NEW ORLEANS – Today, the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) announced the ratification of a four-year agreement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1700-4. The new agreement between RTA and IBEW currently applies to the 167 represented bus, streetcar and paratransit mechanics, custodians, groundskeepers, rail technician machinists, building engineers, fleet technology technicians, and carpenters, including the master craftsmen who build and maintain our fleet of historic streetcars and catenary system. The four-year agreement is effective through June 30, 2027.

“I am proud to sign this four-year contract with the membership of IBEW. This agreement demonstrates our continued commitment to our workforce,” said Lona Edwards Hankins, CEO, RTA. “As the agency works to improve the reliability of our fleet and improve the quality of our facilities portfolio, largely stemming from deferred maintenance, and the impacts of Hurricane Katrina, the membership of IBEW remains a critical partner in delivering the high-quality transit service that New Orleans deserves.”

According to the terms of the agreement, the RTA IBEW-represented employees will now receive:

• Wage rate increases of 4% (starting July 2023), 3% (starting July 2024), 2.5% (starting July 2025), and 2.5% (starting July 2026)
• Addition of two holidays: Memorial Day (effective calendar year 2024) and Juneteenth (effective calendar year 2023)
• 457 Retirement Plan employer match for every dollar deferred up to 6% of eligible compensation for new hires as of 12/20/20
• Provides training and recertification bonuses for all eligible skilled positions at $1,000 per year – per employee for each type of bonus effective in 2024 and 2025, respectively
• Increases in-sick leave entitlement for employees hired after July 1, 2015, from 5.34 hours per month to 8 hours per month
• Emergency pay for employees assigned to work during major weather events or other declared emergencies by the Authority at a rate of two times the employee’s regular rate

“I am excited the RTA reached this critical agreement with IBEW leadership,” said Mark Raymond Jr., Board Chair, RTA. “This agreement not only helps us meet today’s maintenance and service delivery needs, but it also allows us room to grow new skills and adopt green technologies of the future, creating pathways of employment for generations to come.”

“The IBEW family would like to thank Lona Edwards Hankins, Chief Executive Officer, and her staff along with the federal mediator Stephanie Collier, along with my negotiating crew of Darian Epps, Harold Parker, and Kimberlin Young. Thanks also to Brian Lala. Without these folks we wouldn't have the great outcome of this contract,” said Darius Hollins, President, IBEW Local 1700-4.

CEO Hankins, Board Chair Raymond and IBEW President Hollins were also joined by Board Commissioner Sunni LeBeouf and other members of the negotiation team.

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The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority is a political sub-division of the State of Louisiana which is operated by an independent Board of Commissioners that serves Orleans, Jefferson and St. Bernard parishes. The agency operates car and passenger ferries, fixed-route buses, paratransit, streetcar, and limited on-demand service.