Transport Workers Union of America Local 527 ratified a new three-year contract with MV-Transit in Augusta, Georgia, securing significant raises and quality-of-life improvements. TWU Local 527 represents Fixed Route & Paratransit Bus Operators, Rural Bus Operators, Mechanics, Utility Workers, Customer Service Clerks, and Parts Clerks working for MV-Transit at Augusta Transit.
Starting wages increased from $17.48 to $20 per hour and wages this year will increase on average by 13.31% for all workers and job titles. Over the life of the agreement, the highest wage increase is 30% with an average of 20% among all workers. Everyone in the bargaining unit will also receive a $1,000 ratification bonus.
The agreement comes a month after the TWU raised the prospect of a strike after months of negotiations.
“The wage increases and quality-of-life improvements in this contract are a significant win for Augusta Transit workers,” TWU International President John Samuelsen said. “Local 527 made clear to management that their substandard offers and months of slow-walking negotiations were unacceptable, and it led to a contract victory. This is another successful fightback campaign for the TWU.”
Local 527 also decreased the amount members must pay for medical, dental, and vision insurance from 30% to 25% of costs, with MV Transit agreeing to increase their share from 70% to 75%. Management must also respond to leave requests within three business days or else the leave is automatically approved, and denials for leave must include a written reason.
“I’m proud that we were able to win a contract that is significantly better than management’s initial proposals,” Local 527 President Benyoel T. Morgan said. “We were able to work through issues and secure wins on wages, benefits, attendance policies, safety policies, vacation, and staffing concerns.”
Other highlights of the agreement include:
– Language guaranteeing bargaining rights in response to changes in working conditions during the life of the agreement.
-Revised language removing provisions that limited Local 527’s rights in what court it can file a lawsuit for violations of the contract.
-Protected a minimum 10 working day notice for layoffs, and modified current language increasing the number of days a laid off worker has to choose to return to work from seven to 14 days, starting from when the company offers a worker their job back.
-Sick leave is established at 12 days per year, with workers allowed to convert four days into personal days.\
-Workers who choose to work on holidays and receive holiday pay will also receive credit for time worked during holidays for the purposes of calculating overtime.
-Workers who serve as Behind the Wheel Trainers receive an extra $2 per hour for all hours worked in the training role.
-Pre-trip bus inspections increase from 10 minutes to 15 minutes for fixed routes, a win for safety.
-Management must notify workers two weeks in advance before making changes in hours or shift assignments.
-New language modifies the company attendance point policy to ensure just cause is applied when assigning points.
-New language codified that all new work be union work.
TWU Local 527 and MV Transit previously engaged in two dozen bargaining sessions beginning in November of 2025 for a contract that expired on January 31, 2026. 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.