Unionized employees in Connecticut Transit's (CTTRANSIT) Hartford, New Haven and Stamford divisions voted to ratify a new contract, according to GM David A. Lee.
"I received a call on Sunday morning from the chair of the union's joint bargaining council informing me the new contract was ratified. This is excellent news," said Lee.
A possible strike loomed if the rank and file had voted not to ratify the tentative agreement worked out by management and union negotiators. A previous tentative agreement between the parties did fail to win ratification in two previous votes, most recently on Dec. 23, 2010.
The new contract covers some 750 bus drivers and maintenance employees in CTTRANSIT's Hartford, New Haven, and Stamford operations. It provides general wage increases totaling 6.5 percent over a three-year period, as well as employees' first-ever contribution to the cost of medical coverage.