VTA workers' strike rolls into second day, halting South Bay light rail and bus service

[Omaha Steve]

Source: South Bay News

By Dave Pehling

Updated on: March 11, 2025 / 10:55 AM PDT / CBS San Francisco

The VTA workers' strike in Santa Clara County entered its second day Tuesday with some 1,500 workers on the picket lines demanding increased wages and improved benefits from the transit agency.

The labor action has put the brakes on light rail and bus service throughout the South Bay. The VTA workers' contract expired a week ago. VTA workers announced on Friday that the union would go on strike Monday morning.

VTA said in a statement that both sides had met on Sunday but there were "no meaningful negotiations." The agency said it is offering a wage increase of 4%, 3% and 2% over three years, for a total compounded increase of 9.3%.

"We understand the hardship this service disruption causes, and we are pursuing as many avenues as possible to mitigate the impact to the riding public as quickly as we can," the agency said in a statement Sunday, hours before the strike.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/vta-workers-strike-second-day-halting-south-bay-light-rail-bus-service/

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FULL story and excellent video at link. I wouldn't want to be an "at will" employee, either.

[dutch777]

1. Like boycotts hitting the economy, strikes make news too. Wishing all immigrants would take a week off....

...in unison, see what ripples that causes. I understand they may not be able to afford that and they would worry about drawing more attention from ICE, but it would send a strong message on how much they do for the country and the economy.

[MichMan]

2. Cost of living there is high

They deserve at least $100 per hour base wages

Number of employees at Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority in year 2023 was 2,495. Average annual salary was $134,633 and median salary was $139,863.

https://govsalaries.com/salaries/CA/santa-clara-valley-transportation-authority