UPDATE, Tuesday, March 25: A judge tomorrow is expected to decide whether the union representing striking VTA bus drivers and light rail operators should end its three-week strike. VTA says the union is in breach of a “no strike” clause in its previous contract. The transit agency says the clause remains in effect even though the previous contract has expired. If the judge rules in VTA’s favor, it’s expected that contract negotiations would continue.
Monday, March 24: Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 265, reports that 83% of bus drivers and light rail operators have rejected a sweetened contract offer from VTA. The new offer included a wage increase of 11% for the workers, most of whom make over $100,000 a year. The offer also included an improved process for resolving grievances, but it reduced overtime.
Sunday, March 23: The union representing striking bus drivers and light rail operators has postponed a contract vote after VTA raised its offer to an 11% wage increase over three years. Originally, VTA was offering 9.5% and then 10.5% and now 11%. The union’s leadership, however, is concerned that the offer reduces overtime. A vote is now likely to happen on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Friday, March 21: VTA has raised its offer to striking bus and light rail drivers from 9.3% over three years to 10.5%, and the workers are scheduled to vote on the proposal tomorrow (Saturday, March 22).
VTA says it has gone “above and beyond” to meet the union’s demands, including agreeing to improved dental coverage and the union’s proposed arbitration language for resolving disputes. VTA also covers full health care costs to 93% of union members, provides a pension and full retiree medical benefits.
A majority of the bus and light rail operators make more than $100,000 a year, VTA says.
“VTA operators currently rank as the second highest paid among 27 Bay Area transit agencies, and mechanics are the highest paid nationwide,” VTA said in a statement.
March 20, Correction: A previous version of this story understated the wage scale for bus drivers. The story has since been corrected and additional information has been added. A majority of VTA’s bus drivers and light rail operators make over $100,000 a year.
March 17: Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Daniel Nishigaya has denied VTA’s request for an injunction to force striking bus drivers back to work, saying the transit agency application didn’t follow court rules. Nishigaya says VTA can receive a decision after it resubmits a proper application.
March 15: VTA today asked Gov. Gavin Newsom to intervene and bring striking bus drivers back to work.
The governor has the authority to appoint a board to investigate the issues involved in the dispute and to make a written report within seven days.
VTA General Manager Carolyn Gonot sent the request for the governor’s involvement this afternoon. VTA is awaiting a response.
VTA has also gone to court to seek a temporary restraining order to bring the strikers back to work, but the judge has yet to set a hearing on VTA’s request.
Since the strike began on Monday, March 10, VTA says it and the union have met twice for mediation, but those discussions have gone nowhere.
March 11: VTA has gone to court to ask a judge to order its striking employees to return to work, saying the union violated a no-strike provision in its contract.
The Amalgamated Transit Union says its three year contract with VTA expired on March 3. But VTA says the contract states that after the expiration date, the contract continues “from year to year thereafter.”
VTA is offering a pay raise of 9.3% over three years and a bonus of $1,500 while the union is seeking 19.1%.
March 10: The union representing bus drivers and other workers at VTA went on strike this morning.
Bus drivers make between $28-43 an hour not including overtime, but the highest paid driver in 2023 was Freddie Ferrer, who pulled down $289,933 including overtime and the cost of benefits, according to the government salary website Transparent California.
VTA’s current wage scale shows bus drivers starting at $28.12 an hour and maxing out at $43.27. Light rail operators, who are also on strike, make between $30.29 and $43.27.
Stacey Hendler Ross, a spokeswoman for VTA, says starting salaries are for bus and light rail operators in training. Once they complete training, after nine weeks for bus and 12 weeks for light rail, salaries increase, and the climb to the maximum wage can be as quickly as two or three years. She said that most of the drivers and light rail operators choose to work overtime and get time and a half. A majority of VTA drivers and operators make over $100,000 a year, she said.
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265 said it is striking because of stalled contract negotiations. VTA Paratransit service will continue regular operations.
Other demands
In addition to higher wages, the union also wants more benefits, different grievance procedures and better workplace conditions.
