Pittsburgh Transit Agency Approves New Labor Pact

Pittsburgh’s transit agency has approved a new contract with the union representing its light-rail operators, maintenance and service personnel, administrative employees, and first-level supervisors.

The Port Authority of Allegheny County agreed to give members of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 85 a 2.75 percent wage increases in both years of the contract at a total cost of $7.8 million.

The contract changes the health insurance carrier for retirees who are at least 65 years old, which is expected to save the agency $10 million over the next two years.

The contract extends protections to non-operations employees who are assaulted while on duty, and includes various work rule changes that are expected to save the authority $1 million.

The contract is retroactive to July 1, 2020, and extends through June 30, 2022. The previous four-year contract expired June 30, 2020.

Pittsburgh Transit Workers Reach Tentative New Contract

Pittsburgh transit workers have reached a tentative new contract with the Port Authority of Allegheny County.

Officials of the Amalgamated Transit Union declined to release information on contract terms, but said it will cover 2,300 operators, maintenance workers and office staff.

The union’s previous contract with the Port Authority had expired on June 30.

Union members will now vote on the pact and it will then be presented to the Port Authority board.

Earlier statements by the union indicated that a stumbling block in reaching a new contract had been the length of the deal.

The union sought a three-year contract where the Port Authority was demanding a two-year deal with a re-opener for the third year.

The Port Authority had cited falling and uncertain ridership due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Ridership on Pittsburgh transit buses and light rail trains had fallen to 80 percent of 2019 levels but has since rebounded to 60 percent below last year.