BACKGROUND INFORMATION WTTS and LOCAL UNION #1764 OF THE ATU

With W&T Travel Services (WTTS) as the employer at NIH, shuttle bus operators have received a 22%
increase in total compensation of combined wages and benefits between 2008 (when the NIH shuttle bus
contract was originally awarded to WTTS) and 2015. This 22% increase is more than double the increase
in total compensation that shuttle bus operators are entitled to receive under federal law, and which the
operators would not have received without WTTS agreeing to a collective bargaining agreement (CBA)
providing for increases to employees total compensation. Operators have received an increase in total
compensation EVERY year since 2008. Currently, shuttle bus operators receive $19.34 per hour in
wages, which is $3.68 more per hour than the $15.66 hourly wage rate that operators are entitled to
receive under federal law. In addition to hourly wages, WTTS also provides employees with $4.27 per
hour in benefits.

Year

Increase in Total
Compensation

2008

2.91%

2009

3.48%

2010

3.66%

2011

3.35%

2012

4.63%

2013

0.43%

2014

0.91%

2015

1.07%

2016

2.20%

2.
WTTS has met with the Union approximately 40 times since 2013 in an effort to come to an
agreement on a new CBA. WTTS reached substantial agreement with the Union in 2013, 2014, and
2016. However, the Union either failed to present a new CBA to the employees for a vote or refused to
execute a new CBA that the employees voted to pass.
3.
In May 2014, WTTS and the Union reached substantial agreement reached on a new CBA. The
employees voted to ratify the CBA, but the Union then withdrew ratification in July 2014 due to noneconomic issues. Specifically, the Union demanded a guarantee of employment for shuttle bus operators
even when the Government/NIH revoked the operators credentials due to policy violations or
misconduct.
4.
In March 2015, WTTS and the Union again reached substantial agreement on a new CBA. The
Union scheduled a vote on the new CBA, then abruptly cancelled the vote. The Union informed WTTS
in January 2016 that it wanted to restart negotiations from scratch and throw out all of the work WTTS
and the Union had put in to come to agreement on multiple bargaining issues.

5.
WTTS presents three different CBAs to the union from May 2016 to July 2016, all containing an
increase in total compensation of 3-5% per year. The Union fails to present any of the CBAs to the
employees for a vote.

Chronology:

March 5-8, 2013- Initial kickoff meeting.

March 13-14, 2013- Contract negotiations.

April 19, 2013- Contract negotiations.

April 22, 2013- Contract negotiations.

July, 2013- Discussions via phone and email regarding meeting and impasse on wages. Union to
take WTTS memo to employees regarding wages. Union failed to respond or take the proposal to
a vote. Deadline missed.

September 4, 2013- WTTS provides the Union with a CBA proposal.

March, 2014- Discussions via phone and email regarding proposals. WTTS awaiting information
from he Union since September meeting.

April 19, 22, 2014- WTTS and the Union make significant progress toward a contract.

May 21, 2014- WTTS and the Union reached tentative agreement on a CBA. The Union to take
for ratification.

May 23, 2014- WTTS issues last and final offer to Union.

July 19, 2014- Union holds ratification meeting and agrees to ratify the agreement.

July 22, 2014- Union notifies WTTS of ratification and WTTS agrees to memorialize in final
agreement.

July 25, 2014- Union notifies WTTS that it only ratified what it believed were tentative
agreements and would not sign the final agreement. Ongoing discussions were held through July
28. Wages were no longer an issue as those had been approved.

August 1, 2014- WTTS notified Union that it would work with NIH for an extension and spent
several hours on the phone with the Union trying to work out a compromise.

August 21, 2014- WTTS notifies Union that NIH has provided an extension through August 26,
2014.

August 21- 26, 2014- WTTS works with the Union to reach agreement on a CBA.

August 26, 2014- The Union notifies WTTS that it will not sign a CBA. The only issue that
remained was the Unions demand for a guarantee of employment for shuttle bus operators when

the Government/NIH revoked the operators credentials due to policy violations or misconduct.
WTTS did not have the authority to change the requirements of the contract with NIH and so
could not fulfill the Unions unreasonable demands. Deadline passes.

December, 2014- Union sends correspondence to NIH threatening to strike. WTTS contacts
Union regarding their correspondence and advises that it has been waiting on the Union to get
back to WTTS. The Union cannot meet until January 2015.

January 7, 2015- Meeting (End of January- Local 1764 goes into receivership)

March 4, 2015- WTTS meets with new local taking over.

March 20, 2015- WTTS meets with new local taking over. Union to take contract to employees
for a vote.

April 15, 2015- Meeting with Union scheduled. Union cancelled.

May 29, 2015- WTTS sends email to Union requesting update and reminding Union of deadline
of July 24 to have a signed CBA or offer revoked. Union did not respond.

July, 2015- WTTS contacts Union to request status. No response. Letter sent to Ms. Anderson.
Deadline passes with no response.

November 17, 2015- WTTS meets with international taking over collective bargaining duties for
the Unions employees.

December 16, 2015- WTTS meets with international taking over collective bargaining duties.
Meeting was to get up to speed on status. WTTS sent the Union a history of bargaining between
the parties.

January 26, 2016- Contract negotiations. Union wants to start from scratch and throw out all
previous agreements.

March 9, 2016- Progress made in contract negotiations.

March 30, 2016- Agreement almost complete, but the Union asks for substantial wage increases
and back wages.

April 11, 2016- Contract Negotiations. The Union requests more information on wage proposals
and increases before proceeding.

May 17, 2016 Contract Negotiations.

June 23, 2016 Contract Negotiations.

June 24, 2016 - WTTS offers a 10% compensation increase over 3 years. The Union leadership
refuses to present the CBA proposal to employees for a vote.

July 11, 2016 Contract Negotiations between WTTS and the Union with a Federal Mediator.

July 11, 2016 WTTS offers two CBAs at the Unions request, both with an increase in
compensation The Union fails to present the CBA proposals to employees for a vote.

August 25, 2016 Contract Negotiations Scheduled.

August 2016 WTTS fully cooperates with requests received from the National Labor Relations
Board concerning the Unions baseless unfair labor practice allegations.