Union rejects VTA's latest contract offer, transit strike continues
SAN JOSE, Calif. - Transit workers overwhelmingly voted Monday to reject the latest contract offer from the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, as an ongoing strike has brought bus and light rail service to a standstill. The strike has entered its third week.
The results were announced just after 5 p.m. According to Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265, more than 1,100 ballots were cast, and 83% voted "no" on the latest package from VTA. The vote count is 919 members rejected the offer and 188 accepted it.
Union still disappointed
What they're saying:
The union said it was disappointed that the transit agency included items that had not been negotiated, such as attendance and overtime.
"Bringing items that were removed from the conversation back into their offer ultimately dictated the results they got today," ATU Local 265 President Raj Singh said at a press conference.
The union called Monday's vote a clear message to VTA that it needs to do better.
"They said, ‘No, no, no. We want to go back. We want to give you something better. We want to end this strike.’ Then the very next day, we get it, and it's worse. Not only are we blindsided, we're really hurt," said union member Ashley Olvera.
VTA was hopeful
The other side:
VTA had been optimistic about its latest offer.
"VTA has put forward a more than fair proposal that ensures employees receive competitive pay and strong benefits for themselves and their families. At a time when so many workers across industries are facing uncertainty and job losses, VTA is proud to offer stability and opportunity," VTA said in a statement following Monday's vote. "VTA’s latest proposal reflects our commitment to our workforce, and we urge our employees to embrace this chance to secure their future and return to work."
What was in the offer?
Dig deeper:
VTA’s initial offer was a 9% wage increase over three years, but the agency announced Sunday that it has offered workers an 11% increase over the same period.
The transit operator also agreed to allow a third party to determine when an issue can go to arbitration.
"While not shying away from the difficult and substantive conversations that need to take place about the trade-offs that will be involved in making these decisions, the offer is now in the hands of ATU leadership, who will hopefully put it to a vote of their members, so we can get everyone back to work and get our passengers where they need to go," said Sergio Lopez, chair of the VTA Board.
The ATU said VTA is also refusing to drop its lawsuit or commit to not penalizing or retaliating against employees after the strike.
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The VTA said its latest offer would also put a strain on its resources, but they’re committed to negotiating.
"The reality is that in the upcoming budget discussions, everything is going to have to be on the table. We’re going to put in the work to get something that works for our riders and our system," said Lopez.
"They’re always telling us they have no money. In the past three to four years, they’ve created four deputy directors. One deputy general manager, one CFO, one deputy CFO. All of them making more than $400,000," said striker Chandler Mohan.
"The operation budget alone has had a surplus for the last ten-plus years. So, I don’t know where this conversation about service cuts is coming from, but we don’t believe there’s any truth behind that," said Singh.
What's next
"We need management to come back and negotiate fairly. The way that you do that is to find compromise, to not harass union members for organizing, to not create unsafe working conditions, to not post job recommendations on Craig’s List for scab drivers," said Jean Cohen, South Bay Labor Council Executive Officer.
As of Monday, there were no negotiation meetings scheduled, but both parties will be in court on Wednesday to find out if a judge will declare the strike unlawful.
Temporary vouchers
On Monday, VTA said in a news release that transit riders affected by the strike can get help paying for Uber rides as the strike wears on. The Uber, ride-share voucher is for $5 a ride and up to two rides a day. Officials note the rides must begin and end at a VTA bus or light rail stop and the ride must be ordered on the Uber app. The voucher program is valid between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. The program is set to end once regular transit resumes.
You can find complete details about the program on VTA's website.
What's next:
VTA said negotiations are still open for the union to come forward with a request.
The Source: Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265, previous reporting.