What's driving the bus driver strike north of Boston? A fight over Saturdays

[Omaha Steve]

https://www.wbur.org/news/2026/07/02/merrimack-valley-transit-strike-bus-open-work-saturday

By Nik DeCosta-Klipa July 02, 2026

What's driving the MeVa bus strike: Bus drivers and mechanics for Merrimack Valley Transit remain on strike for a second day today. The work stoppage comes after union members rejected what leaders of the regional transit authority said was their "last, best and final" contract offer earlier this week. MeVa Administrator Noah Berger said the proposal would continue to fully cover health insurance premiums for employees and their families — and includes a 25% base pay increase over the next three years. In the current economic climate, Berger said it was an "extraordinary" offer. So what gives? Jim Marks, a business agent for Teamsters Union Local 170, said the primary issue is MeVA's attempt to remove what's called "open work" on Saturdays.

What's "open work"? The previous agreement allowed those drivers to voluntarily sign up to work Saturdays and they can get overtime if they go over their 40 hours. But the transit agency's contract proposal would incorporate Saturdays into the regular schedule. "So some people, depending on where their seniority is, could be forced to work a Saturday when they don't want to," Marks told WBUR's Stevee Chapman. "And also right now they're doing that same work at an overtime rate, and the company wants to take that overtime rate away."

On the other hand: Berger told reporters yesterday the open work policy for Saturdays has made it "very difficult logistically" for the agency to schedule — and grow — their Saturday service. More weekend service was the "number one request" from riders, according to Berger.

In the meantime: MeVa's fixed-route buses — which serve around 13,000 daily riders— are suspended during the strike. The transit authority’s paratransit service, miniMeVa (which operates under a different union contract), is also operating at about 10% capacity. "This is something we would love to see end quickly, because we know this is hurtful to a lot of people," Berger said.

[msongs]

1. hurtful to a lot of people...that's their leverage