Forsythe Fires 35 Arlington Bus Drivers; Union Vows to Keep Fighting

Forsythe Transportation, which operates the Arlington Transit bus system, announced Wednesday that it fired 35 bus drivers who were on strike last week.

The company has been at odds with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3001 -- and union leader Charles Smith has vowed to keep fighting.

Members of the Local 3001 to protest, they said, unfair working conditions -- including the denial of bathroom breaks -- and sexual harassment on the part of management.

. Most of the affected routes were in the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor.

Forsythe, in Wednesday's announcement, said the strike violated the Local 3001's agreement with the company. Smith said the company had already broken that trust.

Smith said he has filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board. He also criticized Forsythe for using drivers with minimal training.

Smith said he received a phone call about the firings around the time the company issued the press release.

"(Forsythe) violated the contract many, many, many times, and this will be hashed out by the National Labor Relations Board," Smith said. "It's kind of pathetic that a safety program that requires four to six weeks of training is thrown out the window so they can bust the union."

He added: "Sadly, Arlington County seems to have sat quietly by."

Messages left with the National Labor Relations Board were not immediately returned Wednesday.

Arlington County Board Chairman Chris Zimmerman last week called for an immediate resolution to the dispute.

The union's claims include allegations that Forsythe managers required employees to meet them in hotels for sexual favors.

Mark Foster, Forsythe's chief operating officer, said Wednesday that his company has asked repeatedly for evidence to back up the union's claims, and that has not been provided.

The company's internal investigation was restricted to who was on strike and whether that violated the agreement with the labor union. The allegations of sexual harassment and unfair working conditions are "separate issues," he said.

When asked if Arlington County would initiate an independent investigation, Zimmerman said Wednesday that was "a reasonable thing to suggest."

"I have a lot of questions," Zimmerman said. "I've given quite a few of them to the (county) manager today."

Forsythe stated Arlington bus service is operating at 100 percent.

Foster said he was unaware of the safety training Smith mentioned.

"Our drivers are very safe," he said. "They've been trained. They've passed all the requirements they need to satisfy the requirements of our contract."

Arlington County is in the process of renewing its contract with Forsythe.

The county is projected to pay the company $7 million next fiscal year to provide service.