Barring a resumption of negotiations and a breakthrough settlement, Silicon Valley's commuter buses and light rail trains will stay parked at least until March 26.
That’s when Superior Court Judge Daniel T. Nishigaya will hold a hearing in his Santa Clara court of the Valley Transportation Authority’s request that he permanently end the strike by 1,500 members of the Amalgamated Transit Local 265. The strike has halted all bus and light rail rides for an estimated 100,000 commuters daily since March 10. Paratransit services are continuing.
The VTA last Wednesday asked Nishigaya for a temporary restraining order to end the strike pending the court’s hearing of its claims that the union had violated a “no strike” clause in its contract expired a week ago. The agency sought to force workers back to their jobs while negotiations over a new labor contract continue.
Late Monday, the judge rejected the agency’s request for a restraining order, allowing the strike to continue until the court hearing.
The court decision Monday wasn’t the only rejection that hit the transit agency.
On Saturday, the VTA asked Gov. Gavin Newsom to intervene in the labor dispute. The VTA asked Newsom to order a fact-finding investigation to bring striking VTA frontline workers back to work while contract negotiations continue.
The Governor’s Office on Monday rejected the VTA request, telling San Jose Inside, “Our office is urging the parties to return to the bargaining table to engage in meaningful conversations and reach an agreement.”
The VTA said the union walked away from the bargaining table Friday after two additional mediation sessions. The union said the two sides are far apart on key provisions of a new three-year contract.
In a statement released today, the VTA put a positive spin on the court’s rejection of its restraining order request: “This means that the court found VTA has met its initial burden to show a likelihood of success on the merits of its breach of contract claim and that it will suffer irreparable harm if the strike continues.”
The VTA said the union now has the burden of convincing the judge why the court should not issue an injunction to halt the strike.
“VTA is committed to moving beyond the rhetoric to focus on constructive actions to finalize a contract,” the VTA said in today’s statement. “We have presented a fair and reasonable offer that keeps our employees among the highest paid in the Bay Area and the nation. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes a pension plan. We have offered language to address ATU’s issue on arbitration.”
The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265 (ATU) represents 1500 VTA bus and light rail operators, mechanics, fare inspectors, dispatchers and customer service representatives.
VTA proposed a wage increase of 9.3% over the next three years – annual wage increases of 4%, 3% and 2% – and a $1,500 one-time payment for members.
The VTA is seeking 6% increases each year over three years. The union said last week it also was concerned that the VTA wanted to increase the cost of dental insurance, and allow the termination of employees after being absent after one year with a disability or an industrial injury plus a demand that the system have the sole power to decide whether an employee grievance should go to arbitration.
I had to walk to valley medical hospital it took me 2 hours and 30 minutes I was alittle tired but made it there safety I live on Meridian and Branham lane very far walk and I had to walk back please end this strike line yesterday 💔😡
It’s too hard , I ve to drop my family members to work every day plz let s start
I need to leave my long time old lady client bec i cant afford the back and forth uber/lyft transportation. Pls bring back our bus. Be kind to us all commuters.
“…100,000 commuters daily since March 10.” Wow. Undoubtedly, this has already affected even more folks who rely on VTA, daily. Thanks for keeping us informed, Barry.
I am a Business Owner that pays my Monthly pass fair, During a Business Legal court trial process, My Business protected auto was damaged repeatedly. I chose to repair my new auto while I use the Cal Tran the Mountain View and Dirodon with the Light Rail VTA , Bart The Santa Clara VTA to Standford Healthcrare and Univeristy , Monterey Ca , I am a US Navy Federal Miliary with a PhD, I have a Small Corporation Business that is increasing its value with a Business legal . I am a Birth with Kaiser Permanente and has proven years of good health with Alexian Brothers and Kaiser Permanente with Valley Medical Hospitals that I am Current RN, Executive Masters Degree Professional. I have My healthcare legal credentials. I am one of the few of the Silver Creek High School that Studied as a valedictorian level of Law of studies with US Federal Law of our Government Judicial branches for my Doctoral of studies in healthcare . My graduation class at Independence high School was with excellent grade point average with my Science for Declared major of studies. My husband and my two children that are university with graduate in process are local birth in our local Santa Clara California. I am for clean air quality for all transportation agencies. I have paid for the Clean air for all transportation agencies . I have a RN , PhD, and Executive level of Business Administration that is a business developer worked for our local school district while studying for my doctorial. I also was a city liaison that represents accounting for petition for grants and other petitioning for our school district and our city of all levels of financial planning .
