Earlier this week, Commonwealth Magazine reported that the MBTA abandoned efforts to privatize bus repair work at three garages after IAM Local 264 agreed to wage and work rule concessions that will save the authority $4.1 million a year, an amount that was well below the original estimates of savings with privatization.

According to the article, the new contract with the machinists, who represent about 6 percent of the T’s workforce, is patterned after a similar contract with the much larger Boston Carmen’s Union that was negotiated last year. Both contracts protect the union’s existing workforce while offering the T concessions.

“We congratulate our union brothers and sisters at IAM Local 264 on reaching a deal that preserves the jobs of their members. They are the best in the business and who we trust to get the job done,” said Local 589’s Executive Board.