Photo: Aldrich, Beatrice (uploader)
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Gov. Maura Healey, transportation officials, and leaders of the largest MBTA union unveiled the details of a new four-year labor agreement Wednesday.
The agreement between the MBTA and Boston Carmen’s ATU Local 589, which represents nearly half of the MBTA's total workforce, is aimed at improving employee retention at the transportation authority.
"Fundamentally, for riders and potential riders of the T, this agreement is an investment in a safe, reliable public transit system in Massachusetts," Healey said at Wednesday's press conference. "It’s an investment in the world class transit we need for our economy, our quality of life, and our environment."
The new deal includes a wage increase totaling 18 percent over four years, the largest pay increase for T workers since the 1990s, Healey touted. There will also be better pay progressions for new hires, sign-on bonuses for new workers, and retention and longevity incentives for existing workers. The agreement also expands benefits, adding ten days of paid parental leave, bereavement leave for domestic partners, and dental and vision coverage for part-time workers.
"T jobs need to be great, desirable, in order to attract support and keep the workers we need to get the job done," Healey said. "That’s why our administration has made growing the MBTA workforce a priority."
"The new contact is a game changer for our public transit system," said union president Jim Evers. "It’s designed to attract top talent, prioritize safety, and ensure that our services remain accessible to all. Not only does this contract memorialize a range of recruitment incentives, including sign-on bonuses, but it has targeted increases aimed at hard-to-fill positions such as bus drivers, train operators, along with maintenance and folks that are working overnight shifts."
WBZ's Mike Macklin (@MikeMacklinwbz) reports.
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