An agreement was reached Sunday between Transdev and Teamsters Local 683 to operate MTS bus routes in South Bay and East County, according to the Metropolitan Transit System.
It was reported that all scheduled bus routes for these areas of the county are anticipated to operate on a normal schedule starting Monday, according to the MTS.
"First, I'd like to thank our passengers who have experienced major disruptions in their daily lives due to this work stoppage," said Stephen Whitburn, MTS Board Chair and San Diego City Council member, District 3.
"The top priority is to get bus service back to normal levels so MTS can continue providing the vital services our passengers depend on. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this process and anticipate returning to normal service levels tomorrow. I would also like to thank the Teamsters Local 683 for successfully negotiating the new contract with Transdev and reaching an agreement. We know work still needs to be done to address some of the issues for better working conditions. I look forward to working with both the Teamsters and Transdev moving forward."
One rider was happy to get on the bus Monday morning, he said, “We’ve missed a lot of appointments. I’ve been late to work. It’s been very inconvenient. So, now that they got a deal — they struck a deal — I'm very happy from the bottom of my heart, and I can be on time and go to work and everything’s ok.”
According to MTS, the South Bay division has 100% of routes covered. The South Bay division does have reduced service on routes (i.e. instead of a bus coming every 15 minutes, it’s every 30 minutes). As the bus operators come on site, there’s a screening/interview process to ensure they are fit to drive before deployment.
This is an extra safety precaution because they haven’t been behind the wheel in some time. MTS anticipates the service will continue to recover throughout the day, and into tomorrow, the system will continue to get stronger.
Transdev, the company that is currently contracted to run 65% of all San Diego routes, released this statement that said, "Transdev is pleased to announce that Teamsters Local 683 ratified new collective bargaining agreements for South Bay fixed route operators, Chula Vista fixed route operators and El Cajon mechanics on Sunday, June 18, 2023. We deeply regret the inconvenience to the passengers and recognize that many have come to rely on the services we provide and are pleased that we will be able to return to full service as of today, Monday, June 19. We know the hard work of our operators is truly appreciated by not only the company, but the communities we serve. We are pleased to have come to a mutually agreeable solution that truly values our employees and the work they do."
Transdev went on to say, "We would also like give special thanks the MTS Board for their assistance in giving an additional $1 million to use for negotiations. The full amount was passed through to the employees thus, the contract was ratified. Although, the union made bargaining proposals outside of the industry standards and norms, Transdev worked diligently to achieve a deal and pleased to have come to a resolution."
MTS Access and minibus service are both still impacted by a work stoppage as negotiations continue with Transdev and Teamsters Local 542. These routes include: MTS Access, 14, 18, 25, 83, 84, 833, 838, 944, 945, 946, 964, 965, 985; Saturdays: 832, 833, 838, 945, 965; Sundays: 832, 833, 838.
