IV Transit employees offered wage increase, and partial retro pay

Two weeks ago, First Transit employees in Imperial Valley protested their low wages and what they say were unfair labor practices within the company.

After months of negotiating their new contracts, they finally have an offer on the table that includes a wage increase.

First Transit offered employees an increase of $4.50 throughout the duration of their contract, which would be three years.

They would receive a $1.50 increase now and receive a one dollar increase for each year of the contract’s duration.

Most First Transit employees make $12.16 per hour, which is just a few cents above minimum wage.

Employees say the offer comes with a drawback.

If employees agree on the wage increase they must also agree to only getting a third of their retroactive payback.

Employees are owed retro pay from January 1, 2019, the date their new contracts should have started.

Throughout the process of negotiating contracts, employees were told that they would receive retro pay once their new contracts were finalized, but they believed they would receive the full amount.

Employees at Imperial Valley transit say they deserve more, but they believe it’s the best offer they will receive.

They will be meeting with First Transit again this week to make a vote on the offer.