Oahu Transit services negotiation leading to possible bus strike | News

HONOLULU (Island News) — The Hawaii Teamsters and Allied Workers Local 996 union has been in negotiations with Oahu Transit Services (OTS) for several months regarding TheBus service contracts.

Jenny Lemaota, Deputy General Manager for Oahu Transit Services, said, “We spent the last five months meeting with them, and we were both working very hard.”

The most recent contract for bus drivers, operators, and mechanics ended in June 2025, with multiple proposals from each side.

“We took their proposals very seriously. However, we couldn’t come to an agreement,” said Lemaota.

OTS has now given what they call the “Last, Best, and Final offer,” or LBF — a proposal package that officials believe is very competitive.

“The best and final offer includes many items, some hot topics of course — wage increases of 16% across the board, 100% retiree medical, 100% active medical, and 100% pension contributions,” said Lemaota.

However, union leaders say that isn’t enough, fighting for more benefits like hazard pay, which was previously disregarded.

Lemaota said, “We look at things from a package perspective versus individual items.”

In the next couple of weeks, employees will vote to accept or deny the latest offer.

In a statement, the Teamsters said, “Sadly, at this time, we recommend voting against the LBF.”

But with that vote, another issue could follow.

“If they don’t vote for it, then my understanding is that that’s a strike authorization for the union, and I’m not sure what the union plans to do after that,” said Lemaota.

A bus strike could impact more than 100,000 riders who take TheBus daily — leaving many without transportation to work, school, doctor’s appointments, and more.

Local bus rider Leo Duwane Johnson said, “I depend on the bus. I’m handicapped and on a fixed income — 79 and retired — and if we didn’t have the bus, it would be a major catastrophe.”

OTS is encouraging riders to make alternate plans in case a strike begins.

“We just wanted to warn everyone so that they could think of alternative ways to get around — whether it be carpooling with family and friends, taking the rail, using your scooter, whatever it is — just to think of alternative ways,” said Lemaota.

OTS says it hopes to avoid a strike and plans to continue communicating with employees leading up to the vote.

“We want to spend the next week really letting them know, allowing them to talk story with us, ask questions, and get answers — so they can make an informed vote when the time comes to ratify the contract,” said Lemaota.