Success for
Local 791 a Victory
For Part-Time
Toll Collectors
TOLEDO, Ohio
I
n a major victory for Local 791/United Turnpike
Workers members who are part-time toll collectors, the Ohio Turnpike
Commission (OTC) has been ordered to stop forcing the part-timers to sign
weekday and weekend call-out sheets (indicating their
availability to work).
An arbitrator last month agreed that the UE Local 791/UTW
contract established voluntary call-out sign-up and ordered the OTC to
"cease and desist from requiring employees to sign a call-out list and
from using the [Commission’s] current [call-out] Form." The OTC form
said that employees must sign either or both lists.
As a result of the arbitrator’s ruling, a new call-out list
is being used and part-time collectors are now given the option of being
called to work in addition to their expressed availability.
In negotiating a contract covering part-time collectors, the
union hoped to ensure that part-time employees enjoyed some degree of control
over when they work. The Commission’s practice threatened to take some of
that control away.
Linda Crews, a part-time collector who filed the original
grievance, has thanked the UE Local 791 members who voted to take the
grievance to arbitration. After appearing at the hearing, she said, "I am
thankful to represent not only myself but other part-time collectors who were
threatened into signing the call-out form."
Local 791 was represented by Pres. Shawne Wise, with
assistance by UE Field Org. Al Hart.
UE News - 07/01
