their pension. The sickout lasted for three days.
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