An apparent labor dispute Wednesday morning between Pennsylvania
Department of Transportation equipment operators and agency leaders
at the local maintenance department over promotions and managing
techniques led to a delay in trucks being sent out to treat icy
highways across the county.

The “protest” – which has been threatened to be replayed today –
resulted in scores of accidents, school districts pushing back the
start of classes and major highways, including the U.S. Route 219
Bradford Bypass from the New York state line to Lantz Corners and
Route 770, from being passable for up to three hours early
Wednesday morning.

In response, PennDOT officials said they were investigating the
problems and assured motorists that crews will be working to clear
the roads if there is a need today. The agency transferred from its
winter to summer mode on April 1.

Crews from local Department of Public Works entities helped
clear state routes Wednesday until PennDOT crews arrived.

There were apparently no serious injuries or fatalities in any
of the accidents, according to various law enforcement agencies
that responded to calls. There were reports, however, that some
people were left stranded by the sides of roads waiting to be
picked up by public transportation that couldn’t make it to their
stops.

“We have met with most of our crews and there was some
miscommunications,” McKean-Elk Counties Maintenance Manager Pat
Shinaberger said. “I believe we have worked those out today
(Wednesday). I have assurances that all our trucks and snowfighting
equipment will be available today if needed. The storm came in fast
and froze on (the highways) quickly.”

Shinaberger said as a result of the events Wednesday, the
department’s winter message center – which is available around the
clock – has been reactivated, and the Pennsylvania State Police and
McKean County 911 dispatch center have been notified.

According to PennDOT Community Relations Coordinator Marla
Fannin, the crews just came off the dual winter shift and are
working from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. She said two crews were out by 4:30
a.m., adding one crew equals five or six trucks. Fannin said all
four crews in the county were out by 7 a.m., and had been
monitoring the roads Tuesday night.

The county’s maintenance office consists of 382 miles of roadway
which is maintained by 41 permanent operators. The crews are part
of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
(AFSCME) union.

“The spreaders were still on the trucks,” Fannin said. “It was
not the type of condition where we needed to plow snow off the
roadway. We were monitoring the weather reports and only an inch
was predicted.”

Fannin said the change from winter to summer mode is done
through a contract and has been in place for more than 20
years.

To that end, an employee of the local maintenance department,
who declined to be identified by The Era, said “Guys are
frustrated. We don’t feel like we are giving the best customer
service we can.”

“We also have families, friends, relatives and children that use
these roads,” the individual said. “There’s been a lot of
mismanagement this winter and micromanaging by two assistant county
managers. It’s really disappointing to think in this day and age
that men can’t be treated as men and be left to do their jobs.”

The individual said the problem between the operators and some
members of the administration came about after some “B operators” –
which make less money than “A operators” -ðwere up for promotions
and were told recently they wouldn’t be forthcoming.

“To see the brass ring and at the last minute be told you are
not being promoted …” the individual said with his voice trailing
off. “It just got the point where they decided they weren’t coming
to work today (Wednesday).”

Those close to the situation said not all the crews were called
out Wednesday morning, with the Bradford and Smethport crews that
didn’t show up for work being reprimanded by PennDOT officials at
the Mount Alton maintenance facility.

“They were asked if they would be going out tomorrow and they
said ‘yes,'” the individual said. “You will see the same thing
happen again tomorrow (today) unless management elects to call the
people they didn’t (Wednesday).”

In regards to getting trucks out on the roads, the individual
said there weren’t enough trucks that were ready to respond, in
part, because equipment had been taken off when it shouldn’t have
been.

“This is Bradford. Just because you have a warm-up you can’t
expect to start putting down blacktop on the road. We still have
winter to get out of our system.”

Those close to the situation also said the amount of material
used on the roads had even been cut back. Others close to the
situation said some drivers have been sent home during the middle
of winter storms.

“This goes all the way to Harrisburg,” the individual said. “If
we don’t use the trucks enough, they take them from us. In the last
two years, we’ve lost four trucks alone. It’s all part of Rendell’s
Clean and Green certification.”

To that end, Fannin said during a typical winter, counties try
and plan ahead over a two-year time frame in order to try and
stockpile material.

“This past winter has been more mild than last year,” Fannin
said. “Hopefully, we were able to save some money in material
expenditure. You can potentially spend that for summertime
activities. Every situation is different and each county might have
a specific concern.”

According to those close to the situation, there wasn’t expected
to be anybody terminated over the Wednesday incident.

Officials didn’t comment directly on how any state-imposed
budget constraints might affect local operations.