TriMet’s more than 2,500 union employees receive 4% wage increase starting Dec. 1 under Working & Wage Agreement extension negotiated with Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) 757 in 2022
TriMet employees who are represented by Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) 757 are getting a raise this December. The 4% wage increase takes effect Friday, Dec. 1, for the 2.538 employees who are represented by the union. TriMet and ATU agreed on the increase as part of an extension to our Working & Wage Agreement signed in August of 2022. This year’s boost comes on the heels of a 7.5% raise last December.
In addition to competitive wages, TriMet employees receive a generous package of benefits that includes health insurance, retirement plans, access to our employee assistance program and more. Plus, when you work for TriMet, you get the satisfaction of helping to provide a vital service to our community, and the peace of mind working in a position of stability for a transit provider serving our region for more than 50 years!
Higher pay for bus drivers, mechanics, customer service and more!
With nearly 80% of TriMet employees represented by ATU 757, union members support every aspect of our agency’s work – from driving buses and operating trains to maintaining vehicles and systems, communicating with riders and helping people find their way around the region. As TriMet continues to grow and respond to the transit needs of our region, we’re growing our team and actively recruiting new members! All new union employees who come on board after Dec.1 will work under the terms of the new pay scale. Here are just a few of the opportunities currently available:
Bus and rail operators
Our bus and rail operators are the heart and soul of TriMet. We’ve been steadily hiring new operators over the past two years, and we’re still going strong! Our agency must have operators to provide the reliable service our riders expect and deserve. We also need more operators to continue expanding service. Our Forward Together plan provides a roadmap to increase bus service by 30% in the coming years, but we need trained operators behind the wheel. We continue to offer a $7,500 hiring bonus to all new operators, as well as a wealth of opportunities to grow with TriMet. Bus drivers can move on to become MAX operators, supervisors or move into a variety of other positions at TriMet. Still, many choose to keep driving because they love what they do.
With the Dec. 1 wage increase, the starting pay for bus operators goes up to $28.22 per hour, and the top rate increases to $37.62 per hour. Bus operators reach the top rate of pay with their third year of employment with TriMet. MAX operators earn about a dollar more per hour. Apply today at trimet.org/drive.
Maintenance service workers
From cleaning buses, trains and transit centers, to repairing vehicles and conducting routine maintenance, we depend on the hard work and dedication of the union members who make up our Maintenance Division. We are currently hiring for multiple positions that are looking for a maintenance background, from diesel mechanic to substation maintainer, to light rail body and paint technician. Many of the roles in maintenance are so highly desired that we are offering a $2,500 hiring bonus to help recruit applicants. The Maintenance Division is also a great place to start a career with TriMet, with opportunities to for addiitional education and experience to help you move up.
We are also hiring more Maintenance Service Workers to help keep our transit system safe, clean and welcoming to riders and employees. The Dec. 1 increase pushes starting pay for Maintenance Service Workers to $21.75 per hour, with a top pay of $31.48 per hour after three years. The pay scale for positions within our Maintenance Division varies widely, depending on the role, education requirements and experience needed.
On-street Customer Service
We’re looking for more than a dozen people to join our On-Street Customer Service team! The on-street team helps TriMet riders use our transit service to enjoy Trail Blazer games, Timbers and Thorns matches, concerts and other big events. They also help riders find their way around busy transit centers and major service disruptions. The 13 currently available positions are limited in duration.
As members of ATU 757, these On-Street Customer Service team members will start out at $20.28 per hour. This is a great way to get your foot in the door at TriMet and feel good as you help people get around our region.
Find these and even more opportunities to join our team at trimet.org/careers.
Higher pay and bonuses are just the start
In addition to a competitive wage, TriMet employees receive a generous package of benefits, which includes low- to no-cost health, life and disability insurance; paid vacation and sick time; a retirement account with a guaranteed employer contribution and more. Benefits for positions with ATU representation include:
- Medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance plans at low or no monthly cost
- Two retirement plans, with an 8% agency base pay contribution to the employee’s 401a
- One week of paid vacation and up to 40 hours of sick leave in the first year of employment, with paid time off increasing over time
- Paid holidays
- Health and dependent care spending accounts
- Access to our Employee Assistance Program with mental health and counseling services, legal assistance, financial coaching and home ownership programs
- Annual transit pass (valued up to $1200) for employee and eligible family members
- 24-hour access to five exclusive, low-cost, on-site fitness centers
- Representation by Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) 757
