The workers behind Los Angeles Metro’s bike share will be holding a union vote on Thursday, according to an LAist article.
The bikes may look like they are overseen by the LA County Metropolitan Transportation Authority thanks to the distinctive “M” on their front. In fact, the city pays Bicycle Transit Systems to manage thousands of bikes and their stations.
The website reported that Bicycle Transit Systems oversees 1,400 bikes and 240 stations and employs around 60 people in LA.
The company failed to voluntarily recognize a union after its employees filed paperwork with the National Relations Labor Board to join the Transport Workers Union. Now, the employees will hold an official vote on Thursday.
The workers want a union for better pay and safer work conditions.
“There is no reason why this employer cannot recognize this union and bring their wages and benefits in line with other cities that have thriving bike share systems.” TWU Organizing Director Angelo Cucuzza said in a statement to LAist.
The employees are a mix of mechanics, dispatchers and technicians, and they say the wages are far too low, according to an article in Streetsblog L.A.
A Metro Bike Share mechanic who requested that his name not be used told the blog that he hopes union representation would mean “wages that give us dignity [and] better worker protections.”
Knock LA reported that among the employees at Bicycle Transit Systems there is a divide between office employees and those doing physical labor.
“We have an upstairs and a downstairs at our warehouse,” an employee told the website.
“It’s like a startup that has its warehouse there. We can see the paradigm is so different in how we operate. A lot of times they’re speaking for all of us when they’re talking about what they want.”
City Councilmember Mike Bonin tweeted his support for the fledgling union in June, saying: “I stand with workers organizing @BikeMetro. Like all public transit, bike share should provide its workers a rewarding career pathway. Attracting & retaining good workers means better service & reliability. It’s a win-win for workers & riders.”
Alison Cohen, CEO of Bicycle Transit Systems, told LAist whatever the outcome of the vote, “we're going to keep doing our best to be a fair and just employer.”