Commuter Rail Workers Unions in Boston Celebrate New Contracts with Keolis

Four major commuter rail workers’ unions have ratified new contracts with Keolis Commuter Services, which operates the commuter rail system in the Boston metro area on behalf of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and Amtrak.

IAM Local 318, representing 175 workers; Transportation Communications Union/IAM (TCU/IAM), representing 130 workers; Brotherhood Railway Carmen, representing more than 90 workers; and American Railway and Airway Supervisors Association (ARASA), representing 100 members, all reached agreements with Keolis in the last two weeks.

“We want to thank U.S. Reps. Ayanna Pressley, Seth Moulton, and Stephen Lynch, as well as State Sen. Brendan Crighton, for supporting Boston’s commuter rail workers in getting the fair contracts they deserve,” said Josh Hartford, Special Assistant to the International President for the IAM Rail Division. 

Pressley, Moulton, Lynch, and Crighton supported the coalition of 13 unions with overdue contracts in their rally outside of the MBTA’s South Station last October to demand fair wages and new contracts.

“These union members stood together. We all came together as a coalition to demand that Keolis step up to meet the reasonable needs of the workforce,” said TCU/IAM National President Arthur Maratea. “We showed a lot of solidarity, and we’re happy to deliver new contracts to our unions’ hard-working rail members in Boston.” 

“The amendments to these contracts made the necessary improvements to wages, sick time, and vacation to bring our commuter rail union members up to the national standard,” said TCU/IAM National Vice President Matt Hollis, who was the spokesperson for the coalition. “The wage increases are long overdue in meeting the cost of living for Boston.”

Although the unions’ contracts don’t expire, there was an established date for when they were due to be amended. IAM Local 318’s contract, along with other commuter rail union contracts with Keolis, was up for amendment almost two years before reaching this new agreement.

“Our members are dedicated to serving Boston’s commuters and worked under an outdated contract with no raises for two years until Keolis could make a fair deal,” said IAM District 19 Directing General Chair Reece Murtagh. “We never disrupted commuters’ lives, but we made it known that we would not settle for less than these members deserve.”

In August of 2024, the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation had sent a letter to Keolis CEO Abdellah Chajai, urging the company “to remain at the bargaining table and negotiate contracts in good faith with Keolis’ Commuter Rail employees.” 

IAM Local 318’s new contract is backdated to take effect July 1, 2023, and will last until

June 30, 2028. Highlights include:

  • 5% general wage increase every year and 5% + $2 one-time wage adjustment for 2027

  • Retroactive pay disbursed within 60 days of final ratification

  • Three sick days per calendar year

  • Enhanced provisions for bereavement

  • Enhanced vacation benefits

  • An additional holiday added to the schedule

 

Massachusetts Congressional Delegation:

Seth Moulton, Member of Congress (D-MA)

Elizabeth Warren United States Senator (D-MA)

Edward J. Markey, United States Senator (D-MA)

Richard E. Neal, Member of Congress (D-MA)

James P. McGovern, Member of Congress (D-MA)

Lori Trahan, Member of Congress (D-MA)

Jake Auchincloss, Member of Congress (D-MA)

Katherine M. Clark, United States Senator (D-MA)

Ayanna S. Pressley, Member of Congress (D-MA)

Stephen Lynch, Member of Congress (D-MA)

William R. Keating Member of Congress (D-MA)

 

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