San Jose, Calif. – The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 265 entered the third week of their strike against their company, the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), as they demanded arbitration and higher wages.
It has been a tumultuous and eventful past three weeks. The company asked Gavin Newsom to interfere with the strike, and he urged VTA and the union to reach an agreement.
As previously reported, the VTA sued its workers for violating their expired contract, and this week, the Santa Clara County Superior Court ruled to end the strike. In response to this rule, the ATU argued that a Supreme Court decision in 1990 allowed transit workers to strike even if it impacts the community.
In reaction to this news, the union asked all members to return to work leaving the pickets, “cleaner than was found,” according to ATU organizer Armando B.
While ATU 265 has returned to work, no new contract has been negotiated after the original contract expired. Still the workers of ATU acknowledge the difficulties faced by the community during the strike and, “[as frontline workers, ATU 265 is] proud and honored to serve the community.”
The union has asked workers to report any sort of retaliation by VTA and the bosses it employs. One maintenance crew reported a supervisor saying, “Welcome back to work, no overtime,” to returning workers.
The VTA continues to drag its feet during negotiations offering differing concessions on wages and arbitration. While it initially offered a 10.5% wage increase, it increased it to 11%, and then brought the offer back down to 10.5% as the judges order shifted negotiations in their favor. ATU 265 still lacks a negotiated contract and has the option to appeal the judge's ruling.
If folks want to support the ATU, they will be canvassing at Steven’s Creek and Santana Row from 12:00PM to 2:30PM
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