The wheels on the bus will go round and round, starting on Friday. Striking Fairfax County Connector bus drivers and mechanics of ATU Local 689 ratified an agreement with contractor Transdev.
After a daylong negotiation session on Tuesday, March 5, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689, representing striking Fairfax County Connector bus drivers and mechanics, reached a tentative agreement with Transdev. After a 15-day strike, Local 689 Fairfax Connector workers ratified a contract with contractor Transdev that addresses the Union’s demands for fair pay and strong benefits. Workers are expected to return to work Friday March 8.
More than 650 bus operators and maintenance workers of Fairfax Connector walked off the job over Unfair Labor Practices on Feb. 22 after months of negotiations.
According to a March 5 release, ATU went on strike on Tuesday, Feb. 22, protesting what it called Transdev's unfair labor practices. Transdev operates the Connector Bus Service. “Tuesday’s bargaining session was the fourth time the union and the company met in person since the strike began,” ATU said.
Fairfax Connector members voted to ratify the agreement on Wednesday, March 6. Local 689 won contract changes that guaranteed retirement security for members, competitive salaries for bus operators and technicians, and an improved 40-hour guarantee, among key Union priorities.