Labor relations updates from NJ Transit, Block By Block, BC Transit

Labor relations between New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit), Block by Block and BC Transit and their respective unions have made progress on new collective bargaining agreements.

NJ Transit

Members of the Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) at Local 2001 working for NJ Transit have voted to ratify a new three-year contract that includes pay raises and additional time off. The new contract was ratified with 80 percent of votes in favor for the unit representing 180 car inspectors, car mechanics and coach cleaners.  

The three-year contract, which takes effect July 1, includes three percent pay raises for three years, Veterans Day as a paid holiday and one additional paid sick day, bringing the total number of paid sick days to six.  

Block by Block

A four-year, collective bargaining agreement has been ratified by Block by Block workers represented by Teamsters Local 25. Block by Block workers serve as transit ambassadors on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and the agrement is their first with Teamsters Local 25. The contract incldues wage increases, a Teamsters pension and workplace protections language.

"Thank you to my fellow transit ambassadors for standing together in support of this historical event," said Khalilah Ali, a transit ambassador at Block by Block. "We were committed to getting a strong first contract and we greatly appreciate the hard work of Teamsters Local 25 for helping us secure the changes and improvements we wanted."

"Block by Block Teamsters make traveling on public transportation in the Greater Boston region seamless," said Tom Mari, president of Local 25 and Secretary-Treasurer of Joint Council 10. "They touch the lives of countless visitors and commuters by ensuring they get to and from their desired location safely and efficiently. We are proud to represent them and to have helped them secure their very first Teamsters contract that includes better wages and a Teamsters pension. The Joint Council 10 organizing department has been with these workers every step of the way since their first meetings riding the train with workers through this contract victory. We look forward to our continued partnership with these essential transit Teamsters."

BC Transit 

BC Transit and CUPE Local 4500 have come together to ratify a new three-year collective agreement that is consistent with the BC Government’s Shared Recovery Mandate. 

The agreement provides for wage increases of a flat rate of C$0.25 (US$0.18) per hour and a 3.24 percent General Wage Increase (GWI) in Year 1, an initial 5.5 percent GWI, which was increased to the maximum of 6.75 percent when the 1.25 percent Cost off Living Adjustment (COLA) MOU was triggered in Year 2 and an initial two percent GWI, which was increased to the maximum of three percent, when the one percent COLA MOU was triggered in Year 3.The renewed agreement also reflects the mutual interest of the Union and BC Transit and our strategic plans and operational initiatives.

CUPE represents approximately 24 employees in Transit Supervisor and Transit Operations Controller (formerly known as Transit Communications Coordinator) roles in the Victoria Regional Transit System.  

The previous labor agreement expired on Dec. 31, 2023. The terms of the new agreement are Jan. 1, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2026.