Union transit workers said Tuesday they are prepared to go on strike against RTD because the company’s latest offer isn’t close to what they want.
“A nickel and a dime isn’t enough to support a family,” said union spokesman Dave Minshall, referring to a quarterly, 15-cent per-hour increase RTD has offered. “We estimate our share of the health insurance premiums will go up more than $2,700 in the same time. We’ll be losing money.”
On Saturday, RTD offered the 1,750 members of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1001 (bus and light-rail operators, mechanics, telephone operators, custodians and others) a wage increase of $780 each year for three years, totaling $2,340.
RTD spokesman Scott Reed said employee health insurance premiums haven’t been set beyond this year. They are established by a Health and Welfare Trust, consisting of three union representatives and three management representatives. Any increase requires a unanimous vote, he said, adding that employee premiums haven’t increased in four years, including 2006.
On Sunday, the union’s 11-member board of directors voted unanimously to reject RTD’s last offer. The rank and file will vote Sunday. A strike-authorization vote requires a two-thirds majority.
Reed said RTD doesn’t want a strike but has a contingency plan in place. He said the union is required to give RTD a 72-hour advance notice of a strike.
Staff writer Mike McPhee can be reached at 303-820-1409 or mmcphee@denverpost.com.
