South Bend’s Transpo bus drivers are getting a 40 percent raise.
That’s after the Public Transportation Board of Directors approved a new contract Aug. 15 with Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 996.
The agreement also includes raises for maintenance workers, additional paid time off and retention bonuses for full-time employees.
Like many transit agencies, Transpo has recently struggled with a shortage of drivers. Just Thursday, the agency announced missed trips on nine different routes.
“With the new contract in place, our starting wages are now competitive with the marketplace which allows us to attract a broader pool of candidates,” Transpo General Manager and CEO Amy Hill said in a release.
Pay now ranges from $20 to $27 an hour based on seniority. The agreement also shortens the progression to the top wage rate from five to three years.
Transpo will continue to offer paid training throughout the fall. Candidates can apply in person from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 1401 S. Lafayette Blvd.
The contract will run through Aug. 16, 2026.
Contact Gemma at gdicarlo@wvpe.org or follow her on Twitter at @gemma_dicarlo.
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