
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, July 29, 1993                   TAG: 9307290244
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

DRIVERS, VALLEY METRO EXTEND LABOR CONTRACT

The labor contract for Valley Metro bus drivers has been extended until Aug. 31 while union leaders and company officials try to negotiate a new agreement.

Stephen Mancuso, general manager of the bus company, said that because both sides have agreed to the contract extension, the drivers will remain on the job. The contract expired this month.

Negotiators for both sides have held several preliminary meetings on a new contract, but they have not discussed economic issues such as pay and fringe benefits.

"Everything is good so far," said Tommy Mullins, an international vice president for the Amalgamated Transit Union. "We've discussed only work rules and language in the contract."

Mancuso said the talks have gone well and more meetings are scheduled. He would not discuss details of the negotiations.

At this point, the union has not raised the possibility of a strike.

Roanoke owns the bus company and uses tax money to subsidize it, but the drivers are not city employees. A private management firm runs the company under contract.

State law prohibits city employees from striking, but it does not apply to the bus drivers.

The last drivers' strike occurred in 1975, when there was a five-week walkout. About 5,000 people ride Valley Metro buses daily.

by CNB