Utah Transit Authority riders were not the only ones watching buses in downtown Salt Lake City during the APTA International Bus Rodeo. Dozens of UTA front-line workers used the high-profile event as a backdrop to rally for a new contract, after months of what they say are stalled negotiations. Within days of the demonstration, UTA postponed two bargaining sessions that had been set for next week.
UTA Halts Sessions, Points To Ground Rules
In a statement, UTA said the public rally ran counter to the “collaborative approach and mutually agreed upon ground rules” that framed the start of bargaining, and that it was postponing two upcoming sessions as a result, as reported by ABC4 Utah. The agency did not say whether the pause would affect the broader bargaining schedule. According to the statement, the now delayed sessions had been scheduled for next week.
Workers Say They Have Waited Long Enough
Workers who turned out at the bus rodeo told reporters they have been without a contract for five months and chanted for better pay, improved safety, and clearer communication, according to coverage republishing the local report. Yahoo News noted that bus drivers, TRAX operators, and maintenance staff joined the picket line. Those groups are represented by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 382, and UTA board documents show that about 1,600 operators, maintenance employees, and parts workers fall under the union contract, per the UTA board packet.
What Comes Next At The Bargaining Table
UTA says it expects to resume negotiations with ATU Local 382 in June, but did not immediately lock in new dates after postponing the two sessions, according to ABC4 Utah. Union members say they plan to keep the pressure on until a deal is reached. The rally and the subsequent delay come amid a broader uptick in labor activity in Utah, after state lawmakers moved earlier this year to reverse a ban on some public sector collective bargaining, as reported by ABC News.
