April 25, 2025

The VTA Board of Directors is scheduled to vote on the three contracts on May 1, 2025, with salary increases to take effect on the first pay period after tentative agreements on wages were signed.

VTA remains committed to reaching an agreement with the only outstanding union without an amended contract. Unfortunately, ATU has taken a markedly different course. After eight months of extended bargaining, mediation, service disruption, and litigation, there is still no agreement on a new ATU contract despite VTA’s concerted efforts to find a meaningful resolution.

To date, 12 tentative agreements (9 ATU and 3 VTA) have been signed, covering key issues such as floating holidays, increased straight runs (fewer split shifts), workplace trauma leave, bidding procedures, day-off trades, arbitrability process, and an increased boot voucher. These demonstrate VTA’s good-faith efforts to reach an agreement.

In terms of pay, VTA presented a competitive wage offer of 11% over three years (the additional 0.5% over previous salary offers was in exchange for excluding sick time from overtime calculations), which was rejected by the membership. Previous to that increased salary offer and due to the rejection of the offer of 11% due to possible concerns about overtime calculations, VTA put forth a proposal of 10.5% without the sick time provision, which remains on the table. This offer reflects VTA’s commitment to providing employees with a competitive wage and benefit package while balancing fiscal responsibilities and maintaining service levels.

In contrast, ATU began negotiations on August 15, 2024, with a request for a 24% wage increase over three years (8% annual increase) and held firm until February 25, a week before initiating a strike. ATU has moved once to lower their wage proposal to 18% (6% annual increase over three years); however, these actions fail to take into account current economic realities or VTA’s commitment to serve the public.

Now that the rest of VTA’s represented unions have agreed to their contracts, ATU claims VTA never proposed a 14.5% raise over four years. That is misleading. ATU leadership has stated its bylaws discourage agreements exceeding three years. ATU leadership, if they choose, may propose a longer contracted term. The ball is in their court.

Misinformation around proposals, contract terms, and bargaining intentions only delays progress—and ultimately harms the 1,500 VTA employees ATU represents. Every day without a new agreement means lost wages for operators, maintenance staff, dispatchers, fare inspectors, and customer service representatives. VTA stands ready to work on reaching an agreement that is fair and financially responsible.