CapMetro Employees Threaten to Go on Strike

After a 10-month negotiation process, CapMetro workers and transit subcontractor Keolis are still at odds over desired wages, time off, and better training. After rejecting the company’s most recent offer, the union representing CapMetro workers, the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1091, announced Tuesday, June 30, that 99.5% of its members have voted to authorize a strike.

Brent Payne, president for ATU Local 1091, said that a strike is now “highly likely.”

The disputes between the union and Keolis have resulted in months-long negotiations about how to move forward. In May, the union asked workers to not take overtime shifts after Keolis stalled negotiations. Though the contract was “maybe 60%” complete, Payne said that the offer did not meet all of the employees’ requests, resulting in the workers declining the deal.

“The best and final that they gave us still didn’t have benefits for my UT shuttle operators. They work full-time hours, meaning they work 40-hour workweeks, but they do not give them any kind of benefits,” Payne said. “We’re not close on a couple of issues.”

Payne told us that the subcontractor’s final offer also did not include overtime pay for administrative employees, and offered a 12% pay increase over three years, coming up short of the union’s ask for 14% over the same period. According to the union, over 75% of CapMetro workers can’t afford to live in Austin. “Our members feel very strongly that everybody should have the same benefit package,” Payne said.

The union has also pointed out the need for better training and adequate time off that is standard for transit workers across the industry. 

With a potential strike around the corner, Payne said that Austinites who typically use the public transportation system will likely be impacted. “We cover everything from big bus to all maintenance and UT shuttle operations. That’s everything in fixed route,” Payne said. “I would say a strike would severely disable the city of Austin.”

In response to the employees’ decision to authorize a strike, Keolis said that it is still open to more negotiations. In a statement to the Chronicle, the company wrote that it has “continued to engage in good-faith bargaining and remain committed to maintaining a collaborative and respectful relationship. We are working with our union partners to schedule dates in early July to continue negotiations in an effort to reach an agreement that is in the best interest of our employees, the union, and our company.”

Payne said he will soon meet with Keolis representatives to continue the discussions. “When they say ‘good faith,’ I don’t feel it’s always in good faith. There are some issues,” Payne said. “If we don’t get an opportunity to, in good faith, go back to the table, we will be on strike. But I’m going to give Keolis that opportunity.”

CapMetro hasn’t been on strike since 2008, when employees stopped work for five days after about 18 months of working without a contract. The union disagreed with then-contractor StarTran over increases in healthcare deductibles and a wage increase structure the union said would alienate new hires. 

CapMetro approved a $753 million contract with Keolis in September 2023 and began its partnership in 2024, despite union leaders condemning the proposal. The agreement is Keolis’ largest bus contract in the United States.

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