WAMU | DEC 11, 10:13 AM

Metro And Its Largest Union Reach 4-Year Agreement That Could Phase Out Privatization
Jordan Pascale

Metro and its largest union, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689, say they’ve reached a tentative agreement addressing union concerns over privatization.

Both parties are withholding details of the four-year proposed contract deal until they can brief union members and Metro’s board. Both parties must agree to ratify the terms. More details should be available at Thursday’s Metro board meeting.

In a joint statement, both parties said the agreement could “create a path to bring in-house work performed at Cinder Bed Road bus garage and on the Silver Line.”

Local 689 bus workers that work for WMATA private contractor Transdev in Northern Virginia have been on strike for nearly two months, canceling 15 routes and reducing schedules on three others. It won’t immediately end the private contract there, but it appears Metro could phase out the three-year contract after it expires. That may be enough for the union to end the work stoppage.

Metro has been eyeing privatization of services as one way to save money and avoid escalating workers’ healthcare and retirement costs. Rising pension costs have long been one of Metro’s concerns. The agency has a $2.8 billion unfunded pension liability.
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This story originally appeared on WAMU.