A federal judge ruled Friday that Metro needs to pay 3 percent wage hikes per year to its largest union for the past three years.
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689 and Metro had been fighting for years over the workers’ contract, causing the transit agency to rack up more than $1.3 million in legal fees.
But Judge Peter J. Messitte in U.S. District Court in Maryland sided with the union on Friday, both sides said. That means 3 percent hikes going to most bus and train operators, station managers and other workers each year for 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Metro can still appeal the decision.
“We are reviewing the decision and will consider our next steps,” said Metro spokesman Dan Stessel.
ATU Local President Jackie Jeter said she was happy with the decision.
“I am smiling but I have in the back of my mind what they could do,” she told The Washington Examiner.
The contract dispute dates to May 2008. The case first went to arbitrators, who ordered the transit agency to pay the wage increases in November 2009, but Metro appealed the decision to court because it said the arbitrators did not consider the agency’s financial situation or the economic climate. The court kicked the case back to the neutral arbitrator, who clarified his reasoning, then sent it the judge to resolve.
