Transport Workers Union of America Local 527 held a press conference on Thursday to highlight months of inaction from MV-Transit over a substandard contract proposal.
TWU Local 527 members, including Fixed Route & Paratransit Bus Operators, Rural Bus Operators, Mechanics, Utility Workers, Customer Service Clerks, and Parts Clerks working for MV-Transit at Augusta Transit are prepared to go on strike at any time.
“MV Transit is a behemoth worth billions of dollars trying to argue they can’t afford to raise the pay of a starting Bus Operator from $17 per hour to $21 per hour – that’s absurd,” said TWU International President John Samuelsen. “The TWU is ready to throw the entire weight of the International Union and our 165,000 members behind Local 527 in their ongoing fight with MV Transit.”
TWU Local 527 and MV Transit have engaged in two dozen bargaining sessions since November of 2025 for a contract that expired on January 31, 2026. On July 19, Local 527 members in Augusta rejected management’s proposed contract and voted to authorize a strike. MV Transit was awarded a contract for the operation and maintenance of Augusta’s public transit system beginning in 2026, taking over from the previous operator.
“It is the Union’s position that MV Transit’s proposal does not adequately address some of the issues that plagued Augusta Transit’s system prior to the award of the contract to MV-Transit such as training, employee retention, safety, bathroom breaks, hours, adequate staffing levels, scheduling of paratransit and extra board work, compensation, and morale,” said TWU Local 527 President Benyoel T. Morgan.
Significant issues remain unresolved, including wages, benefits, attendance policies, safety policies, vacation, and staffing concerns.
For wages, TWU Local 527 is seeking a guaranteed 40-hour work week, increased pay for Bus Operators certified as Behind the Wheel Trainers, and a starting pay rate of $21.70 per hour with three percent raises throughout the length of the contract. MV Transit is countering with a paltry 28 cent per hour pay increase from the current $17.48 per hour starting wage. MV Transit has also declined to pay workers when they are not allowed to work during major weather events, like when Hurricane Helene shut down service in 2024. The TWU is asking for up to 40 hours of pay per calendar year to compensate workers who lose their shifts through no fault of their own.
The TWU is also seeking improvements to medical, dental, and vision cost sharing, sick leave, and vacation that have been rejected by management.
“It is long past time for management to step up and seriously bargain with us on a contract that improves the lives of our members while improving transit service in Augusta,” Morgan said. “Our members have felt the pain of being without a contract for months and we are prepared to exercise our right to strike if management isn’t serious about working on a good contract.”