This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now newsletter for BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit), a rapid transit rail system in the San Francisco Bay Area – March 24, 2025
Workers organized in ATU Local 265 at the Valley Transit Authority (VTA), which operates the light rail and bus systems in the South Bay, are entering their 3rd week of strike.
The strike vote, scheduled for Saturday, was called off when it was clear to VTA that the contract would be voted down with the president of the union saying that VTA’s offer, which included a 10.5% wage increase over 3 years was unacceptable. The union is demanding 18%.
Management’s attitude was made clear a few days ago when VTA Assistant General Manager, Greg Richardson, called VTA workers “uneducated” and undeserving of a living wage.
VTA poked its finger in VTA workers’ eyes with its most recent offer, which workers voted on Monday. VTA made a big deal of offering an 11% increase over three years. What VTA didn’t say is that it refused to agree to not discipline workers for being on strike. This would mean the possible firing of trainees who are still on probation and not in the union and workers, usually drivers, who have a lot of “points” in the attendance system. And VTA added a surprise demand, the elimination of time and a half for overtime pay!
Monday’s vote was counted and the workers sent their message back, saying NO Way! overwhelmingly rejecting the contract. The strike continues.
