Tag Archives: strike

Judge orders end to VTA strike

March 27, 2025 andy

After a court hearing yesterday afternoon, a judge granted an injunction stopping the strike by ATU Local 265. VTA bus service is planned to resume on Friday. Light Rail service will return at a later date after a system inspection.

There’s still no agreement in sight between VTA and ATU Local 265, but the union can no longer use a strike as leverage for now. However, transit unions elsewhere have resolved disputes without striking. Strikes put riders in a difficult position since they’re not a negotiating party.

Bay Area, service updates

VTA transit strike continues, offers Uber vouchers

March 25, 2025 andy Leave a comment

Due to the prolonged strike by ATU Local 265, representing VTA frontline workers, VTA is offering $5 vouchers for Uber rides starting and ending at VTA transit stops. Riders pay $2.50 first before the $5 voucher is applied, and again for the remaining cost beyond the voucher. This discount can be used twice per day, between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., until the strike ends.

VTA and ATU Local 265 are still far from an agreement. The agency made a new offer of an 11% wage increase over three years, but the union, demanding an 18% increase, rejected it. VTA is asking the court to intervene, citing a no-strike clause from the last contract that should apply during negotiations.

A strike is challenging for both transit workers and passengers. It forces many transit riders to rely on Uber and Lyft, which incur higher costs for riders and offer less pay and fewer protections for drivers working as independent contractors.

Bay Area, service updates

VTA workers to go on strike

March 10, 2025 andy Leave a comment

According to ATU Local 265, which represents many VTA frontline positions, the union will go on strike starting Monday, March 10. All VTA services will be unavailable except for Access Paratransit. The agency and the union are at an impasse over wage increases and other issues.

VTA advises transit riders to seek alternatives.

Options:

Microtransit:

Silicon Valley Hopper – Cupertino, Southern Santa Clara
Milpitas SMART – Milpitas
Palo Alto Link – Palo Alto

Other transit and shuttle providers:

Caltrain – Peninsula corridor and South County
BART – San Jose north toward the East Bay
SamTrans, Dumbarton Express – Palo Alto area
Stanford Marguerite shuttles – Stanford campus
AC Transit – Milpitas
MVgo shuttles – Mountain View
Mountain View Community Shuttle – Mountain View

Other agencies that use VTA owned transit centers may have to be relocated because of the strike.

Other mobility:

Bay Wheels bike share – Downtown San Jose
Scooter share – Downtown San Jose
Employee shuttles for select employers

The strike will impact riders, most of whom have few, if any, options and no role in the labor negotiations. Even if the strike eventually resolves, if it forces a rider to purchase a car, that rider is unlikely to return once the strike is over. The strike may increase traffic, particularly around schools, since they are still in session. More parents are likely to pick up and drop off their children by car if VTA is no longer an option.