Transit Strike in Riverside Is Averted

The Riverside Transit Agency and the union that represents bus drivers and mechanics reached a tentative contract agreement Tuesday just minutes before agency employees were scheduled to launch what would have been the first strike against the city bus service.

More than two dozen union members had gathered in front of the city agency’s headquarters expecting to begin picking at 2 p.m. when the breakthrough in the contract negotiations was announced.

Neither the transit agency nor officials with the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1277 would disclose the terms of the tentative agreement, which will go to union members and RTA board of directors for a vote.

All buses will run on their regular schedules today.

“There are a lot of happy drivers here today,” said Bradley Weaver, an agency spokesman, as dozens of RTA employees cheered, clapped and hugged one another.

Shortly after the announcement, driver Robert Hernandez, 46, was on his cellphone, calling union members and telling them, “It’s good news so far.”

Hernandez finished his eight-hour shift at 1:05 p.m. and came to the agency’s offices prepared to strike, which could have stranded thousands of commuters. He said many riders had asked about the possible strike and some expressed support.

Adolfo Soto, union treasurer, said that “wages came out well” and that there were improved benefits for employees and their families in the new contract.

Union members last week rejected the agency’s three-year contract offer, ending more than eight months of talks. Both sides initially agreed on an 8.5% salary increase over the three years, but union officials wanted better health benefits for families of the 266 employees. They also requested that union employees receive the same percentage increases as the agency’s top administrators.

Neil Silver, union president, said he planned to have his members review and vote on the new contact within the next week or so.

“I’m very happy with the agreement,” he said.