A new agreement that is pending between the MBTA and its largest labor union is aimed at retaining employees at the public transit agency, with state, transit and union leaders formally announcing details on the deal Wednesday morning.
The labor agreement — which is expected to be signed by the MBTA and Boston Carmen’s ATU Local 589 in the coming days— is for four years and, according to a news release, includes overall pay bumps as well as targeted increases for jobs that are hard to hire for. It also includes improvements to bathroom access, bereavement tine and clarity around rider assault.
The goals of the agreement — "shoring up MBTA workforce numbers and ensuring the availability of quality service for all riders," a news release said.
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Wednesday's media availability to formally announce the new agreement featured remarks from Gov. Maura Healey, MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng, union president Jim Evers and a union worker named Alix Gaston.
Gov. Healey said the agreement with the union, which represents nearly half of the total MBTA workforce and the majority of its frontline workers, is the largest pay increase since the 1990s.
"Already we've achieved significant success in increasing hiring at the T compared to recent years," Gov. Healey said. "This agreement will help ensure that growth and will help ensure that growth will continue at a pace we need it to."
The contract will provide an 18% wage increase over the four year period it's in place, as well as codifying things like sign on bonuses and retention incentives.
