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* Vt'jWvL After more than a mdnth
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of striking, the union and the MTA reach a tentative contract agreement
By RYAN WILSON
Contributing Writer
A tentative agreement has been reached between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and striking union members, at least temporarily ending the second longest strike in MTA history.
The union representing MTA mechanics walked off the job 36 days ago when the MTA and unions were unable to reach an agreement over health care and salaries.
Union representatives rejected four MTA offers before going on strike.
The conditions of Mondays contract do not include an agreement on funding o^the unions health care plan, vn MTA statement said.
The Amalgamated Transit Union, the mechanics union, will vote to ratify the agreement .Wednesday.
The MTA began scheduling limited bus service late Monday night Trains on the Blue Line will begin running Tuesday morning, as will services along the Metro Red Line between North Hollywood and Union Station.
The 22 private bus lines, which are currently being paid for by the MTA, will continue to run, said Gail Anderson said, a spokeswoman for the MTA.
If the unions decide to ratify the agreement, “then full service will be phased in,” Anderson said.
The agreement will now be subject to a 90-day non-binding mediation and arbitration. Non-binding mediation allows both sides to use a two-thirds majority to vote down the decisions of the mediators.
After the announcement, “ener-I see MTA. page 11 I
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Although the striking unipn stopped picketing Ralphs on Oct 31, there are no new advanceptents inneigotiations.
By ZACH FOX	%
Staff Writer
Union leaders for the United Food and Commercial Workers , strike say that despite the fact mat striking grocery store workers wire ■ pulled from picketing Ralphs stores last month, the overall strike t&^tSll serving its purpose.	1 - >
“There’s been no loss of momentum," said Barbara Maynard, spokeswoman for UFCW Local #0 find 1442. “The pressure has JOst. been vamped up on Safeway,/ who we believe is the real ring leader here.”.
The UFCW announced the decision to end all picketing*! all Ralphs throughout the Southern California area on Friday Oct 31.
Those workers who,were picketing in front of Ralphs have been reassigned to help in other aspects of the
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“ There 's been no lass of momentum The pressure hm just been wimped up on Safeway, who we believe is the re/d ring letuler here'
BARBARA
MAYNARD spokeswoman local UFCW chapters
Waiting. Gloria Palma waits at DASH bus stop on Exposition Boulevard. The DASH buses have been overcrowded since the MTA strike started last month.
unions push for a setdement including working on the picket lings at Safeway stores in Northern California. Safeway is the owner of Vons, Maynard said.^
The union has led the movement against Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons.	i \‘.jpi^S.
On Oct 9,98 percent of uniori members voted in favor of refusing the latest contract offer from the employers, which, according to the union, substantially reduced health and pension benefits.
Union members went on strike Oct 10 at midnight The current removal of the picketers from Ralphs stores does not indicate any advance in negotiations, Maynard said.	'
The break in the sight of picket lines at the local Ralphs sends the message that a settlement has been
*	• I see.Qroc«ry page 111
Peace Corps signing more from USC
About 500 USC alumni have volunteered for the government program.
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By KIM HOLMES
Contributing Writer
(here were no books, pencils or paper when Jason Rothbard taught 8th grade English in Africa for the Peace Corps.
Rothbard, a graduate student majoring in public administration, did not have any teaching experience except for what he learned in his three-month bask tmninaprogram. The only thing* he had in classroom were a piece of chalk, a dulk-board, and teenage boys ready to learn, he said.
"All 1 had was my own ingenuity -and enthusiasm.” said Rothbard, who served two yean at Eritrea, i
country bordering Ethiopia.
The Peace Corps was founded in 1960 when John F. Kennedy challenged students at the University of Michigan to serve their country and strive for peace by living aty) working in a developing country.
Rothbard is one of 506 USC alumni who currently or formerly worked as volunteers for the Peace Corps.	•• t
The Peace Corps has been signing up more USC students and uum-nl in the recent couple of years, . Rothbard said.
Five yean ago. the Peace Corps was registering about 15 students annually, he said That number has more that doubled with 38 students from USC registering this year for the Reece Corps, according to a November Peace Corps report USC vohmteen sre currently
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in public
for the Peace C^rpa