Officials of the San Mateo County Transit District and representatives for the agency’s bus operators and maintenance workers have agreed to a new three-year contract. The new deal calls for a two-year salary freeze and employee contributions to healthcare and pension plans.
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1574 represents the 383 operators and maintenance employees. In the prior two years workers received previously negotiated wage increases, while non-represented employees received their last salary increase in 2008.
Under the new agreement, employees will begin contributing to the monthly premium costs for health coverage; 3 percent in the first year, an additional 3 percent in the second year and an additional 4 percent in the third year, for a total of 10 percent phased in over three years.
Employees will also begin paying a portion of the employee contribution to the PERS retirement system. Under the new agreement, employees will pay 2 percent in the first year, an additional 2 percent in the second year and an additional 1 percent in the third year, a total of 5 percent phased in over three years.
The changes in healthcare and pension contributions also will apply to non-represented employees.
In another negotiation with Teamsters Local 856, which represents bus transportation supervisors and bus contract inspectors, a tentative agreement has been reached. A membership vote on the contract is scheduled for later this month.