Events Calendar
In This Section
Researcher says she found text on Shroud of Turin
Ohio native takes second place on 'Project Runway'
White House at odds with bishops over abortion
End of an era: Oprah ending show after 25 years
Kin want right to sue after man assumed dead
Sen. Kerry's daughter arrested in LA on DUI
Raw Video: Cop Crashes Into Car Killing 2 Teens
Hundreds of rotting deer in yard cause big stink (with video)
Most Read Stories
Police accuse bank robbery suspect of gobbling up note (with dashcam video)
Dad accused of forcing son into field, killing him
Man found dead in North Akron home is identified
Victim of beating in Kent last week is declared dead at Akron hospital
Coventry man killed in crash at I-77 ramp
Browns' roster nearly devoid of consistent players
College student mistaken for deer, shot to death
NFL star Chris Spielman's wife loses cancer battle
Review: You've never seen 'Sound of Music' like this
Can DNA tests free ex-Akron captain?
Man allegedly paid teens to spit in his face
Blogs:
Pets:
Cat-loving chihuahua suckles seven abandoned kittens
The Heldenfiles:
Friday Night Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
For your Saturday entertainment …
Akron Zips:
Hitchens leads Zips in second-half comeback
Tribe Matters:
Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
Cleveland Browns:
Holmgren expresses interest in Browns position
Kent State Sports:
Kent State blown out in second half, loses to Temple 47-13
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Buckeye Blogging:
OSU – Michigan college football rivals meet in Baghdad
Varsity Letters:
Four area football teams play tonight
All Da King's Men:
Headed For Disaster
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Will Health Care Reform Pass?
Akron Law Café:
Health Care Financing Reform: (69) The Brookings Institute Study on "Bending the Curve" – Four General Strategies
See Jane Style:
Vintage Chic
Car Chase:
TIME TO GET YOUR COLLECTOR CARS WINTERIZED
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Silverdome Potentially SOLD!
Ohio Travels with Betty:
George is looking for a Thanksgiving buffet in Akron.
Sound Check:
Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
HRLite House:
Colloquium at University of Akron
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
By Betty Lin-Fisher
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 05:11 p.m. EDT, Aug 24, 2008
The union representing bus drivers for the Portage Area Regional Transit Authority plans to strike Monday morning after a last-ditch negotiation session today broke down.
Picketing will begin at 4 a.m. Monday.
Trina Molnar, field representative for the Ohio Association of Public School Employees Local 37, said there was no movement when representatives for the two sides met more than 21/2 hours today.
''There was no discussion other than sidebars with the mediator, the attorney for PARTA and me,'' said Molnar, the union's chief negotiator.
PARTA officials said they were disappointed that there was no formal negotiating session today. W. Frank Hairston, director of marketing and customer service, said PARTA had a written proposal it was ready to present to the union.
Molnar said she did meet with the federal mediator and PARTA attorney and was clear that she would take a proposal to her membership if it included a ''fair share'' provision requiring nonunion employees to pay dues if they receive union-negotiated benefits and protections.
The union has said the fair-share provision has been the main point holding up a contract.
''At this point, I have no plans to contact PARTA and ask for further negotiations,'' Molnar said.
The union, which represents 55 to 65 drivers, was trying to get its first labor contract with the bus agency.
The strike will begin on the first day of classes for Kent State University. PARTA, based in Kent, provides transportation to about 7,700 people a day, including about 5,700 Kent State students, faculty and staff.
A separate division uses Kent State student drivers who are not part of the bargaining unit. That division is not involved in the dispute.
PARTA officials have said all buses will be rolling Monday.
But Molnar said it's hard to say whether student bus drivers or student passengers will cross the picket lines.
''We've been contacted by some student activists at Kent,'' she said. ''There's some concerns from the students that they do not wish to cross a picket line or even have a part in the labor strike.''
Negotiations started in July 2006, and an impasse was declared a year ago.
The union representing bus drivers for the Portage Area Regional Transit Authority plans to strike Monday morning after a last-ditch negotiation session today broke down.
Picketing will begin at 4 a.m. Monday.
Trina Molnar, field representative for the Ohio Association of Public School Employees Local 37, said there was no movement when representatives for the two sides met more than 21/2 hours today.
''There was no discussion other than sidebars with the mediator, the attorney for PARTA and me,'' said Molnar, the union's chief negotiator.
PARTA officials said they were disappointed that there was no formal negotiating session today. W. Frank Hairston, director of marketing and customer service, said PARTA had a written proposal it was ready to present to the union.
Molnar said she did meet with the federal mediator and PARTA attorney and was clear that she would take a proposal to her membership if it included a ''fair share'' provision requiring nonunion employees to pay dues if they receive union-negotiated benefits and protections.
The union has said the fair-share provision has been the main point holding up a contract.
''At this point, I have no plans to contact PARTA and ask for further negotiations,'' Molnar said.
The union, which represents 55 to 65 drivers, was trying to get its first labor contract with the bus agency.
The strike will begin on the first day of classes for Kent State University. PARTA, based in Kent, provides transportation to about 7,700 people a day, including about 5,700 Kent State students, faculty and staff.
A separate division uses Kent State student drivers who are not part of the bargaining unit. That division is not involved in the dispute.
PARTA officials have said all buses will be rolling Monday.
But Molnar said it's hard to say whether student bus drivers or student passengers will cross the picket lines.
''We've been contacted by some student activists at Kent,'' she said. ''There's some concerns from the students that they do not wish to cross a picket line or even have a part in the labor strike.''
Negotiations started in July 2006, and an impasse was declared a year ago.
