(Forestville, Maryland) April 28th, 2022 – On April 5th, bus drivers at the DC Circulator voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike if necessary to win them the collective bargaining agreement they deserve. With years of being underpaid and inflation north of 8%, we knew this contract would need strong wage and benefit improvements to correct the mistakes of the past. But RATP Dev, the multinational private corporation hired by DDOT to manage the operations and maintenance of the DC Circulator, consistently acts in bad faith making productive negotiations almost impossible.

Our members have been bargaining with RATP Dev since March 1st. With rallies, actions, flyers and press releases we have worked to draw attention to our campaign and build our strength. RATP Dev has repeatedly insulted our members with unserious lowball offers. RATP Dev chose to hire the same exact negotiator used by Transdev before the 85 day long Cinder Bed Road strike. RATP Dev is more interested in finding a “partner” that will help them get the DDOT contract again, than adequately compensating bus drivers fairly in one of the most expensive regions in this country. 

Despite driving on the same roads and many of the same passengers as WMATA, DC Circulator bus operators make as much as $5.38 / hour less at top pay rates. These calculations don’t even factor in the stark differences in quality of benefits. 

RATP Dev has repeatedly refused to pay what other bus operators in this region already make, instead focusing all of its energy on increasing starting pay rates so they can find new operators. Their most recent contract proposal would only increase top pay by 6% over the course of a three year contract. With inflation, that’s tantamount to a  pay cut in just the first year alone. The company has repeatedly rejected offers from our members to add federal holidays like Veterans Day and Juneteenth to the contract. RATP Dev won’t even accept 401(k) retirement proposals already offered at Alexandria DASH. RATP Dev’s overpaid lawyer simply rejects these proposals claiming that it wouldn’t be “fiscally responsible” for the company. We believe that if a company can’t pay the fair market rate for workers in a region, they should find a new line of business. 

DDOT chooses to use its voice to call for both parties to remain at the table. They claim they’re optimistic that both parties can reach an agreement. We haven’t left the table and don’t plan on leaving the table. We believe DDOT would better use its influence by calling on RATP Dev to get serious about bargaining in good faith and put real money on the table. Local 689 is frustrated that DDOT would publish press releases based on whatever RATP Dev tells them, despite DDOT claiming for over a year that they are unable to legally talk with Local 689. Our members were called essential workers and heroes for the last two years, but when it came time to bargain, RATP Dev seemed to forget that. 

ATU Local 689 has fought for over 100 years to turn low-wage, exploitative transit jobs into transit careers that could support a family. We’re not going to let RATP Dev turn back the clock just because they're afraid fair wages and benefits might cut into their profits.  

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Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689 has more than 15,000 members and retirees performing occupations within the many skilled transportation crafts for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), MetroAccess, DASH, and the DC Circulator and Streetcar among others. A member of the Amalgamated Transit Union (AFL-CIO/CLC), the largest labor organization representing transit workers in the United States and Canada, Local 689 was established on January 19, 1916. For more information please visit our website at atulocal689.org.