SARTA and union leaders reach tentative agreement

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By Beacon Journal staff report

POSTED: 05:22 p.m. EST, Jan 25, 2008

Representatives from the Stark Area Regional Transit Authority and AFSCME Council 8 union leaders today reached a tentative agreement on a new contract .

The bus drivers and mechanics have been working without a contract since Jan. 1, 2007.

Union members will review the agreement on Sunday and vote on it on Tuesday.

Last week, bus drivers and mechanics rejected what SARTA had called its ''final contract offer'' by a vote of 102 to 37.

SARTA has pledged to keep service running for its customers, especially those in need of medical support. The union said its members will continue to work for the same reason.

Lou Maholic, the Akron staff representative of AFSCME Council 8 Local 1880, has said a big issue for the workers is a disagreement over how vacation time is calculated.

The union represents 146 SARTA bus drivers and mechanics.