UTA, union reach tentative agreement

The Utah Transit Authority and the union that represents its bus and TRAX drivers, maintenance workers and engineers have reached a tentative contract agreement.

The agreement, made late Sunday, includes provisions about health-care benefits, wages and working conditions. It is scheduled to be voted on by union members on Sept. 6.

Loren Simpson, UTA's manager of labor relations, said Monday that he was optimistic that the agency and the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 382 have reached an agreement that "addresses the challenges and interests of both parties." He didn't anticipate much conflict over the agreement.

Bob Baty, the union's president, could not be reached for comment late Monday.

Unlike other transit unions, ATU cannot legally strike. Nor can UTA hold a lockout if the union and agency don't agree on a contract.

If Utah's transit union were to strike, it would be subject to fines similar to the $1 million-a-day fines that members of the transit union in New York faced during a walkout last December. That walkout involved bus and rail operators in New York City who primarily disputed health-care benefits included in their contract.

ATU Local 382 represents about 1,200 UTA employees. Its last contract negotiation with UTA covered from late 2003 to 2004.