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The Metropolitan Transit
Authority of Harris County (METRO) Board of Directors today announced approval
of a new contract between METRO and the Transport Workers Union of America
Local 260 and the Transport Workers Union of
America, AFL-CIO, which represent the majority of METRO’s bus and rail
operators and mechanics.
The three-year pact provides
wage increases, enhanced health care contributions, and revisions regarding
qualifications and appointment of trustees to the employee health and
welfare trust. The agreement was ratified by almost 90 percent of union members
who voted.
METRO Chairman Gilbert Garcia
said, "I think this is a wonderful outcome. Ultimately we did the right thing and I feel great about it."
METRO President & CEO Tom
Lambert said he was very pleased with the ratification. “This is the first time
in 10 years that we have been able to reach agreement on a
new pact without an impasse or arbitration.”
"The Transport Workers Union of America and TWU Local 260
reached an agreement after months of negotiations. We are pleased with the contract that was
overwhelmingly ratified by the membership. TWU and Local 260 reached the agreement with Houston METRO with no give- backs," said John Bland, Administrative Vice President of the Transport Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO.
The new contract includes:
- A 2.25 percent wage
increase retroactive to Aug.1, 2015.
- A 3 percent wage increase for each of the following two
years.
- A hike in METRO's monthly
contribution to the Transport Workers - METRO Health and Welfare
Trust to $1035 per eligible employee and retiree retroactive to Aug.1, 2015.
- Additional increases in METRO's
monthly contribution to the Transport Workers – METRO Health and Welfare
Trust to $1,071 per eligible employee and retiree in 2016, and to $1,109 in 2017.
- Modifications to provisions
reflecting that all trustees of the METRO Health and Welfare
Trust will be appointed by the Union.
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