Westminster, Colo. Bus drivers, light-rail operators and mechanics for Denver’s mass transit operator overwhelmingly rejected a contract proposal Sunday and gave union leaders authority to strike.
Bus and light-rail service was still scheduled to run Monday, since by law, the union must provide 72 hours’ notice before workers go on strike.
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1001 officials did not release vote totals but said 95 percent of voters rejected the contract offer from the Regional Transportation District and authorized a strike.
Union leaders had recommended that its 1,750 members reject the proposal and RTD’s offer of an average $1.80 hourly wage increase, made in 15-cent hourly increases per quarter, over three years. The proposal also extended some increases in benefits.
The workers’ previous contract, which expired Feb. 28, included no increases in base pay.
“(The vote) means that we’re sending out a message to RTD to make a better offer,” union spokesman Dave Minshall said. “We want them to get an offer to the table that they can live with. We want a deal that is more than just a nickel and a dime an hour. We want a deal that recognizes that they went without a wage increase for three years.” He said the union was trying to get RTD back to the table for more talks.
“Ask RTD when the strike is. The ball is in their court,” Minshall said.
