Santa Clara VTA reaches 3 of 4 union ratifications

Three of the four unions representing employees of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) have ratified labor contracts, with just the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265 negotiation remaining unresolved.

Service Employees International Union Local 521, representing 300 staff in IT, communications, finance and more; American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1101, representing more than 250 supervisory and management staff; and Transportation Authority Engineers and Architects Local 21, representing over 25 professional technical staff, have each signed four-year collective bargaining agreements.

The newly ratified agreements include wage increases of 4%, 3.5%, 5% and 4% per year, enhanced dental and vision benefits and improved workplace policies. That leaves just ATU Local 265, which on March 10 launched a work strike, without a labor contract, VTA officials said in a press release. 

Workers in the union were on strike until March 28, when a county superior judge ruled that the strike violated the contract between entities.

“The terms of these contracts reward our staff with competitive wages and comprehensive benefits, while aligning with our fiduciary responsibilities. As our largest union remains the sole holdout, we remain committed to fostering a dialogue and hope to soon reach an amicable resolution that does not adversely affect service," said VTA General Manager and CEO Carolyn Gonot.