The NFTA and the ATU Local 1342 have entered a three-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA). ATU members ratified the agreement last week, and the NFTA’s Board of Commissioners authorized the agreement at its meeting today, Thursday, April 28. The Union represents approximately 1,000 employees at the NFTA, including Bus and Rail Operators, Bus and Rail Mechanics, and those employed in the NFTA’s Clerical Department.  

The new starting wages for all NFTA employees represented by the ATU will position the NFTA to improve its recruitment of new employees at this time.  In addition, the overall wage increases set forth in the new contract will help ensure the retention of our long-term employees, while other operational changes agreed to by the parties will alter existing work rules and other operational practices, to provide efficiencies and other improvements overall, all of which advances the NFTA’s mission and supports its many services to the public. 

Wage and benefit changes to the collective bargaining agreement include:

• Members receive an equity adjustment of nine percent (9%) to current hourly wage rates, effective April 1, 2022, except for paratransit and big bus operators, who will see the starting rate for those positions increased by $2.00 per hour.
• Changes to starting rates of pay, by elimination of the first step (or two) for many titles, which allows employees to reach the top rate of pay one year sooner.
• Salary increases in April 2023, 2024 and 2025 for all employees of two percent (2.00%), two percent (2.00%), and two and one-quarter percent (2.25%) respectively.
• Increases to longevity pay over two years, with the goal to encourage retention of long-serving employees.
• Addition of Juneteenth to the list of basic holidays for all employees.

Effective January 1, 2024, there will also be an increase in the contribution by employees for company-provided health insurance to twelve percent (12%) of the monthly premium cost for either single or family coverage in the Traditional Blue POS 298 (POS 205).