Fairfax Connector says bus system will be suspended for seventh day due to strike

Leonard N. Fleming
·2 min read

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) — The Fairfax Connector bus service will be halted for a seventh straight day on Wednesday due to striking workers who are protesting for better compensation, officials said Tuesday.

Workers with the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689, which represents more than 700 bus drivers and mechanics, have been at odds with Transdev, which operates the Fairfax Connector bus line.

Employees with the union said that they want higher wages, improved benefits and more sick time — demands that they claim Transdev has balked at.

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Transdev officials said in a recent statement that their offer is generous.

Marcella Johnson, who has been driving a bus for 11 years with the system, said she and other workers are fed up with the lack of respect.

“We just want to be able to live and take care of our family and be able to do our jobs efficiently,” Johnson said. “It’s takes me two paychecks just to live close to my own job.”

The latest rounds of talks with Local 689 and Transdev officials broke down on Monday without a deal. The bus line has 26,000 daily riders, officials said.

Troy Barnes, who is a union organizer for Local 689, said the employees are tired of being mistreated.

“Before we went on strike, they been treaded on. They’ve been mishandled. They’ve been beat up by this company, Barnes said. “They was taking advantage of them. But soon as we took a vote by them, which was 98%, we went on strike, their spirit raised so high that I will go to war with these folks because they stand for what’s right.”

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Johnson said that riders are affected and that bothers her but she wants them to understand what’s at stake for the drivers and other workers.

“I have a lot of reliable passengers to ride every day. I absolutely know who I expect almost every stop,” she said. “And I’ll and I really want to apologize to them that I haven’t been there this week.”

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