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When Federal funds are used to acquire, improve, or operate a transit system,
Federal law requires arrangements to protect the rights of affected transit
employees. These arrangements must be approved by the Department of Labor (DOL)
before the Department of Transportations Federal Transit Administration
(FTA) can release funds to grantees. The terms and conditions of the protective
arrangements are included in the grantee's contract with FTA.
The requirement to protect transit employees is contained in Section 5333(b)
of Title 49 U.S. Code (formerly Section 13(c) of the Federal Transit Act). Section
5333(b) specifies that the arrangements must provide for the preservation of
rights and benefits of employees under existing collective bargaining agreements,
continuation of collective bargaining rights, protection of individual employees
against a worsening of their positions in relation to their employment, assurances
of employment to employees of acquired transit systems, priority of reemployment,
and paid training or retraining programs.
DOL Procedural Guidelines (Federal Register 29 CFR Part 215), encourage
the development of employee protections through local negotiations, but establish
time frames for certification to expedite the process and make it more predictable,
while assuring that the required protections are in place. Under the guidelines,
a DOL certification permitting the release of transit funds will occur within
60 days from the date the DOL begins processing a grant application. This may
be a final certification or an interim certification.
Pursuant to the Guidelines, DOL refers for review the grant application and
the proposed terms and conditions to unions representing transit employees in
the service area of the project and to the applicant and/or sub-recipient. No
referral is made if the application falls under one of the following exceptions:
1) employees in the service area are not represented by an union; 2) the grant
is for routine replacement items; 3) the grant is for a Job Access project serving
populations less than 200,000.
When a grant application is referred to the parties, DOL recommends the terms
and conditions to serve as the basis for certification. The parties have
15 days to inform DOL of anyobjections to the recommended
terms including reasons for such objections. If no objections
are registered, or if objections are found not sufficient, DOL certifies the
project on the basis of the recommended terms.
If DOL determines that the objections are sufficient, the parties are
directed to negotiate for up to 30 days, limited to issues defined
by DOL.
If the parties are unable to reach agreement within 30 days, DOL will
review the final proposals and issue an interim certification
permitting FTA to release funds, provided that no action is taken relating to
the issues in dispute that would irreparably harm employees.
Following the interim certification, the parties may continue negotiations.
If they are unable to reach agreement, DOL sets the terms for Final Certification
within 60 days. DOL may request briefs on the issues in dispute before
issuing the final certification.
Employees who believe they have been adversely affected as a result of Federal
transit assistance may file claims under the procedures set forth in the protective
arrangements certified by DOL.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Standards Administration,
Office of Labor-Management Standards, Division of Statutory Programs,
Room N-5603
Washington, DC 20210
Telephone: (202) 693-0126 Fax: (202) 693-1342
The DSP WEB PAGE can be reached by going to www.dol.gov/dol/esa,and scrolling
down to Office of Labor Management Standards and clicking on it. Then
scroll down and click on Mass Transit Employee Protections. Alternatively,
go to this URL:
http://www.dol.gov/esa/olms/regs/compliance/compltransit.htm
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