DeCamp Workers, Management Remain at Odds
Strike continues as negotiations over wages and benefits fail to improve.
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Commuters will once again be seeking alternative means of transportation Wednesday as negotiations between striking DeCamp Bus Lines workers and management haven't budged, according to the union.
As of Tuesday evening shortly before 6 p.m., the sides remained at odds in the dispute over wages and benefits.
"There is an arctic freeze going on in here," said Larry Hanley, international vice president of the Amalgamated Transit Union, speaking from a conference room at the DeCamp attorney's Roseland firm, Fox Rothchild LLP.
"We've been across the table with the mediator and their attorney a couple of times already [Tuesday]," confirmed John Costa, ATU chairman and state business agent of the N.J. State Joint Council. "At this time, we're still at a stalemate."
Shortly after the interview, this Patch reporter was asked to leave the offices by an attorney for Fox Rothchild.
However, outside the building's premises at 75 Eisenhower Parkway, DeCamp employees continued the dialogue, at least with the media.
"Right now, it's not going well. But we'll see what happens throughout the day," said Jorge Maldonado, president and business manager of ATU Local 1317. "We're willing to compromise as long as the company is. But if inflexibility is there, we're [going to] have a problem."
David Hannon, a DeCamp mechanic who described himself as "simply a shop steward" concurred. "We're not just letting this go," he said. "We'll be here however long it takes."
Maldonado said that DeCamp officials were using the economy as a pretense for not bargaining in good faith with employees. "Are they making money? Sure they are," he said. "They haven't said they're not."
Back at DeCamp headquarters in Montclair, a group of 20 to 30 strikers maintained a picket line up and down Greenwood Avenue on Tuesday. Though it was hot outside and the news from the trenches wasn't good, the strikers showed no signs of backing down on Day 6 of the dispute.
"When I started working here 20 years ago, there were well over 100 drivers on the roster," DeCamp driver "Big Al" Feldman said. "Now they want the same work out of 78 drivers. They have 7,500 to 8,000 riders a day. With ridership up 3 percent and fewer drivers, we can't help being late sometimes. We're trying to fill in all the gaps and plug up the dam. We just can't do it any more."
"They're bullies," driver John Knight said flatly. "Arrogant bullies."
"They're only trying to save money," agreed driver Millie Ruiz.
"They say they're in an $8 million deficit," Feldman said, "but they make $12 million a year, of which $9 million goes to employee salaries. Guess what? That also includes managers' salaries. You can check out their financial report on Google. We're working under a tyrant."
According to Ruiz, and others agreed, the "tyrant" is Gary Pard, DeCamp's executive officer and general manager. "I've been here 14 years," Ruiz said. "When I came here, Bobby DeCamp's father was in charge. The old man would never have let this happen. It's a shame."
A DeCamp representative at headquarters said the bus company would not comment on the situation. Phone calls to DeCamp officials also went unanswered.
Another driver, Jerry Soto, maintained, "With the economy the way it is now, you think we want to be on strike? I'm struggling to put my two daughters in college," he said. "We're decent guys. We understand that the passengers are taking care of our families."
"We're not asking for the lion's share here," Feldman insisted. "We just want a bone. And they want to take that bone and hit us over the head with it."
ROBERT EARLE
11:47 am on Wednesday, September 8, 2010
To all of DeCamp strikers be glad you have a job and get to work. This is another example of why UNIONS are no longer needed. If your all so unhappy QUIT and go work some where else.Try working for NJ TRANSIT. There are tens of thousands of real hard working people who need jobs. Stop your whining and get back to servicing your customers.
One last thought for all of you strikers. While your on strike NJ TRANSIT is taking Decamps Customers one by one. In the long run you may think you won but you didnt.
Martta Kelly
12:26 pm on Wednesday, September 8, 2010
What Robert said. WE are the ones being held hostage here, the commuters!
Briena Caputo
4:32 pm on Wednesday, September 8, 2010
I'm very curious as to why my post was deleted...was it because it contained the word a** and a**hole. Isn't that a violation of free speech? Okay, I will repost not using those words.
The above posts are by two ignorant Montclair a**holes. Would Robert Earle or Martta Kelly sit around and not speak up if they weren't getting raises? It's unfortunate how selfish you people are...all you care about is getting in and out of Manhattan..not about the people who are taking you there..would you rather crash and die because the drivers are so tired because they have to work 60+ hours per week to earn a decent living??? I guess you'd rather be unsafe, shows how stupid you truly are. Commuters aren't being held hostage, that's a little dramatic Martta, take another bus or a train. These people are fighting for what is fair. Obviously you are too dumb (or Republican) to see that. Whichever fits? What if you were asked to take a cut in pay? What if you were asked to pay more for your benefits? Dumb idiots. Typical Montclair phony cit-idiots....and to the dumb idiot Robert Earle, DeCamp is a privately owned company that pays a lot more than NJ Transit...why would they go work there? What is wrong with you people, do your research!
