ATU Local 265-San Jose, CA, Strike Busted by Judge, but the Fight is Not Over
On March 10th, our more than 1,500 Local 265-San Jose, CA, members at the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) went on strike and shut down bus and rail service completely. They were left with no other choice due to VTA’s inflexibility over their hardline positions on arbitration, wages, changed holiday pay, and the termination of an employee who was on disability leave. This was the first strike at the VTA since its founding in 1973.
While members were fighting for their ability to live in the Bay Area, which is one of the most expensive metro areas in the country, they were also taking a stand over their arbitration rights. The VTA wanted to essentially deem members at-will employees by having the ability to choose what does and what does not go to arbitration, essentially gutting our members’ rights to due process. Something the members could not accept.
Prior to the strike, members engaged in escalatory actions, including mobilizing hundreds of members to VTA Board meetings, letter actions, picket captain recruitment, and a strike vote yielding 95% in favor, all while trying to bargain for six months.
With a 100% shutdown of service, a major feat for any union, the VTA, instead of wanting to bargain and end the strike in good faith, decided to sue the members on Day 2 of the strike, claiming the no-strike clause of the expired contract was still in effect. This, despite previous communications from the VTA referencing the contract’s expiration date on March 3rd.
Amidst this lawsuit, the VTA did agree to mediation, but it continued to play games by reducing its wage offer and not guaranteeing that it wouldn’t discipline members for exercising their right to strike. All the while, top managers received incredible salary increases and demonized front-line employees.
The strike lasted for 17 days, each day getting stronger with International President John Costa and allies throughout California showing up in solidarity with the Local’s five energized lines. On March 26th, the Santa Clara County Superior Court ruled in favor of the VTA and enjoined on the strike, effectively busting it and forcing members back to work. The Local quickly filed an appeal to the judge’s ruling, which the lower court’s decision upheld on April 11th.
Despite the setback, members went back to work with their heads held high. The strike brought everyone together and amassed a team of 55 picket captains, organized by President/Business Agent Raj Singh, supporting each of the lines and turning the Local into a total shutdown machine. The judge did mention in his ruling that the Local could strike as soon as March 3rd in 2026, shortly after the Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium and before the FIFA games that summer.
Strikes have been busted before throughout the history of the labor movement, and this is one of many examples. The judge in this case wanted to end the strike due to its overwhelming display of power and would’ve found any reason to stop it. But the fight is not over. Local 265 is continuing their fight for a fair contract and won’t give up until they do.