The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County Board of Directors today voted unanimously to adopt a labor agreement with the Transport Workers Union of America, Local 260.
The union labor agreement covers the terms and conditions for employees for a term of three years.
The agreement includes a one percent raise in wages in FY2013, a 1.5 percent increase the following year, and a 1.75 percent increase in FY2015.
Contribution to the employee health and benefit trust increases from $800 per month per employee in 2012 to $835 in FY2013, with an increase to $845 the following year and $880 the final year.
“I want to really thank the union leadership, thank the staff, it was a lot of hard work,” Board President Gilbert Garcia said of the contract and negotiations.
METRO President and CEO George Greanias said negotiations were positive, and that the contract worked well for both employees and the goal of METRO.
“I hate to use that phrase 'win-win', but once in a while it genuinely applies,” Greanias said.
Burt Ballanfant noted the importance of customer service for the employees.
“They are our face with the public, and they need to be sensitive to their riders and the fact that they're our clients, and I hope they'll be our partners in this effort over the next year,” Ballanfant said.
Greanias answered that customer service was an effort employees would be working on in the next year.
The board voted unanimously to approve a contract with Robert W. Strauser Consulting and C2 Group for a total of $940,000 for federal and state legislative consulting services.
Strauser Consulting will provide legislative and agency coordination services at the state level, while C2 Group will provide similar services at the federal level.
The board postponed action regarding the contingent General Mobility Agreements with the city of Houston, Harris County and multi-cities membership.
The agreement would provide for the continuation funding through the General Mobility Program for Houston, Harris County and the 14 multi-cities from FY2015 through FY2025. The agreements would be contingent upon approval of the November 6 General Mobility Program referendum.
The board will meet on October 31 in a special meeting to consider the item.
Two items were deleted from the agenda prior to the meeting. The items will be considered at a future date pending further information.
The board voted unanimously to approve a $5,0913,588 contract with multiple vendors for information technology hardware and software licenses.
“METRO has more than 100 annual maintenance agreements, each coming due on the agreement's anniversary date,” METRO President and CEO George Greanias said. “Where possible, METRO purchases maintenance from the lowest quote obtained from a variety of vendors through coooperative purchasing agremeents. However, with some maintenance available only from the original vendor, many of these require sole source purchase.”
All other items were approved by unanimous vote. Board members Allen Watson and Carrin Patman were absent. Agenda