A contract agreement has been reached for local bus drivers. Now, the drivers will need to vote on whether the contract passes muster.
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1548, the union that represents Vineyard Transit Authority (VTA) drivers, announced Thursday afternoon that “the union and the company have reached a tentative agreement to avoid a strike pending ratification in mid[-]September.”
There’s been tense negotiations between the union and Transit Connection, the company contracted to hire, train, and schedule vehicle operators and staff for the Island’s public bus line. The most recent contract expired on July 31, and the union threatened to go on strike if its demands, such as higher pay for drivers, allowance for vacations during the summer, and making Memorial Day and Independence Day holidays for unionized drivers, were not met.
The threat of a strike was a concern for local riders, who highlighted that disruption to service would impact their daily lives. And after letters were issued by both sides making their cases to the Island’s select boards, with the union even calling for the resignation of VTA administrator Angie Gompert, the bus line’s side seems to have won out.
Gompert told The Times that the agreement that was signed was based on the wage raises proposed by the VTA. Drivers’ hourly pay would increase by $1 per hour starting retroactively August 1, 2026, with another $1 an hour increase in December. The $1 an hour increase would be applied annually each year until 2028. While additional holidays weren’t added, Gompert said Labor Day was proposed as a day drivers get paid “double time.”
“It’s a good increase,” Gompert said, adding she was glad an agreement was reached that works for the organization financially and for the community, as well as increases the drivers’ pay.
Gompert noted that the VTA also experienced record ridership this fiscal year, July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. During this time, the VTA transported 1.39 million passengers, which Gompert said beat the previous record in fiscal year 2016 by just under 10,000.
But the unionized drivers still need to vote whether to accept the new contract. Gompert said was not sure the exact date or location of the vote.
Charles Ryan, union president, was not immediately available for comment.
