Metrobus

Metro Reaches Agreement With 1 Union; Still in Talks With Largest Union

Metro has reached an agreement with its second-largest union, but the transit agency is still in negotiations with an employee union that voted overwhelmingly in favor of striking.

Metro announced Monday that it had reached an agreement with OPEIU Local 2, the union that represents nearly 1,000 administrative and professional employees. 

Metro says the new five-year contract "provides modest wage increases in exchange for greater employee contributions to health care."

“As with any constructive negotiation, we didn’t get everything we hoped for and neither did Local 2; however, this agreement fairly compensates employees while reducing Metro’s costs,” said General Manager and CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld.

Metro is still in negotiations with leaders of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689, Metro's largest union. About 94 percent of the union's 6,000 members voted in favor of a strike earlier this month.

A strike has to be authorized by the union's executive board, union leader Jackie Jeter said.

No formal agreements have been reached at this time. 

The workers have been without a contract since July 2016.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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