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Negotiations are scheduled to resume Thursday between Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1005 and Metro Transit, after workers rejected a contract offer by a 97 percent margin.
Voting Feb. 14-15, Metro Transit workers voted 97 percent to 3 percent to reject a two-year offer. The contract covers about 2,400 workers, including bus operators and mechanics, light rail operators and mechanics, and other support personnel.
“Members have sent a clear message to management that the offer presented does not match up with today’s realities in the workplace,” the union said in its most recent newsletter.
“Metro Transit offered a mediocre 2 percent annual raise and partially offset rising healthcare premiums,” the union said. Management also did not address several issues, including a cost-neutral proposal regarding holidays and the need to boost shift differentials for technical and bus operators to meet chronic shortages in those jobs.
The current contract expired July 31, 2015, but, according to state law, it will remain in effect until a new agreement is reached. This week’s talks will take place with the help of a mediator.