Union Warns of System Shutdown as CATS Contract Deadline Nears

BATON ROUGE, La. – As the Capital Area Transit System (CATS) faces the December 31 expiration of its contract with the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) 1546, union president George DeCuir has issued a stark warning: if their demands are not met, operations could grind to a halt.

“We don’t want to disrupt the agency, the traveling public, or the taxpayers who fund this system,” DeCuir said during a December 2 meeting. “However, if our demands for a fair collective bargaining agreement are not met, we will shut the system down. That will be our last-case scenario.”

The union calls on CATS to terminate unnecessary contracts, increase transparency and accountability, and agree to a fair and equitable contract for its workers. In addition to pay raises, the union demands improved safety measures, pointing to inadequate lighting, poor bus maintenance, and cleanliness issues as longstanding concerns.

“We have voiced concerns about lighting at the premises, conditions in the bus garages, the state of operator seats, and the cleanliness of buses. Too often, those issues are ignored,” DeCuir said.

In response, CATS CEO Theo Richards released a statement:
“At CATS, we recognize the critical role our transit workers play in providing essential services to the community. We remain committed to negotiating in good faith to achieve a fair and equitable resolution that aligns with the best interests of our employees, riders, and taxpayers.

While I am unable to comment on specific points of the negotiations at this time, I would like to emphasize that CATS has recently completed a clean audit, demonstrating our commitment to transparency, accountability, and the responsible management of public funds. This reflects the strides we are making to ensure taxpayer dollars are utilized effectively to improve our services and support our workforce.”

DeCuir criticized the indirect nature of the negotiation process, urging CATS leadership to meet with the union directly. “You can’t release a statement if you’re not at the negotiating table. We’re there, and we don’t like what’s happening,” he said.

With time running out, the prospect of a system shutdown threatens to disrupt the lives of thousands of Baton Rouge commuters, increasing the pressure on both sides to reach a resolution.