Commuters across Silicon Valley are stranded as VTA’s workers walk the picket lines and negotiations are at a standstill.
VTA’s bus and light rail services stopped at 12:01 a.m. Monday, as Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265 went on strike. The union is demanding wage increases and a conflict resolution process that would allow workers to present their grievances to a neutral third party and avoid going to court. The union represents more than 1,500 frontline workers, including bus drivers and light rail operators. Both parties have been negotiating a new contract since last August, but neither side is giving ground and VTA Board Chair Sergio Lopez is out of town for a family emergency.
This is ATU’s first strike since VTA became a public transit agency in the 1970s, according to ATU Local 265 President Raj Singh. He said the union met with VTA leadership over the weekend, but no progress has been made toward a deal.
“We were hoping that yesterday, we would have an improvement in the offer that was on the table, and they refused to do that,” Singh told San José Spotlight.
The union has asked for 6% raises over three years, totaling 18%. VTA hasn’t budged on its offer of a 9% wage increase over three years, going from 4% to 3% to 2%. A news release from ATU Local 265 said 95% of union members voted down the deal.
Singh said workers are prepared to remain on strike until a deal is reached. There are five picket lines at various service yards and VTA headquarters in San Jose.
@sanjosespotlight Commuters across Silicon Valley are stranded as VTA’s workers walk the picket lines and negotiations are at a standstill. Learn more at SanJoseSpotlight.com. #siliconvalley #strike #publictransit #unions #sanjose #vta #bayarea
Lopez, who also serves as mayor of Campbell, said he’s trying to bring the union and VTA management back to the table, even though he’s out of town. He said he’s been staying up to date on developments, especially since one of his priorities is to improve VTA’s internal culture.
“I’m absolutely committed to making sure that some kind of culture change happens throughout the agency,” Lopez told San José Spotlight. “I want VTA to be the best transit agency to work at.”
Usually-bustling bus stops in San Jose are empty, with one or two potential riders stopping, noting the strike signs and leaving. Monica Mallon, a public transit advocate and San José Spotlight columnist, said people who rely on transit to get to work or school may able to to go a day or two without it, but a longer strike could have more serious consequences for commuters.
She said not everyone lives close enough to walk or bike to their destination. Microtransit like Uber or Lyft costs more than the bus or light rail and is an unsustainable solution.
“I obviously do hope they can come to an agreement and have a contract and that service can be returned as soon as possible,” Mallon told San José Spotlight. “If this goes on for a long time, it’s going to impact the future of VTA.”
A VTA news release said the transit stoppage is “devastating news” for thousands of riders who use transit to get to work, school or elsewhere.
“We understand the hardship this service disruption causes, and we are pursuing as many avenues as possible to mitigate the impact to the riding public as quickly as we can,” the release reads.
The release said the transit agency’s current offer is one of the most lucrative contracts in the nation. It also suggested the agency would have to make cuts to services or staff to increase the offer.
For VTA’s frontline workers, however, wages have not kept up with Silicon Valley’s cost of living. Oscar Gonzalez, a light rail station maintenance worker who’s been with VTA for 17 years, said wages need to increase to keep up with rising prices in all sectors of life, from groceries to gas to rent.
He said VTA’s original proposal of 1% increases over three years was a “slap in the face” given the high cost of living in the region.
“We do have to always fight … just to try and get those small increases, to make a better living for ourselves,” Gonzalez told San José Spotlight. “It’s hard living on what they’re trying to offer.”
Contact B. Sakura Cannestra at [email protected] or @SakuCannestra on X.
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