OmniRide resumes regular service today after 5-day labor tiff

OmniRide buses are operating full, regular service today, Tuesday, August 6, the day after its contract service provider, First Transit, reached a tentative agreement with the union that represents its bus drivers.

First Transit and the union that represents its bus drivers at OmniRide reached an updated Tentative Agreement for the new collective bargaining agreement in the late afternoon of Monday, August 5, 2019.

This tentative agreement between First Transit and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) must still be ratified by the union membership at a future date.

OmniRide was to have staff at key commuter lots this morning to help direct passengers and answer their questions.

Passengers can always stay informed about OmniRide’s operating status by:
·      Checking OmniRide.com
·      Signing up for Rider Express alerts.


BACKGROUND
Some OmniRide bus drivers began participating in a work stoppage on August 1, 2019, after their contract expired with OmniRide’s service contractor, First Transit. First Transit has been negotiating with the union that represents its bus operators at OmniRide, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) since March 2019.

The AFSCME Union and First Transit initially reached a tentative agreement for a new contract in late June 2019, however the union later rejected that offer. AFSCME also later rejected an offer to extend the contract through September 30, 2019 to allow the parties to continue negotiations. An updated tentative agreement was reached on August 5, 2019.

OmniRide has a contract with First Transit, which hires the bus operators and mechanics who work on OmniRide buses, but OmniRide is not involved in First Transit’s negotiations with AFSCME.