ROBERT EARLE
7:01 pm on Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Briena,
Nice use of words. Your kindergarten class taught you well. Now lets get this straight. I have lived in caldwell for many years and was raised in upper montclair. My political leanings are not part of my view of the deCamp strike. In your child like mind you dont understand bussiness. I have been a peon and a CFO. Your wife/partner has a job accept or quit.This is AMERICA you have the choice to quit your job and move on.Please grow up and become informed. STUPID AMERICANS ARE THOSE WHO ARE NOT WILLING TO LISTEN TO OTHERS VOICES I GUESS THATS WHY YOU VOTED FOR OBAMA.
Martta Kelly
4:42 pm on Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Briena: if you'd would have bothered to read the terms of service, you would know that you can't use abusive language on here. I guess people who have a meager vocabulary must resort to that or else they just don't have basic reading skills. Whatever.
Also, you assume an awful lot about me. I don't live in Montclair and I haven't gotten a raise in 3 years. I have more friends out of work than who are gainfully employed. I HAVE been taking the train since the strike and you know what? I like it so much better that I may never go back to DeCamp. Sure, it's a little more inconvenient but it's a lot more pleasant.
Also, I do pay into my health insurance, for your information, and have done so for years, even before the recession.
The nerve of these people asking for a raise in this economy! And for the lousy service they provide? They are truly delusional, as are you.
Oh, and I AM a Republican and proud of it.
Briena Caputo
5:00 pm on Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Oh Martta, I'm so sorry for you...that you are a Republican, that is. I happen to be a wife of one of the DeCamp employees and I see first hand how they are treated and how people like you treat the drivers. I didn't say you didn't pay for your health insurance, I said wouldn't you complain if you had to pay more? Wouldn't you complain if they tried to freeze your wages? DeCamp won't fold because they don't have your ticket..trust me. So go on and take the train..you will be back, people like you always are. The nerve of people asking for a raise? Why? Cuz they have the ba**s and you don't..Shame on you Martta, grow a pair..don't wait 3 years next time for a raise..sad.
Martta Kelly
8:55 pm on Wednesday, September 8, 2010
I knew it, I knew it...I said to myself, "This person either drives for DeCamp or is married to someone who does." It shows. Follow the money.
In case you haven't noticed, we are in one of the worst recessions in the past 50 years so it's not a matter of me and my co-workers asking for a raise. We consider ourselves lucky to have a job at all, unlike your greedy husband.
Do I like the fact that I haven't gotten a raise in 3 years? No. It's just the way things are right now and we can only hope that things will get better. Everyone is in the same boat.
And how do you know how I treat the drivers? I happen to be one of the people who say "Good morning" or "Good evening" to the drivers.
Also, don't count on me coming back to DeCamp. Now that I know my hard-earned wages are going to support people like you, I'd rather don a pair of sneakers and run to work rather than give DeCamp one more dime.
Briena Caputo
11:25 pm on Wednesday, September 8, 2010
First off, Martta, how do you know that I'm married to a driver, couldn't it be a mechanic or cleaner? I too am a passenger...that commutes in and out of the city on a daily basis, so I see how drivers are treated. OOOOOOOh, can we give her a medal for saying hi and good night..you treat the drivers so well all you care about is them getting back in their seat and not getting a raise..oh yeah...and them holding you hostage..that's a good one.
See you on the bus soon Martta..You know you will be back...Good luck getting a parking pass to any one of the Montclair train station parking lots, waiting lists are a beast...so glad I have mine.
PS - thanks for the new Jimmy Choos I bought two months ago-I'm sure your fare helped contribute...xoxo
Martta Kelly
8:26 am on Thursday, September 9, 2010
Well, enjoy the Jimmy Choos, courtesy of me and about 7,000 other suckers, because rumors are swirling that DeCamp has been sold. If this is the case, I hope they start fresh, with new employees...tabula rasa baby! I will celebrate with champagne if this happens.
Also, maybe they'll add some new buses to replace those from the Eisenhower era. That would be nice.
You say you see how the passengers treat the drivers. Well, I see firsthand how the drivers treat the passengers: lots of attitude and sassing, that's what I see. And we pay for this privilege so we must all be masochists.
Oh and by the way, I don't have a parking spot at the train station. You see, your greedy husband and his fellow strikers are not only inconveniencing me, they are inconveniencing my husband as well as he now has to get up earlier and drive me to Montclair.
Briena Caputo
9:52 am on Thursday, September 9, 2010
So sorry Martta...I'm not shedding a tear for you. I'm done corresponding with you. Thanks for your insight and your words of wisdom.
FYI - Those Eisenhower era buses are saved only for the Caldwell/Verona/West O people..we living in Montclair, always gets the brand new buses. And again, I'm sure your husband driving you to Montclair every day will get old...but good luck with that..kisses!
P.S. - If I were you..I'd get your name on the waiting list for the parking pass...
Martta Kelly
10:06 am on Thursday, September 9, 2010
Yes, it's been fun, loads of laughs, but life goes on. Hope your husband has plenty of reading material. It may come in handy while he waits on the unemployment line.