I enjoy the local transportation operations of our local Santa Clara Ca and coordinating schedule Routs with VTA and Cal Tran and Bart. Civil Federal and local to my address in the Santa Clara Ca all Districts I have petition for our city grants financial planning for additional expansion for employment business and for increased income for increase of wages and increase for job opportunity with expansion planning for new business development during Vellaco Mall financial crisis . The Santa Clara Ca has a increasing opportunities for business in our local and neighboring districts with jurisdiction of Santa Cruz California peninsula that is open for business that is of one of the safer business reporting in consistent year. Our city is increasing our financial is open for new businesses that will provide healthier for our communities. Please accommodate the City Transportation we have apricated the Drivers and the many hours that has been accommodating. My Small Corporation in process is a Multi-practice in both jurisdiction of Santa Cruz Ca and Santa Clara Ca . Stimulation of future outlook of excellent workplace strategy planning. Thank you
I’m working in Oakland and I don’t have a choice then take Lift every morning and late night since I need to take a BART. That being said everything that I make through the week I’m giving now for transportation. Sadly, I don’t have a choice because if I don’t come to work I’m going to be fired. Shame on VTA and Union they are all greedy.
End the strike, public needs transportation. Union demands are unreasonable, people on fixed incomes do not get 6% increase per year. Where do they think that money will come from 😳🤯.
End the strike, public needs transportation. Union demands are unreasonable, people on fixed incomes do not get 6% increase per year. Where do they think that money will come from 😳🤯.
Per VTA management: “We have presented a fair and reasonable offer that keeps our employees among the highest paid in the Bay Area and the nation. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes a pension plan.”
Is this not enough to make you go back to work? You are lucky you have a govt. job. Lot of my friends are unemployed due to recent layoffs. They can’t find a job. I have to take uber to and fro. It is getting expensive. Guys get back to work.
VTA is going in loss. This is from internet. “Yes, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) anticipates expenses exceeding revenues by increasing amounts in the coming years, with the budget proposal showing a projected net loss of $6.9 million in fiscal year 2022, growing to $47.5 million by 2031.”
Who is going to pay for the losses? Taxpayers. Now demand for higher salary. I cannot understand where this is all going.
Per the union, VTA negotiators refuse to meet workers’ pay demands in part because they’re “uneducated workers”.
This reveals the contempt that the VTA board, all of whom are local elected officials, have for their constituents more generally.
If you’re uneducated, you’re subhuman. That’s what they think. That’s who they are. Your overlords.
DON GAGLIARDI, you are SO “ON-POINT”. I am 💯% in agreement with you. It is the “all time” “go to” argument and major point of “sometimes bitter” contention between differing parties: BE IT between labor and management, the rulers and the ruled, the right and the left, et al. The one with the “biggest stick” is the ONE MOST MONIED, MOST EMPOWERED, AND MOST UNREASONABLE. And the ONLY reason “HE DOES” is simply because “HE CAN”, unfettered! And “HE DOES”, unfettered. Disgusting.👎🤷😵💫😡👎
The buses and light rail need to start running already because a lot of people depend on them to get around on a day to day basis.sounds to me like the vta people are exhausting all avenues to compensate the workers and they are set on 18% which is way too high and unreasonable especially when vta people are already cutting services just to make the 11% from 8.5% to 10.5% and finally 11% seems to me they are conforming to the union workers .and the workers .are being unreasonable and set on a much too high % raise at 18.so in order for the strike to end the workers are gonna have to settle for a much more reasonable number more like 12.5%or settle for 12.5%while aiming for 14% that’s wen the strike is gonna end because rt now 18%is just way too high and that’s just not how to negotiate.unless the union workers come up with some numbers and show that the funds are there with minimum cuts to the services that are available to the commuters cause we the commuters value and depend on the set services that are available.we are already enduring hardships caused by the strike.no need to add to our struggles next thing you know they gonna try to .raise the fare on us.then we might have to strike.so please figure it out and both sides be reasonable with each other and end the strike I believe it’s possible to come to an agreement if both parties come to the table with open mind and reasonable expectations enough is enough let’s get back to work already guys.