VTA plans for no service starting Monday due to labor strike announcement
SAN JOSE, Calif. - Santa Clara Valley Transit Authority plans to have no service starting Monday, because of a labor union strike, the agency announced Thursday evening.
VTA officials said they received notification of the strike by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265 at Thursday's VTA board meeting. The strike would go into effect on Monday, March 10. Service would stop at 12:01 a.m. as workers plan to walk off the job.
Buses and light rail services will likely be impacted. VTA paratransit service will continue regular operations.
"VTA is extremely disappointed that ATU is leaving the communities of Silicon Valley stranded without much-needed bus and light rail service," said Greg Richardson, VTA Deputy General Manager.
This week, KTVU reported negotiations between VTA and the union representing 1,500 VTA workers were at a standstill. The union contract expired on Monday. Negotiations have been ongoing since August.
VTA said in a statement that they offered a wage increase they described as "fair and reasonable." The transit agency said there was no progress in conversations as recently as Thursday afternoon.
The union has accused VTA of using scare tactics to discourage workers from striking.
VTA is telling riders to check vta.org for more information and to check Transit App for alternative transit options.
This is a developing story.
Reporting by KTVU's LaMonica Peters is included in this story.
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