Introduction

In March 2025, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) faced a significant labor strike initiated by the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 265, representing more than 1,500 employees. The strike resulted in a complete shutdown of bus and light rail services, impacting approximately 100,000 daily riders.

Background & Timeline of Events

In August 2024, the VTA and ATU began negotiations to renew the union's three-year contract set to expire on March 3, 2025. As the deadline drew nearer and both parties still stood at an impasse, ATU members approved a potential strike if no resolution was reached. As a result, the strike began on March 10, 2025, suspending all VTA bus and light rail services.

In mid-March, the Superior Court of Santa Clara County began examining the labor dispute, while the VTA's Board of Directors proposed an enhanced wage offer of up to 11% over three years (4%, 4%, 3%). On March 26, Judge Nishigaya granted an injunction ordering striking VTA employees to return to work. Bus and light rail services resumed on March 28, 2025, but negotiations between ATU and VTA are still ongoing.

Core Issues in the Dispute

The primary sticking points in the VTA-ATU labor dispute were: wage increases, arbitration rights, and absenteeism. 

The ATU sought a 6% annual wage increase over three years to address the rising cost of living. In contrast, the VTA proposed modest increases of 4%, 3%, and 2% during the same period. The union argued that its workers were already struggling with increasing pressures and that this proposal could not sustain them in the long term.

Another key issue was the arbitration process–in which parties in a dispute have their case heard by an unbiased party–regarding employee grievances. The ATU demanded clear language to ensure fair processing that safeguards workers’ rights. 

Furthermore, absenteeism, defined as taking extended time off work without a valid reason, was a crucial issue in the dispute. VTA tied its wage offer to absenteeism in hopes of improving worker attendance. But the union argued a need for better working conditions, which would naturally decrease the absentee rate.

Community Impact & Conclusion

Although the VTA provided Uber vouchers to riders, only 200 out of 100,000 individuals managed to redeem them. Consequently, this 17-day strike disrupted daily commutes for thousands in the greater Bay Area, many of whom are college students and low-income workers heavily reliant on public transit. 

This highlights the critical role of both public transportation and its workers in ensuring a functioning society. Our service workers must be compensated with wages and benefits that allow them to support their families and lead productive lives without a constant burden of financial insecurity.