An appellate court judge has denied an appeal from a union representing bus drivers and light rail operators with VTA — doubling down on the decision to end a historic worker strike.
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265 filed the appeal after Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Daniel Nishigaya ruled March 26 the union had to end its 17-day strike, on the grounds it violated the union’s contract. Workers had been on strike from March 10 to March 26, halting bus and light rail service across the region. Service has since been restored. The union represents more than 1,500 frontline workers.
A VTA spokesperson said Friday the denial reaffirms Nishigaya’s ruling.
“The appellate court’s denial of the writ petition allows VTA to continue to serve our customers,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “We are hopeful that ATU will return to bargaining so its members can get a new contract.”
ATU Local 265 President Raj Singh did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Representatives from the transit agency have said they want to continue negotiating with the union for a new contract, but so far, there has been no movement toward a deal.
The union went on strike to push for higher wages and a more clear conflict resolution process in a new contract. Singh previously told San José Spotlight the union lost all leverage to push VTA for a better contract after the court ruling.
VTA filed a breach of contract complaint against the union days after the strike began, claiming it was a violation of the union’s contract. Union officials argued the contract ended March 3 and that the county’s superior courts did not have authority to intervene, as state laws carve out a specific path for public transit agencies seeking intervention in labor disputes.
Contact B. Sakura Cannestra at [email protected] or @SakuCannestra on X.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.