DENVER -- An overwhelming majority of bus drivers, mechanics and light rail operators who have been on strike for the past week voted Friday to accept the Regional Transportation District's new contract offer, essentially signaling an end to the strike.

Union Local 1001 President Yvette Salazar said 82 percent of the workers who voted approved the contract. RTD board members still have to vote on the revised contract Saturday morning but they are expected to approve it.

If finalized, union members will return to work Monday morning, easing transportation woes for thousands of commuters who had sought carpools, hitched rides with friends and found other transportation during the past week.

One striker said that it's not the best contract in the world but it's light years ahead of the first offer. Union members are calling it a victory.

"Winning this strike is a victory for workers and their families," Salazar said. "We are sorry for the difficulties that the strike has caused, especially to our loyal passengers."

The new agreement had some minor changes but did not exceed $15.3 million, the amount RTD was willing to spend on the last contract offer that was rejected. The transit agency said it would not increase the overall package but was willing to restructure it.

"We did restructure it the way that union leadership asked us to do, which had a little more money upfront than they had originally requested. And we did shift some around to put more into the health and welfare trust," said RTD spokesman Scott Reed.

One difference between the contract offer that was accepted Friday and the one that was rejected last Sunday was that the raises would come sooner, rather than later.

That pact included a wage hike of $1.80 an hour over three years, plus increases in health benefits. Workers said they wanted more money upfront after going without a wage raise for three years.

"A lot of people wanted more than money. They wanted respect, they wanted the company's respect," said bus driver Michael Lovett.

Although the union board unanimously recommended approval of the previous RTD offer, the workers rejected it in last Sunday, triggering the first transit strike in metropolitan Denver in 24 years. On Friday, the union sent it to the workers without a recommendation so they could decide its merits on their own accord, Salazar said.

The landslide vote in favor of the contract is good news for the bus drivers who never voted to strike in the first place.

"For me, I like to work, you know what I'm saying? Being off a whole week ... there was nothing to do. The picket line is not for me," said bus driver Leon Smith.

Maintenance crews report to work on Sunday to prep the buses and trains and full service returns Monday at 2 a.m.

Did STrike Move RTD To Privatization?

During the strike, RTD operated about 45 percent of its bus service using private contractors, prompting Gov. Bill Owens to announce his support for privatization. One RTD board member said some of his colleagues were interested in studying it.

Nationwide, about 10 percent of fixed-route service -- those 40-foot buses that travel along main streets -- and more than 50 percent of call-in specialty services are operated by private companies, said Tony Kouneski, a vice president of member services of the American Public Transportation Association, a Washington, D.C., trade group.

Most use private contractors because they can provide more flexibility and improve efficiency to a small degree, he said. "Over time, I think that contracted service is going to take greater hold," he said.

The transit agency runs bus and light-rail systems in a service area has about 2.5 million residents in metropolitan Denver, and it averages about 275,000 rides per weekday.

By not having to pay 1,750 union employees, RTD has received a net gain of $200,000 per day during the strike, spokesman Scott Reed said Thursday. That amounts to $1 million profit for the district by Friday. About 70 percent of RTD's revenue comes from sales tax, even during a strike.