A two-year contract extension was approved by the TriMet Board of Directors between the agency and the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) 757.
“Our union employees work incredibly hard to keep our transit service rolling, people throughout the region moving and our customers informed and safe,” said TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr. “They deserve pay that reflects their vital role, not only at TriMet but in our community. I’m thrilled to see this contract extension and the salary increases move forward.”
The current union working and wage agreement that had been set to expire on Nov. 30, 2022, will now extend through November 2024. Nearly all aspects of the current contract will remain the same, but the extension includes annual wage increases: 7.5 percent increase effective on Dec. 1, 2022, and a four percent increase effective on Dec. 1, 2023. TriMet staff represented by ATU 757 voted to ratify the contract in late July.
“I want to appreciate the good relationship that we have building with TriMet now,” said ATU 757 President Shirley Block. “I want this board to know that ATU stands behind TriMet trying to make anything safe for all our members. We appreciate the extra effort going on board.”
The contract extension and pay increases are important as TriMet works to end the most severe operator shortage in agency history. TriMet is offering a $7,500 hiring bonus for those joining the team as bus operators. The current starting pay is $25.24 an hour, which will increase Dec. 1, 2022, with the contract extension.
