Transportation agency OKs contract with SEIU workers
The second of four union contracts for work groups affiliated with the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada was approved Thursday by the organization’s board of directors.
Board members unanimously approved a five-year contract with the Service Employees International Union for 200 union-eligible RTC staff members.
Under terms of the agreement, employees are eligible for a 2.8 percent cost-of-living increase in the first year, which would be paid retroactively to July 1, with annual cost-of-living adjustments through June 30, 2020. Increases are based on a three-year rolling consumer price index for the western United States with a maximum 3 percent and a minimum 2 percent increase per year.
The index currently is running at about 2.1 percent.
The contract also authorizes 2.9 percent merit pay increases retroactive to July 1 with a five-year term that can be reopened after the third year.
Based on the new terms, the contract will have a $1 million impact on the agency in the first year and between $1.3 million and $1.6 million in subsequent years.
Tammara Williams, director of human resources, security and safety for the RTC and the agency’s lead negotiator, said meetings with the union began May 28 and after five sessions, the union membership unanimously approved the contract July 23.
The SEIU contract was the second union agreement reached in two months affecting the Transportation Commission. Last month, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1536 reached an agreement with Keolis Transit America, which is contracted by the commission to provide fixed-route bus service on the southern end of the Las Vegas Valley, the Deuce line on Las Vegas Boulevard and Downtown Express service.
The three-year contract increases wages and benefits for Keolis’ union drivers and mechanics.
Still in negotiation are the contracts for the RTC’s northern fixed-route system, operated by MV Transportation, and its paratransit division, operated by Transdev, formerly Veolia Transport. Those companies are negotiating with the Teamsters union.
In other business, the board accepted a transit survey conducted by the Olathe, Kan.-based ETC Institute. Findings from the survey, which included questions for 40,000 passengers at their origin and ending points and 14,000 detailed “intercept” interviews conducted in 2014, will help the agency enhance bus service.
The survey found that 78 percent of all transit riders are local residents, that 32.6 percent of all transit rider own at least one vehicle but chose to ride the bus, and that 55 percent of all transit riders don’t have a valid driver’s license.
It also found that 69 percent of all transit riders are between the ages of 18 and 44 and that 46 percent of riders are female. The survey said 65 percent of riders reported household incomes below $40,000 a year, while 4 percent had incomes above $60,000 a year.
A total of 45 percent of all riders use a 24-hour pass, while 25 percent use a 30-day pass and 12 percent use a 15-day pass and 9 percent have single-ride tickets.
Contact Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Find him on Twitter: @RickVelotta.
