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Bi-State Development Agency/Metro Employees Ratify New Labor Contracts
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MetroBus and MetroLink operators, mechanics, clerical and maintenance workers have ratified new labor contracts.
Metro workers are represented by the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 788. The Bi-State Development Agency’s Board of Commissioners voted in favor of the same agreements on Sept. 19.
“We are pleased we have new contracts in place with our employees,” said John Nations, the Agency’s President & CEO.
One agreement covers the MetroBus and MetroLink operators, mechanics, electromechanics, and maintenance employees. The second contract covers clerical employees. They both expire on Dec. 31, 2017 and include pay raises for about 1,400 employees. Both contracts are retroactive to July 1, 2014.
The operators, maintenance and clerical workers receive a 3 percent wage increase on July 1 of each year of the contract and the mechanics and electromechanics receive a 5 percent pay increase on July 1 of each year of the contract. Employees will also receive a one-time payment of between $500 and $2,000, depending on when they were hired.
Pension benefits remain unchanged for current, future and retired employees. However, because pension benefits have been a key issue during these long negotiations, both the agency and the union have agreed to revisit portions of the pension plan in the future. The previous union contracts expired on June 30, 2009 and were followed with extensions.
During negotiations, ATU Local 788 accused Metro of trying to divide the workforce.
“That simply was not true,” Nations said. “We negotiated in good faith and never intended to offend anyone, or to disrupt or divide the union leadership or our employees. All of us at the Bi-State Development Agency are committed to serving the citizens of the region, and I applaud our employees for the work they do. We are also committed to ensuring that our employees work in an atmosphere of respect. We put one of the nation’s best transit service products on the street, and we are committed to being one of the best workplaces in transit.”
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When the asset values that St. Louis County place on North County real estate has decline nearly 40% since 2007, where these bonuses and raises going to come from. My understanding is that the one no call, no show day mainly effected routes in the county. File that under biting the hands that feed you.
Kas63032, before I find an answer for you, I first want to clarify your request. You want to know how the agency plans to pay for bonuses and raises for MetroBus and MetroLink operators, mechanics, clerical and maintenance workers? Correct?
Matthew Hibbard, I realize the federal government, the state of MO and local taxing agencies chip in dollars, since the ridership isn’t covering what they whine about. As I recall the last Metro fare increase was a burden on the train riders, not those who pay a daily bus fare. I realize many in the City believe these Metro employees deserve more, except their annual property tax payments can’t even cover the costs to run City Hall. Finally, what does Madison County and St. Charles County pay drivers and other employees?
Thank you for the clarification. I’ll see if I can find an answer for you.
Bounces and raises for MetroBus and MetroLink operators, mechanics, clerical and maintenance workers will come out of our operating budget. This budget is predominantly funded through a local sales tax by residents of the City of St. Louis, St. Louis County and St. Clair County in Illinois in addition to passenger fares. Since we do not operate in Madison or St. Charles Country, you’d need to contact those agencies to figure how driver/employee pay.