The union representing the drivers of the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) has negotiated a new three-year contract for its drivers. It goes to the board Thursday, and, if approved, will be effective beginning in 2019.
Under the previous contract, it took RFTA drivers 12 years to reach the highest pay grade. The new contract lowers that to 10 years. The union also bargained for drivers to be able to have a more active role in scheduling their shifts.
Ed Cortez, the president of the local union, said the negotiations were cordial and positive; it wasn’t union versus management.
"This has to do with us working together for RFTA," said Cortez.
RFTA has 160 or so drivers. Less than a third are union members; however, any new contract the union negotiates applies to all drivers.
