Riders Struggle a 2nd Day as Bus Drivers' Strike Curtails Services

Commuters who rely on Fairfax Connector bus service scrambled for a second day yesterday as bus drivers continued a strike that forced the cancellation of 16 routes and placed an additional eight on a reduced schedule.

A contract covering about 170 bus drivers expired Sunday, and striking drivers are holding out for a new pact with better pension and health benefits.

No negotiations were scheduled yesterday, although a federal mediator is involved.

"We are waiting to hear back from the federal mediator," said Mike Ake, a spokesman for Veolia Transportation. "We are available to negotiate as soon as the union is willing."

Veolia Transportation has operated the bus service on behalf of Fairfax County since 2001. The buses serve about 20,000 commuters daily. The strike affects bus routes out of the connector's Huntington garage, which serves southern Fairfax. Routes out of the bus line's Herndon garage are not affected because those drivers are covered under a different contract.

The eight routes on limited Sunday service carry about 15,300 daily riders. The remaining routes account for about 5,000 daily riders, according to the Fairfax County Department of Transportation.

Striking driver Alexander Sarpong, who has operated a bus for 14 years, said that if he were to retire now, he would "go out with no benefits." Commuters have generally been sympathetic to the drivers, and "we want to resolve it early because we feel bad for our customers," he said.

Still, commuters have expressed frustration and confusion.

"I was one hour late for my work yesterday," said Abebu Mengesha, a nurse at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital who was waiting for a Connector bus at the Huntington Metro station yesterday morning. "You have to have a reliable means of transportation to work at a hospital. If it continues like this . . . I can't be calling in late all the time."

Picketing drivers hooted and booed buses that drove up to the Huntington Metro station yesterday. Some drivers had chosen not to participate in the strike. Other buses were driven by supervisors.

The contract dispute centers on health care and pension benefits.

Veolia Transportation has offered drivers pay raises that exceed cost-of-living increases and an employee health plan with three options, Ake said. Starting drivers make $15 an hour, and senior drivers are paid $20 an hour, Ake said.

But the company has drawn the line at providing a "defined benefit" pension plan similar to those covering Metrobus drivers. Defined-benefit pension plans are considered the most expensive for employers because they guarantee a specific payout for retirees.

The drivers have a 401(k) retirement plan, in which payouts depend on investment returns.

Most other regional bus services in the Washington area do not offer defined-benefit pensions plans, either. But Charles Smith, a lawyer negotiating on behalf of Local 3001 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents the striking drivers, said Fairfax Connector is a much larger operation.

With 330 drivers, "it's one of the largest bus fleets, and Fairfax is big and it's rich," Smith said.

Switching pension plans would cost the equivalent of about 50 cents to $1 an hour in wages, he said, adding that members are willing to take smaller raises and give back personal and sick days to make up the difference. Employees would also contribute 3 percent of their salaries to the system.

Smith said that although the company has offered to increase its share of health premiums, the proposed contract would increase co-payments and deductibles and add a lifetime cap on benefits.

Veolia also operates Arlington Transit, Loudoun County Commuter Express, Prince George's County's TheBus service and the Georgetown Connector.

Billie Fincham, 53, was waiting to catch the Fairfax Connector on Richmond Highway yesterday. She said takes care of her aunt daily and relies on the bus to get to her aunt's home. On Monday, Fincham went to the hospital because she had sprained an ankle. When her treatment was finished, she said, "I waited at the bus stop . . . and nothing came."

Carol Schneider, whose car is in the shop, has been taking the Connector to work in downtown Alexandria. Monday evening's commute was "pandemonium," she said. "You were on, but you could hardly get off."

And Raymond Heflin, 28, had started his commute hours early yesterday but was still going to be late for work. "I feel like taking this cup of soda and throwing it," at the strikers, he said. "It's messing us up."

Riders should check the Connector Web site at http://www.fairfaxconnector.com or call 703-339-7200 for updates.