ATLANTA — At least 41 MARTA bus drivers called in sick Wednesday morning as part of an ongoing contract dispute between the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 732 representing MARTA drivers and MARTA.
On Monday, MARTA told 11Alive it would seek a court injunction against the union on Wednesday after 80 drivers stayed home over apparent frustrations regarding contract negotiations. A MARTA spokesperson said the sickouts resulted from a miscommunication over a new contract.
A MARTA spokesperson said MARTA has notified union leadership that it will file the injunction in Fulton County Superior Court to end the slowdown.
The hearing in Fulton County Superior Court is scheduled for 10 a.m.
Although drivers agreed to a new contract on Saturday, the contract has not been approved by the necessary officials.
A second set of sickouts came on Tuesday, when 73 drivers called off, on a day when a winter weather advisory forced the closure of many state and local government offices, along with nearly all schools in metro Atlanta.
All of this is taking place during a week when up to 1 million people are pouring into Atlanta for Super Bowl LIII, which will take place Sunday at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
"[We have also] demanded that ATU leadership take immediate action disavowing the sick-out and demand that union members return to work," MARTA wrote.
MARTA says the sickout should not have a major impact on Super Bowl events, since the majority of people using public transit are taking MARTA's rail service as opposed to MARTA's buses.
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