FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April
30, 2021
MARTA FRONTLINE EMPLOYEES TO RECEIVE ONE-TIME COVID-19
PANDEMIC PAYMENT
Operational Employees & Police Officers Recognized for
Providing Essential Service During Prolonged Health Crisis
ATLANTA – The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid
Transit Authority (MARTA) is providing a one-time $3500 COVID-19 pandemic
payment to its frontline and represented employees, pending approval by the
board of directors at its May meeting. Employees who will receive the payment
include bus and rail operators, mechanics, and supervisors and members of the
MARTA Police Department with the rank of major and below.
“I am extremely grateful to our frontline
employees who have carried us through this pandemic,” said MARTA General
Manager and CEO Jeffrey Parker. “These are people who could not work from home,
who showed up every day to keep the buses and trains running and protect our
customers, all while considering the health risks to themselves and their
families.”
MARTA Police Chief Scott Kreher added, “I
want to thank Mr. Parker for recognizing the sacrifices our officers have made
during the pandemic with this special compensation. I am in awe of their
dedication to duty and professionalism throughout this challenging year and I’m
proud to be their Chief.”
In addition to the one-time payment,
MARTA’s 2,811 employees represented by the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU)
Local 732 will receive a two percent general wage increase next February. ATU
Local 732 and MARTA have also extended the terms of the Collective Bargaining
Agreement (CBA) for 12 months, from December 2021 to December 2022.
Close to three-fourths of MARTA’s staff will
receive the one-time payment at a cost to the Authority of approximately $13
million. The money will be drawn from a budget surplus that is the result of
higher than expected sales tax revenues, lower than budgeted operating
expenses, and federal pandemic relief included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief,
and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
“With the supportive vote of the Business
Management Committee this week, I am confident the board of directors will
support this payment when it comes before us in May,” said MARTA Board Chair
Rita Scott. “Our frontline employees are the backbone of this organization and
on behalf of my fellow board members, I want to thank our frontline workers for
continuing to provide essential transit service and ensuring our patrons are
safe during one of the most difficult periods in recent history.”
Pending board approval at the monthly
meeting on May 13, the checks will be distributed to eligible employees on May
27.
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