“VTA is extremely disappointed that ATU is leaving the communities of Silicon Valley stranded without much-needed bus and light rail service,” said Greg Richardson, VTA deputy general manager.
VTA offered the union a wage increase that amounts to a total 9.3% over three years, Richardson said in a statement.
VTA wants to talk
“While VTA has tried to reach an agreement … we need the union to return to the bargaining table,” Richardson said.
ATU represents 1,500 bus and light rail operators, maintenance workers, dispatchers, fare inspectors and customer service reps.
The VTA is a total waste. Don’t bother to negotiate a new contract, just shut it down and sell off the assets.
The strike didn’t exactly bring the county to a screeching halt. Frankly, nobody cares that those buses don’t run anymore. If you don’t have a car, you call Uber. You don’t waste time figuring out bus schedules and then waiting for a bus that will be late. How did we taxpayers ever get talked into allowing VTA?
If I took the Uber to work everyday it would be 20 to $25 one way I work 6 days a week I guess you may have the money to afford that but most people don’t
I work only $20 an hour and I need to pay Uber more.
Even before the strike, I’ve experienced and noted some drivers of some particular route cutting corners or skip routes specially at night. These drivers are cheaters and now they want more pay ?..whatabout general public who are more underpaid and can’t afford to pay gas?
A week has gone by and we’ve all figured out how to live our lives with VTA. That should tell you something about how unnecessary VTA is.
l need the bus To go work
I need bus go to doctor
I just pray and hope AC Transit is paying attention to this situation
I bought a condo next to the light rail because I was convinced I would not need a car. Uber is too expensive. Get the light rail running again!! And get rid of the VTA CEO.
Hopefully they work out something soon. There are people that need the VTA to get around. I believe college students do get this service for free. I also do see people with disabilities at bus stops and light Rail stations all the time
First off, I don’t understand how people comment on here saying that the VTA isn’t necessary, when in fact, it’s the only transportation for many. Uber is not a everyday option considering how spread out SJ is. Not everyone can have a contract like UPS. I hope they can meet somewhere in the middle on negotiations. 9% not enough, 19% is too high……
My daughter takes VTA to school everyday. Since this started I have had to keep her home or find rides for her. I cannot afford Uber/Lyft. She cannot keep staying home or showing up late because it is against the law for her to not be in school. I also have missed a couple of side jobs I do on the weekends and am out the money I would have earned. Please figure out whatever it is you have to do so we can all go back to our lives. I am not sure how people can afford to take a week off of work to carry out a strike where they are asking for more money. SMH!
An operator at top pay makes closer to 43.00 and hour 26 is starting wages….
A mechanic pay $57 an hour and they want more
Considering that a living wage for a single adult in Santa Clara county is $35 an hour, a 9.3% increase from $26 to $28.42 over the course of 3 years is still no were near enough to actually live here.
As someone who uses the VTA everyday, yes this strike is inconvenient for me. But I think that people should also be able to make a living wage and be able to afford to live in the county the work unless if it’s a remote job.
Cut their pay! 100k for a bus driver? You’ve got to be kiddng me!
I agree. We need need public busses. But we have lots of people working exteme manual labor in harsh condition earning much less. Period.
Anybody who says VTA is unnecessary is just ignorant to it.
As a county the buses are counted on, the light rail is depended on every hr of the operating day.
But for vta to call these operators uneducated workers, they might as well have spat in their faces.
I pray these workers stay on strike for as long as it takes. Because after it’s over, vta will cut service and take away the drivers overtime and do anything to make the drivers go against their union leaders.
DONT GIVE UP
FIGHT FOR WHAT YOU ARE WORTH
DO NOT IN
I’m homeless, or unhoused, or whatever you call it. I prefer to live in a tent. I like the VTA buses. I got a pass to ride for free, so I go everywhere. It’s not a bad life. Many times when I take a VTA bus, the only people riding are homeless. VTA should give the drivers whatever they want! Let’s be realistic.
The people who are opposed to VT A would you carry a person to work?
Can someone develop a program that would match drivers with passengers?
Passengers without money, would you be willing to do household chores instead?
They make over $100k and want more. I wish I had their job. Pure greed. They should be thankful for the great job they have!