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Veolia Transportation Services and the United Transportation Union (UTU) recently reached their first collective bargaining agreement for Tri-Rail operations center employees, who earlier this year voted in favor of joining the union.

The contract includes a signing bonus, an immediate wage increase and additional increases in 2012 and 2013, a health insurance premium reduction and other benefit changes.

“Overall, this is an excellent first contract for a newly organized work group,” said UTU International Vice President John Previsich in a news item posted on the union’s web site. “It is always very difficult to provide any improvements to the status quo on a new contract as companies are very reluctant to reward employees for choosing to bargain collectively.”

In 2007, Veolia Transportation Services obtained a contract to operate Tri-Rail’s commuter-rail system, which is governed by the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority. Tri-Rail provides service on 72 miles of former CSX Transportation track serving West Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale and Miami. In May, UTU-represented train and engine workers employed by Veolia Transportation at Tri-Rail approved a new agreement.