TriMet and Drivers At Contract Impasse

TriMet and its drivers union have gone through months of bargaining on a new contract after the existing deal expired last Nov. 30. That was followed on June 7 by mediation between TriMet and the 2,000-member Amalgamated Transit Union, Division 757.

Mediation failed to bring a new deal, so now both sides told the state Employment Relations Board they're at an impasse. And that means each side must make a final offer. If that doesn't lead to an agreement, then it's off to binding arbitration in which the arbitrator selects the "last best offer" from each side.

Welcome aboard. As if there weren't enough financial problems already.