The Jacksonville Transportation Authority and the union that represents its bus drivers have agreed to a marathon four-day negotiating session in an attempt to end labor tension between the two sides.

Ken Kirk, international vice president of the Amalgamated Transit Union, said he wants to reach a deal during the meetings Oct. 5-9.

“We hope to come to an agreement that both sides can live with,” Kirk said.

JTA spokeswoman Wendy Morrow said the agency remains optimistic that the two sides can avoid a strike.

Both sides have stopped commenting on the specifics of negotiations since a federal mediator asked them to keep the process private.

Labor peace seemed unlikely last month, when the 250 union members voted to authorize a walkout. At the time the two sides didn’t even agree on what the other was asking for. JTA said the union wanted a pay increase of between 17 and 24 percent; the union said it was more like 4 to 8 percent.

JTA demanded the union accept a multiyear contract that included a salary freeze. The union said it was willing to accept a salary freeze of one year but not a multiyear freeze.

The previous contract, negotiated in 2006, gave bus operators a 12 percent pay increase over three years.

The average salary for bus drivers is about $38,000 a year. The two sides have met twice since the strike vote occurred, for one day each time.

JTA gets most of its revenue from sales and gas taxes. Gas taxes dropped from $30.4 million to $28.1 million from 2008 to 2009, and sales taxes dropped from $71 million to $64 million during the same time period.

Another decline is anticipated for 2010.

About 10,000 to 12,000 people are estimated to ride the bus on an average weekday.

If a strike occurs, JTA said it will offer as much bus service as possible. It’s not yet clear what that would be.

The Skyway, community shuttles and transit for the disabled would continue to operate during a strike because those drivers work for a different union.

larry.hannan@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4470

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-09-24/story/jacksonville-bu...