The Whatcom Transportation Authority Board of Directors will vote Thursday, Jan. 17, on a tentative contract with the local transit union.

Details of the agreement won't be made public until after the board's vote. Members of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 843 voted to approve the contract on Jan. 8, said Andy Rowlson, WTA's director of human resources.

The contract is likely to include medical insurance less favorable to WTA employees than the previous plan. The union and administrators were working on an alternative to the agency's self-insurance program because it was becoming financially unsustainable.

The board will vote on the contract after discussing it in a private meeting for about 20 minutes, Rowlson said. The meeting starts at 8 a.m. at Whatcom County Council chambers, 311 Grand Ave., Bellingham.

Reach Ralph Schwartz at 360-715-2289 or ralph.schwartz@bellinghamherald.com. Read his politics blog at blogs.bellinghamherald.com/politics or follow him on Twitter at @bhamheraldpolitics.