More than 400 Transdev bus operators in Houston have overwhelmingly ratified a new three-year contract that delivers significant improvements in wages, health coverage, and retirement benefits, Teamsters Local 988 announced Friday.
The contract, approved by 99 percent of voting members, covers 427 drivers who provide public transit services for the Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority. It marks a major milestone in the union’s decades-long representation of the city’s transit workforce.
Access to TeamCare and pension plan
Under the new agreement, drivers will now receive TeamCare health insurance and gain access to the Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Trust—the largest multi-employer pension plan in the country. The deal also includes a substantial pay increase and introduces sick days for the first time.
“These Teamsters bus drivers make Houston run safely and successfully,” said Robert Mele, president of Local 988. “This agreement will make a huge difference in the lives of Transdev Teamsters and their families for many years beyond the contract.”
‘A monumental difference’ for workers
Towanda Jackson, a chief steward with Local 988, said the deal reflects years of progress in contract negotiations.
“We’ve had Teamsters representation for nearly three decades, and our contracts keep getting better and better,” said Jackson. “Securing top tier union insurance, sick days, and a pension plan that will allow us to retire with dignity is going to make a monumental difference in our lives.”
Longstanding union presence in Houston
Teamsters Local 988, chartered in 1967, represents workers in a range of industries across Houston and nearby communities. The ratified contract with Transdev reflects a broader push by the union to improve standards in public transportation and ensure long-term economic security for its members.
