About 700 Teamsters Local 631 workers walked off the job Wednesday after rejecting Transdev’s latest contract offer, triggering significant delays and reduced paratransit service across Southern Nevada.
LAS VEGAS — Hundreds of Las Vegas paratransit workers went on strike Wednesday, Aug. 12, after months of contract negotiations between Teamsters Local 631 and transportation contractor Transdev Services Inc. failed to produce an agreement.
The labor action is affecting Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada paratransit operations used primarily by people with disabilities, mobility limitations and seniors, while traditional RTC fixed-route bus service continues to operate normally.
Photographs supplied to Las Vegas News show workers gathered along a roadway Wednesday carrying signs reading “ON STRIKE AGAINST TRANSDEV PARATRANSIT” and identifying the picketers as members of Teamsters Local 631.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters said approximately 700 employees are participating in the labor dispute. The bargaining unit extends well beyond drivers and includes maintenance clerks, dispatchers, customer-service representatives, road supervisors, schedulers, fuel and tire employees, receptionists, payroll workers and other personnel involved in providing paratransit service.
Strike began early Wednesday after contract offer rejected
Transdev said the strike began at approximately 1:30 a.m. Wednesday after the union rejected an enhanced proposal presented during bargaining Tuesday night.
Negotiations have stretched for months. KTNV reported that employees had been working under a contract extension while bargaining continued, with negotiations dating back to late 2025.
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Teamsters Local 631 argues that Transdev’s proposals have not sufficiently addressed worker concerns involving wages, pension benefits, working conditions and equity.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters said Wednesday that members rejected the company’s last, best and final offer because the proposal did not adequately address those issues. The union also accused the company of threatening to withdraw retroactive pay during negotiations, an allegation made by the union as part of its criticism of Transdev’s bargaining position.
Tommy Blitsch, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 631, said workers are seeking compensation and benefits commensurate with the work they perform and the cost of living in Las Vegas.
The union argues that paratransit workers perform an essential public-service function because many of the passengers they transport cannot independently use conventional fixed-route buses.
Transdev says latest proposal included significant wage increases
Transdev has disputed the characterization that its offer was inadequate.
The company said its improved proposal presented Tuesday night included driver wage increases ranging from 9.5% to 36.5% over three years, depending on wage progression and classification.
According to Transdev, its proposal also included:
- A 28% increase in pension contributions over three years
- Performance bonuses of $100 per quarter
- An additional $250 annual performance bonus
- A $1,000 ratification bonus for employees
Transdev said it remains willing to negotiate and wants to reach a long-term agreement with Local 631.
The percentages cited by Transdev represent the company’s description of its proposal; the union has nevertheless maintained that the overall economic and contractual package remains insufficient.
That distinction is important because the disagreement involves more than the headline wage percentage. Teamsters specifically identifies pensions, working conditions and contract provisions among the unresolved issues.
RTC paratransit service experiencing significant delays
The immediate consequences are being felt by RTC paratransit passengers.
RTC reported Wednesday morning that paratransit operations were experiencing significant delays and that customers were encountering extended telephone hold times because of the strike.
Several normal services have been restricted or suspended during the labor action.
RTC and local reporting indicate that next-day reservations remain available, but same-day and advance booking options are unavailable. Subscription trips have also been suspended, requiring passengers to individually schedule rides through the RTC Call Center.
Booking through the myrideRTCpara app is unavailable during the disruption.
Other affected services include microtransit, on-demand transportation and certain senior or flexible-demand services. RTC has warned passengers to expect reduced booking options, longer onboard times and delays because available transportation capacity is limited.
Traditional Las Vegas RTC buses are still operating
The strike does not mean that the entire Las Vegas public-transit system has shut down.
RTC’s traditional fixed-route buses are operating normally and are not part of the current paratransit strike.
RTC is encouraging paratransit customers who are physically able to travel independently to consider regular RTC Transit, taxis, rideshare providers, carpooling and other transportation alternatives while the strike continues.
Eligible paratransit customers who can independently use conventional RTC buses may use those buses without paying a fare, according to RTC information reported Wednesday.
The agency has asked customers, where possible, to preserve the limited paratransit capacity for essential trips.
Why Las Vegas paratransit service is particularly important
Unlike a conventional bus route where riders travel to designated stops, paratransit provides specialized transportation for people whose disabilities or mobility limitations prevent them from independently using regular transit.
That can make service interruptions particularly consequential.
Passengers may rely on paratransit transportation for medical appointments, employment, grocery shopping and other essential activities.
Transdev itself described the importance of the Southern Nevada operation when announcing its long-term RTC paratransit contract in April 2025. The company said the operation had a paratransit workforce of 875 employees, including 704 operators, and characterized the service as critical for connecting people with essential programs and services.
The current Teamsters strike involves an approximately 700-worker bargaining unit, according to the union.
Transdev’s RTC paratransit contract began in 2025
Transdev was formally awarded RTC’s long-term Southern Nevada paratransit operating contract in 2025 after supporting the system on an interim basis beginning in January of that year.
The contract took effect April 10, 2025. Transdev announced a five-year base term along with extension options and said the partnership would include scheduling, dispatch and passenger-information technology intended to improve service reliability.
That history makes the labor dispute particularly significant: the strike is occurring relatively early in a major long-term operating agreement involving one of Southern Nevada’s most critical transportation services.
RTC says it is not part of the labor negotiations
Although the affected transportation is provided under an RTC contract, the Regional Transportation Commission has emphasized that it is not a party to the collective-bargaining negotiations between Transdev and Teamsters Local 631.
RTC said it is monitoring developments while working with Transdev and other transportation providers to maintain as much service as possible.
Transdev said it is bringing in additional resources and expanding the use of other transportation providers as part of its contingency response.
No agreement announced as strike continues
As of Wednesday afternoon, no final labor agreement had been publicly announced.
Both Transdev and the Teamsters have indicated that negotiations can continue despite workers being on the picket line.
For riders, however, the immediate issue is service availability.
Customers who depend on RTC paratransit should anticipate delays, allow additional travel time and verify transportation arrangements before time-sensitive appointments.
RTC’s paratransit information line is 702-228-4800, although the agency has warned that callers may encounter longer-than-normal hold times during the strike.
Las Vegas News will continue monitoring negotiations between Teamsters Local 631 and Transdev and will update this report if the parties announce a tentative agreement or RTC changes its temporary paratransit service restrictions.
Sources
Reporting for this article was independently compiled using information from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters/Teamsters Local 631, Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, Transdev, FOX5 Las Vegas, News 3 Las Vegas and KTNV Channel 13, together with photographs supplied to Las Vegas News from the Las Vegas picket line.
