Everett transit board approves driver contract
The governing body overseeing the Snohomish County transit agency approved an agreement with its labor union on Thursday, concluding a bargaining period that stretched for over a year. The agency's board of directors authorized the deal between Community Transit and the union representing its workforce.
Employees represented by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1576, which covers drivers, dispatchers, and maintenance staff, are scheduled to receive a 5% retroactive pay adjustment for 2025. Additional increases of 4% are slated for 2026 and 2027, with the agreement set to expire at the close of 2027.
According to a memorandum from the agency, a provisional agreement was reached in August, followed by a ratification vote by union membership in September.
Bargaining became protracted after the previous labor agreement lapsed at the end of 2024. Union members organized informational pickets in July to advocate for higher wages and increased safety funding for drivers. Union officials noted that the agency initially offered annual raises of 2.5%.
Both sides entered a mediation process in July. No work stoppages occurred during the negotiations.
The union president stated in a phone interview on Friday that he was pleased the contract was finalized after roughly 20 months of talks. This lengthy timeline follows a previous instance where the agency and union required more than two years to finalize a contract back in 2018.
The transit agency's CEO, Ric Ilgenfritz, issued a statement on Thursday saying the organization strives to be a desirable workplace through competitive compensation and culture. He noted that drivers are central to the agency's daily operations and that riders depend on them. Ilgenfritz added that the collaborative negotiation resulted in a package offering competitive pay and benefits for drivers, positioning the agency to continue providing high-quality service to a growing customer base.