Tentative Agreement with Keolis Approved by 92%

By an overwhelming majority of 92%, SMART-TD-represented conductors and assistant conductors have ratified their tentative agreement (TA) with Keolis Commuter Services.  

Keolis employs 450 SMART-TD members on behalf of the MBTA in Boston. The TA was presented for a vote in March. 

The tentative agreement includes:

• Retroactive pay  

• Scheduled general wage increases (GWI) through June 2027 

• Increases compound to 32.69% for conductors and 33.51% for assistant conductors over the life of the agreement.  

• Three (3) additional paid sick days per year.  

• The addition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a paid holiday.  

• The modification of vacation allotments for new employees within their first two years of service.  

• Modification of bereavement leave to include additional family members.  

SMART-TD GO-769 Acting General Chairperson John Vessels said that out of 387 ballots cast, 359 were in favor of the agreement while only 28 were cast in opposition. His office will release specific dates for the pay increases and retroactive payments soon. 

Former GO-769 General Chairperson Rick Pauli, GO-769 Secretary Javier Ramirez, and Vice President David Weir helped negotiate the agreement alongside Local 898 officers Cole Czub, Kenny Owens and Wayne Thistle.  

“Their combined efforts were instrumental in reaching our goal of gaining wage increases that are comparable to industry standards with minimal work rule changes,” Vessels said.  

Congratulations to SMART-TD GO-769! Your victory has helped further raise the bar for future commuter railroad negotiations.