Fairfax, VA - ATU International President John Costa, while joining striking workers in solidarity on the second day of ATU Local 689’s strike against Transdev, blasted Fairfax County Board of Supervisor Chair Jeff McKay for trying to pass the blame for the Fairfax Connector strike.
On Thursday, ATU Local 689, the largest chapter of the International ATU, went on strike over unfair labor practices. Local 689 represents 650 Fairfax Connector bus operators and maintenance workers. Members have been working under an expired contract since December 2023.
“It is one hundred percent despicable and disheartening that Chair McKay has refused to take responsibility for his lack of action that could have prevented a strike. Instead, he is blaming the Union while proclaiming his support for their efforts to reach a fair, new contract,” said International President John Costa. “Chair McKay should immediately agree to meet with Union leadership instead of doubling down on cheap, political tricks that are not fooling anyone.”
Despite multiple attempts by Local 689 leadership, Chair McKay repeated and willfully refused to meet with the Union. Instead, he stuck his head in the sand and insisted that Fairfax County had no role to play in the contract talks. Now, when facing a strike that was absolutely avoidable if the County had only gotten involved in the negotiations and heeded the Union’s concerns, Chair McKay has fecklessly attempted to shift blame and released a statement that misrepresents the County’s role in ensuring their contractor complies with federal labor law and meets its obligations to Fairfax County’s riding public.