A Regional Transportation Commission bus driver takes their break at Bonneville Transit Center in downtown Las Vegas on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. RTC Bus drivers and mechanics voted overwhelming to authorized a strike. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto
A Regional Transportation Commission bus picks up riders at South Strip Transit Terminal in Las Vegas on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. RTC Bus drivers and mechanics voted overwhelming to authorized a strike. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto
A Regional Transportation Commission bus picks up riders at South Strip Transit Terminal in Las Vegas on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. RTC Bus drivers and mechanics voted overwhelming to authorized a strike. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto
A Regional Transportation Commission bus picks up riders at South Strip Transit Terminal in Las Vegas on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. RTC Bus drivers and mechanics voted overwhelming to authorized a strike. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto
A Regional Transportation Commission bus driver picks up passengers at Bonneville Transit Center in downtown Las Vegas on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. RTC Bus drivers and mechanics voted overwhelming to authorized a strike. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto
A Regional Transportation Commission bus driver prepares to pick up passengers at Bonneville Transit Center in downtown Las Vegas on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. RTC Bus drivers and mechanics voted overwhelming to authorized a strike. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto
Regional Transportation Commission buses come and go at Bonneville Transit Center in downtown Las Vegas on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. RTC Bus drivers and mechanics voted overwhelming to authorized a strike. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto
Bus drivers and mechanics for the Regional Transportation Commission could go on strike after an overwhelming vote overnight authorized the move.
Of 620 drivers and mechanics represented by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1637, nearly 600 voted to reject an offer from Transdev, the private contractor that runs the RTC. Only six voted in favor of the proposal.
Union president Terry Richards confirmed the vote early Friday.
Negotiations that have been called “positive” have been ongoing for months, said a Transdev spokesman, who said the overnight vote was a “complete surprise.”
There are an estimated 1,200 union members who work for Transdev. The mechanics and drivers have been working under a temporary transition agreement while contract negotiations were held.
