Employees at Cascades East Transit (CET), the region’s public transportation service, are calling for a fair contract that reflects the cost of living in the region. The union is urging community members and transit passengers to support the employees as they currently bargain for a new contract.
The union represents union members and employees of CET, consisting of bus drivers, dispatchers and other employees. According to a press release, members of the union have been working without a contract since Dec. 31, 2024.
Cascades East Transit is operated by Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC). According to the CET website, driver positions start at $23.48 per hour.
Thomas Tsuneta, the union’s local liaison, said the management’s economic offer is short of what’s needed for a decent standard of living in Central Oregon. The union’s mission is to secure fair wages, better working conditions and a future where every employee is valued and supported. Initially, it requested a 6% increase in wages for all CET employees. “Our dedicated employees deserve not only a living wage, but also a sustainable career path at Cascades East Transit. We cannot continue training new hires only to see them leave after six months for better-paying opportunities,” said Tsuneta in a press release.
“We need our community to stand with us for fairness and justice, and demand that COIC come to the bargaining table ready to bargain for a living wage. Together, we can ensure our workers receive a contract that not only improves their working conditions but also secures their financial future.”
Earlier this year, the Source Weekly reported on the CET’s plans to increase service hours, buses and routes following a decrease in service during and after COVID-19. However, according to CET Director Bob Townsend, who spoke to the Source Weekly on Jan. 30, the agency has struggled to hire drivers in recent years and has been actively recruiting drivers for five years straight.
“We’re better off than we’ve been in the last few years, but we’re still short of where we want to be to get to a base level of service,” Townsend told the Source Weekly in January. “We could use five or 10 more drivers than we have right now. Last year, we could have used 15 more. So, we fill them, but until we get to some of those positions… we’re limited on our growth.”
While drivers have seen some pay raises in recent years, according to Tsuneta, CET is still having a hard time retaining drivers because of its wages.
“We have a lot of people who will come in, they’ll train, they’ll get what’s called their CDL, the commercial driver’s license, and then they’ll leave for another position once they get their CDL,” Tsuneta told the Source Weekly.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include comments from local union liaison, Thomas Tsuneta.
This article appears in The Source Weekly February 27, 2025.
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How You Can Help:
• Attend the Public COIC Board Meeting:
o When: Thursday, March 6, from 4:30 to 5:30 pm
o Where: 243 E. Antler Avenue, Redmond
o Virtual Participation: Email kbanner@coic.org by March 4 to join online.
• Email COIC directly demanding a fair contract:
o Email Tammy Baney, Executive Director of COIC, at tbaney@coic.org
o Email COIC Transportation Director Robert Townsend at rtownsend@coic.org