Transit workers in San Mateo County are set for a wage boost following a new three-year agreement between SamTrans and Teamsters Local 856. The agreement, ratified last week by the SamTrans Board of Directors, concludes an amicable negotiation process between the transit agency and the union, marking a step forward in securing better compensation for SamTrans employees.
Under the new Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) terms, employees represented by Local 856 are slated to receive annual wage increases of 4% in the first year and 3.5% in both the second and third years. Adding to these are the equity adjustments made to each job classification covered under the MOUs, designed to bring fair compensation across the board. According to SamTrans, just as these adjustments have expired, they will result in wage increases ranging from 18.3% to 21.9% throughout the three-year agreements.
SamTrans General Manager/CEO April Chan expressed her gratitude for the workforce, pointing to their role in serving the San Mateo County community. "Our employees are the backbone of this agency, and their hard work and commitment to serving the community is what makes SamTrans such an outstanding transit system," said Chan via SamTrans. "This agreement reflects our deep respect and appreciation for their contributions, and we look forward to continuing to work together to deliver safe, reliable, and exceptional service to our riders throughout San Mateo County." She also extended thanks to Teamsters Local 856 for their partnership.
The employees represented by Local 856 hold various responsibilities within the transit district, including 57 SamTrans employees across nine job classifications, such as Bus Contract Inspectors' Unit and Maintenance Instructors' Unit. Meanwhile, negotiations remain underway with ATU Local 1574, comprising nearly 400 members across multiple units, including Bus Operators and Customer Service Representatives.
