The proposed three-year contract, if approved by union members, will replace a contract that expires on Dec. 10. Local 382 represents UTA bus drivers, TRAX operators and the agency's maintenance force. About 1,200 of UTA's 1,700 employees are union members.

Union leadership and UTA management started negotiations early because contract details needed to be in place for operation and maintenance of the 44-mile, $580 million commuter rail system, called FrontRunner, scheduled to begin operations by mid-2008 between Ogden and Salt Lake City. Negotiations centered on wages, benefits, working conditions and advancement opportunities, UTA said.

Local 382 President Robert Baty said some of the negotiations centered on keeping FrontRunner operations and maintenance in-house. Last year, UTA General Manager John Inglish said the agency was considering whether to outsource operation and maintenance, citing possible economic advantages.

Baty declined to comment on details of the contract prior to the Sept. 6 vote, except to say the union and UTA are "pretty much on the same page."

- Patty Henetz