Drivers for First Transit, the only unionized private bus contractor for RTD, could strike the company May 10 if talks to settle their contract dispute fail.
Just as Local 1001 of the Amalgamated Transit Union was ending its strike against the Regional Transportation District, ATU Local 1755, which represents about 290 drivers for First Transit, was pressuring RTD directors to establish a “minimum wage” of $13.50 an hour at the private bus firms when the transit agency bids out the contracts.
By state law, half of RTD’s bus and van service must be farmed out to private contractors. First Transit is the largest private bus operator for RTD and accounts for 18 percent of RTD’s fixed-route bus service.
First Transit and other bus contractors operated routes for RTD during last week’s strike. But because First Transit is unionized, it did not take on routes of striking workers.
First Transit bus drivers start out at $11.50 an hour, while beginning RTD drivers, before the raise they just settled on, start at $13.69, said Gyor Wilson, a First Transit driver and president of Local 1755.
Late last month, the union local and First Transit failed to reach agreement on new contract terms, even after intervention by a federal mediator.
On Friday, Local 1755 delivered a new bargaining request to First Transit, which included three consecutive annual raises of 3 percent, four sick days a year and two $250 bonuses.
First Transit general manager Roger Chapin said Monday that he would not comment on the company’s bargaining position with the union. But in response to Local 1755’s demand for a minimum wage for private bus operators, Chapin said, “We have no problem recruiting with the wages we’re paying.”
The union has given First Transit until April 24 to respond to its latest contract proposal. If there is no satisfactory response from the company by that date to resolve the dispute, the union can give 15 days notice of its intent to strike.
Staff writer Jeffrey Leib can be reached at 303-820-1645 or jleib@denverpost.com.
