The Rapid Accepts Fact Finder's Report

The Rapid (Interurban Transit Partnership) has made available the fact finding report issued by the Michigan Employment Relations Commission as part of its current labor negotiations with Amalgamated Transit Union Local 836.  The report was issued on June 26, 2015.

“We are pleased that the fact finder ruled in favor of almost all The Rapid’s proposals.  This is an endorsement of our efforts to run an efficient, cost-effective transit system, particularly in the areas of setting a reasonable bar for arbitrations, managing overtime, increasing part-time employees, and addressing unfunded pension liability,” said Brian Pouget, Chief Operating Officer for The Rapid. “As the bargaining process continues, our focus remains on fostering a productive working environment for our employees while being good stewards of the public funds entrusted to us.”

Under Michigan law, either party involved in collective bargaining in the public sector may petition for the Michigan Employment Relations Commission to appoint a neutral fact finder under Section 25 of the Labor Mediation Act if they are unable to reach an agreement with the assistance of a State Mediator. Once appointed, a neutral fact finder must review the parties’ negotiations and bargaining positions through a prescribed process and issue a non-binding recommendation for settlement of the contractual dispute. Since strikes are prohibited in the public sector, fact finding is the final impasse resolution procedure available to most public sector employees.