California’s Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) has asked Governor Gavin Newsom to order striking transit employees back to work amid a dispute over wages and contract terms. The VTA, which serves thousands of South Bay riders, filed for a Superior Court injunction on March 10 to stop the strike.
The VTA claims that the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265, representing over 1,500 workers, violated a “no strike” clause in its contract despite the agreement expiring at midnight Sunday. The union had proposed a neutral third-party grievance system to resolve conflicts without going to court.
The VTA has offered wage increases of 4%, 3%, and 2% over three years, while the union is seeking 6% annual increases for the next three years. Talks between the two sides began in August 2024 to renew the contract, but negotiations have stalled.
Governor Newsom is being asked to appoint a Board of Investigation to examine public transportation labor disputes, which could help resolve the strike pending the outcome of the investigation.
Source: https://www.ktvu.com/news/vta-asks-gov-gavin-newsom-order-striking-workers-return-jobs