LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Transit Authority of River City (TARC) is Louisville’s major public transportation provider. On Wednesday, 95% of TARC workers, represented by ATU Local 1447, voted to allow a strike. 

What You Need To Know

  • TARC is Louisville’s major public transportation provider 

  • 95% of TARC workers voted to allow a strike

  • This comes after months of failed contract negotiations with TARC Administration

  • TARC says it has a plan in place if they experience a worker shortage 

Louisville native William Richardson calls TARC a bloodline. “It means quite a bit because even people in this community, most of them don’t have vehicles and in order for them to go to the store to get the necessities, they have to ride the bus or pay somebody which you know, they don’t have that kind of money,” said Richardson.

He doesn’t ride TARC buses often, but it is always an option if needed. 

“I need it now,” Richardson said. “I’ve got to go pick up my car, so if it wasn’t for TARC, I gotta go like three miles. I don’t know how far it is, but I would be in bad shape myself.”

Just a few blocks down sat 63-year-old Michael Stewart, who rides a TARC bus almost every day.

“That would be, I might need to go get food. I might need to go to my doctor’s appointments. Today I’m using them to get my ID,” Stewart said. 

The navy veteran is recovering from a drug and alcohol addiction. TARC is his ride to and from rehab. “My expectations for when I get out of my rehab are high. I have family and granddaughters and kids that I’m looking forward to seeing,” Stewart said. 

TARC says it is preparing for the possibility of a work stoppage or sick out among its union workforce. 

Stewart is hoping it doesn’t reach that point. 

“Not only myself, but everyone that doesn’t have transportation, it would be detrimental. What would they do? It’s almost wintertime. That makes it even harder for people to travel. Even a short distance might be too cold,” Stewart said. 

According to Local 1477 says TARC management’s disrespectful treatment and refusal to negotiate fair wage increases and address safety concerns led to the vote. 

“They have an awesome job too because they got to deal with people and take abuse and all kinds of other crazy things,” explained Richardson. “So I don’t know what they’re making usually is not enough.”

Currently, there is no strike in place, but TARC is preparing for that event.  

According to TARC, if a strike happens, it will try to continue operating with minimal to no disruption for passengers. People like Richardson and Stewart are hopeful of that. 

And if a significant shortage of drivers occurs, TARC says it will deploy trained supervisors and administrative staff to provide as much service as possible. 

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