It was my own frustration at searching for a ride to school that brought me to Mayor Rotkins office. I wanted to know what he was going to do to alleviate the strain being felt, not only by the bus drivers who were now several weeks without pay, but for the thousands of students and workers who were exhausted and unemployed as a result of the lack of decisive action. I had no reason to believe that he would find me an important force to reckon with and if he did give me the time of day. I mostly expected numbers- the runaround, a rehearsed speech that had graced a thousand ears over the past month. That’s what I got at first- but the longer I listened, the more I heard.

Clearly there’s a lack of understanding and communication between negotiators. It is unlikely that the Board is made up of the greedy, manipulative liars that Union officials feel they have been up against throughout the past few weeks. The ones they imagine, not unreasonably, have been hoarding away masses of money that could be putting an end to this enduring debate. It is also unlikely that the Union is made up of unreasonable, outrageous workers who are manipulating their union affiliation to attain some absurd standard of living- or that they are unwilling to listen and unreceptive to feasible solutions. Though both sides have developed strong opinions to this effect, it seems that the biggest contribution to the obstinacy that has emerged from this debate, is their resistance to hear one another out.

This process has taken on such an air of disunity that the prospect of losing a proposed $1.5 million grant for the metro has become another declaration from the mayor to the effect that the city is not saving, but losing money due to the strike. This grant, he says, would distribute $1.5 million per year towards infrastructure and could potentially free up funds to meet the demands of the workers. If the strike continues, however, he fears that the grant might be revoked. When asked if he has presented this solution to the Union, he says that they’ve accused him of lying. In his opinion, they just don’t get it…they say the Board is being patronizing. Meanwhile, it would seem that his unwavering contempt for the fact that Union members just don’t get it might make him incapable of being perceived any other way. Furthermore, if they truly do not understand the situation at hand, it is to his own discredit. As mayor it is his duty to make pertinent information plausible for attending parties. When the solutions are being presented under such a self-righteous premise, is it any wonder that the union feels belittled and betrayed?

The mayor sees a cooling off period as a threat to expedient resolution. After all, the board would lose leverage once the drivers knew they could feed their families. He fails, however, to recognize that the Board holds all power over current proceedings. Though they may feel the political pressures, they are not among those who are being stripped of their meager resources as a result of this strike. Mr. Rotkin does not realize that a cooling off period would actually act as a leveling mechanism through which both sides would have equal access to persuasion. Meanwhile, the county continues to dish out thousands of dollars in funds to pay for the repair of dilapidated automobiles that their job-seeking clients have had to use in lieu of transportation, and patrons who have suffered for so long have grown tired of waiting for justice- they prefer closure at any cost. The Board, knowing that the longer the public suffers, the less support the drivers will receive, is using the misery of its most vulnerable citizens to manipulate the outcome of negotiations.

In addition, Rotkin is outraged that the Union thinks their demands have been underrepresented, as most people are getting their information from the city website: www.scmtd.com. Rotkin claims this is a non-issue because the Union has its own website, but when I ask him what it is he does not know. He fumbles for a pen and assures me that he is not trying to hold me back- that if I leave my number he will call me with the site address, once he gets it. I decline. The fact that our mayor doesn’t even know the site address just proves that the Unions fears are well founded- people aren’t accessing the “other side�.

These two groups are supposed to be a team- two negotiating forces working towards a common, reasonable goal. They have become, in the wake of upset and aggravation, opposing advocates of highly polarized views. Facts, as we all know, can be distorted- they are riddled with the biases of both audience and presenter. To look at a budget, or to look at the demands, no matter how thoroughly, will not give face to the real force driving this persistent conflict between the City Metro Board and the Bus Drivers Union. The loss of transportation and jobs are issues that will have repercussions long after the strike has ceased. The solution is, on the surface quite plainly divided. Amidst the mass of budget crunches, however, another conflict emerges. Why have we seen no relief? It could be due to the fact that both sides have reached a point of resentment that dilutes their ability to communicate effectively, and therefore to reach a solution.


For the “other side� of the issue, check out: www.local23.org/