MCTS Offers Contract Proposal to Drivers Who Have Threatened to Strike
The average MCTS bus driver will make more than $62,000 this year in salary and overtime.
Milwaukee County Transit System
Milwaukee, WI – The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) presented a four-year contract offer to the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 998 today that will increase bus driver pay and lower their pension contribution.
The average MCTS bus driver will make more than $62,000 this year in salary and overtime. The proposed contract includes more money for drivers and mechanics along with a matching $500 Flexible Spending Account to help offset modest increases in healthcare costs.
The union says their members will vote on the contract on Monday. They say they will also take another vote on whether or not to strike. MCTS continues to stress to union leaders that a strike will hurt the tens of thousands of people across Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha Counties who rely on MCTS to get to work, school and medical appointments. ATU has said there will not be a strike until after their members vote on Monday.
“We look forward to union leaders ending the threat of this strike and getting back to working with us to serve our community. We believe this proposal improves MCTS, our sustainability and the services we provide, while also rewarding drivers and mechanics for the excellent job they do,” said MCTS Managing Director Dan Boehm.
Key Points of Four-Year Contract Offered to Union by MCTS on June 26, 2015
- Maintain current cost-of-living increase that provides up to 2% pay increase per year
- 1.3% lower pension contributions by employees beginning January 1, 2016; which is equivalent to a 1.3% wage increase
- 1% pay raise on January 1,2017
- Wage and health care for 2018 and 2019 will be negotiated two years from now
- “A” Mechanics would see an additional 25 cents per hour increase on January 1, 2016 and another 25 cent increase on January 1, 2017
- MCTS will offer a matching $500 Flexible Spending Account for employees to help offset modest increases in healthcare costs.
- MCTS will hire a small number of part-time drivers, which may include retirees, to help alleviate workloads and cut down on overtime
- MCTS requests to change pension eligibility, which permits employees currently as young as 48 years old to retire onto the pension plan
- Increase in monthly health care premium contribution
- MCTS will pay 90% of health costs after deductibles are met (90/10 coinsurance)
What the MCTS Proposed Contract Means for Riders and the Community
- The contract greatly improves the sustainability of MCTS, meaning a better transit system now and in the future
- By reigning in future healthcare costs, MCTS can deploy more money and resources to help people get to work, school and doctor’s appointments
- The four year contract provides stability for riders, employers and the community
MCTS Contract Proposal by the Numbers
MCTS Contract Proposal by the Numbers
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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