Port Authority of Allegheny County approves two-year contract with ATU Local 85
The Port Authority of Allegheny County's Board approved a two-year contract with Amalgamated Transit Union Local 85 on Dec. 23 for the transit agency's 2,300 bus and rail operators, maintenance, service personnel, administrative employees and first-level supervisors.
The contract is retroactive to July 1, 2020 and extends through June 30, 2022. The previous four-year contract expired on June 30, 2020.
The deal is the result of several months of negotiations between Port Authority and Local 85. Local 85 members overwhelmingly approved the contract on December 18.
"We believe this agreement is fair to taxpayers, our riders and the transit employees who have worked hard to improve service,” said Jeff Letwin, Port Authority Board chair. "I want to congratulate everyone who was involved in the contract negotiations."
The contract includes 2.75 percent wage increases in both years of the contract at a total cost of $7.8 million and holds the line on health insurance rates for active employees. A change in carriers for retirees who are at least 65 years-old will result in a savings of $10 million over the next two years.
"The last several months have created a lot of uncertainty in our future, but this contract ensures that we will have some level of consistency over the next two years," said Port Authority CEO Katharine Kelleman.
The contract also extends protections to non-operations employees who are assaulted while on duty and includes various changes in work rules that is expected to save the Authority $1 million over two years.
