Drivers for the Greater Attleboro-Taunton Regional Transit Authority were back on the job Wednesday after the union representing them reached a tentative agreement with GATRA.
The two-day strike ended with a contract deal that the union said handed drivers and the other employees the pay they were looking for.
But neither side would provide details of the pact which has not yet been voted on by the union, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1548. It also represents the mechanics and support staff.
In a news release, union leaders described the tentative agreement reached with GATRA, the regional transit authority, and its contractor, Kiessling Transit of Attleboro as “strong.”
GATRA provides regular and on-demand bus service for riders from 30 communities — including Plymouth, Pembroke, Scituate and Wareham.
Plymouth residents are frequent users of the bus service — the town’s ridership numbers are second only to those in the Attleboro-Taunton area, where GATRA is based.
“The Union was able to secure a tentative agreement that addressed the Union’s key priorities and concerns,” union leaders wrote in the news release.
“Our members stood strong and united throughout this process.,” said Local 1548 President Chuck Ryan. “
“This strike shows that our members are willing to lay it all on the line for justice,” Ryan wrote. “This is a contract that they earned and deserve.”
GATRA representatives also declined to provide contract details.
In an emailed statement, GATRA said only that it is “pleased that the strike is over and we can get back to providing normally scheduled service for all riders across GATRA’s service area.”
According to GATRA’s 2024 annual report, Plymouth customers took more than 77,000 rides on the authority’s five regular bus lines in town.
There are five routes in Plymouth — stretching across town — with stops in Plymouth Center, Cordage Park, Clement’s Market and White Horse Beach, among others.
And GATRA GO, a curb-to-curb service, was used by nearly 14,000 riders. That service is normally available to riders along the Plymouth coastline to Sagamore Beach.
Neither the regular buses nor the GATRA GO service were available Monday, according to GATRA.
All service resumed Wednesday morning, GATRA said.
According to Ryan, GATRA drivers earned less than those working for other nearby transit authorities.
Drivers’ pay now starts at $24 an hour and increases to $31.50 an hour after five years, he said.
According to GATRA, the union “demanded” pay raises of 21 percent over 3 years while Kiessling offered 16 percent.
Andrea Estes can be reached at andrea@plymouthindependent.org.