Metro’s board of directors gave up a three-year fight against its largest union Thursday, agreeing to pay out three years worth of wage increases for a cost of about $104 million. After a discussion behind closed doors, board members opted not to appeal a U.S. District Court decision giving Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689 workers the 3 percent raises. The transit agency had lost two rounds of the fight: an arbitration panel sided with the union in 2009, then the agency lost the first court appeal on July 22.
“The board agreed we’ve engaged in this for three years and it’s been difficult negotiations,” board Chairwoman Cathy Hudgins told reporters. “With $1.5 million in legal fees, now it’s time to determine how we’re going to move forward in the agency.”
