VTA Employee Support

• What is VTA management's stance on holding managers/supervisors accountable for poor work environment that can lead to employee's lack of motivation/enthusiasm?

The Board of Directors has directed VTA staff to create a joint union and management committee to hire a consultant to conduct an organization wide cultural and climate transformation that improves the overall experience of being employed by VTA through an inclusive approach done in partnership with VTA’s unions and management.

• Can we get more EAP sessions?

The EAP is always available to employees and those services are available anytime. We will continue to provide on-site counselors while employees taking advantage of in-person services remains. Should this interest decrease, we will scale the in-person services back.

• When will the VPN be back?

The Technology and Procurement departments are working on an alternative remote solution that involves bringing on a different contracted vendor. This will progress over the coming months.

• What is the reason the administration leave expires June 27?

The extra administrative time provided to employees is to be used for healing, counseling and to attend the services of our colleagues without having to use other banked time or without penalty immediately following the tragedy.

The hours were negotiated with the unions and based on a typical work week. It was not based on the fiscal year-end. As you know, if the time is not used it will be cashed out with an understanding that this too would help with future needs for time away from work.

• Why did Homeland Security not warn VTA of what was in Samuel Cassidy's possession when they stopped him in Customs in 2016.  Can VTA use the Freedom of Information Act to get answers?

VTA was not notified by other entities about Cassidy. We are trying to find out why we were not notified. Other organizations are taking the lead on pursuing action on this end.

•  What is going to happen to employees who can’t go back to work?​​​​​​

VTA will make every effort to accommodate employee transfers to other departments within the agency.

• When will the Guadalupe Division reopen?

Various teams are working on near and long-term plans for the Guadalupe Division. These teams consist of employees from Engineering and Construction, Safety, Planning, Public Affairs and representation of all unions plus those who work at the light rail division. This inclusive team understands both the sensitivity and importance of bringing employees back to work and what is needed to do so appropriately. Feedback is always welcomed. Those light rail division employees who felt ready, began returning to work the first week of August. Some still remain off work as they continue to heal. Light rail passenger service began August 29 with the Orange Line and part of the Blue Line. September 4, Blue Line service  was extended, and service began on part of the Green Line. Sunday, September 12, the entire Blue Line began offering passenger service. As of September 12, the entire VTA light rail system is running. 

• Are any additional physical site improvements planned related to safety and security, such as access control fencing/badging/metal detectors/roaming security sweeps for any facilities (such as the courtyard at the River Oaks campus)?

This will all be considered in the third-party assessment underway with the Office of the Sheriff.

• Will communications protocols be updated to include text messaging that are sent out as soon as VTA is aware that there is a 911 incident, saying something to alert all employees on the campus such as “There is a security incident at _______ campus and employees/consultant staff are advised to __(stay away, shelter in place/avoid the area etc.)____.”

Staff is working to update the process and protocols for emergency notifications via Everbridge. We ask that all employees take advantage of the next "call to action" to sign up for Everbridge notifications which allow employees to identify all the ways they wish to receive notices (work or personal email, work or personal phone calls or texts, etc.)

• What is the latest on security at VTA?

Immediately following the incident, VTA increased a private security presence and patrols at all the operating divisions including at River Oaks and the Downtown Customer Service Center. This increased security is ongoing. In addition, there is closed circuit TV surveillance at all VTA facilities and throughout the transit system; Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office Transit Patrol has increased presence at divisions and along the system, including a bomb detecting canine officer.

Currently, we are working with the Sheriff to bring in a third party to assess security protocols in addition to working with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) every three years.

In 2017, VTA volunteered to bring in TSA to assess security protocols and again in 2018. VTA scored well, in the 93rd percentile. VTA is due for another TSA assessment this year, which we will do, in addition to the third-party assessment with the Sheriff.

As a reminder, every employee MUST wear AND swipe your badge to gain access to your work area. 

Division Chiefs are currently working with managers and supervisors to reassess employees' badge access. Your badge access is determined by the job duties you need to perform. If needed to be extended beyond regular work hours or work site, it will need to be approved by the Division Chief.

• Does VTA provide active shooter training? If so, can we have a refresher?

In 2017, all VTA employees were required to take the mandatory active shooter training and all new employees who go through New Employee Orientation also receive this training. We will work with HR's employee training department on this opportunity to reengage employees while taking the appropriate timing of this training into consideration. We will also look into a more involved training program for employees through the Sherriff’s Office.

• Can the trainings be campus-specific because the facilities are so different?

A more site-specific training will be considered as part of an updated active shooter training.

• What about contractors who do not have access to bereavement time off?

Contracted employees have the employment relationship with the contractor firm who provides the specific employee benefits. Contractors should ask their employers about necessary bereavement time off. Our contracted employees are welcome to speak to the VTA-provided grief counseling services at any time for free.

• How can we see the questions and answers from previous employee forums and other questions submitted?

Answers to questions will be posted on the employee support website under FAQ. You can submit additional questions to employee.support@vta.org.

• Where can I get information about mental health counseling?

Information about various counseling services is available on the Employee Support webpage in the Employee Resources drop down link and on the Hub homepage.

• Do VTA contractors have access to counseling and other grief services being offered by VTA?

Yes. Anyone who works for VTA who needs to take advantage of VTA's EAP services is eligible to receive them, including employees' family members, and all VTA contractors.

• Can we invite a grief counselor to a regular staff meeting?

Yes. Please contact Marie Guillory-Jones to make this request and schedule: marie.guillory-jones@vta.org (408) 321-5639.

• Where can donations to the families of the victims be made?

Donations are being taken at multiple sites which are listed on the Employee Support page in the Donations drop-down link and the Hub homepage. All donations go directly to the families of the victims, including those donated to Working Partnerships.

• Is there help for managers, supervisors or other staff who need to better articulate the services that are available, either in a memo or verbally?

Yes, the VTA Communications Team is available to help draft or advise on timely and accurate information to share with others. Please send these requests to employee.support@vta.org. 

Below is an update of the counseling and support services that are available to employees, along with other opportunities, to assist anyone who has been impacted by the tragic event at Guadalupe Yard.  We encourage you to reach out to someone...a counselor, a co-worker, a friend or family member. This is a challenging time and we need to lean on each other and support each other to get through it.

Healing and Building Resilience in the Aftermath of a Mass Shooting

We know processing grief is not a short-term endeavor. As such, we hope you will find the following information helpful. 

Below is a link to a recorded seminar recently conducted by Dr. Bruce Perry, an internationally known expert on the impact of trauma. Dr. Perry conducted the seminar live on June 30, 2021, in a community event hosted by the County of Santa Clara Behavioral Health Services Department. The topic of the seminar is “Healing and Building Resilience in the Aftermath of a Mass Shooting" and available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ybRWeNsorw.    

His clinical research and practice focus on examining the long-term effects of trauma, and he has consulted with individuals and families impacted by incidents including the 1999 Columbine High School massacre and the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.

We understand these sessions are not a total solution to healing after such a traumatic event, however, we hope it will provide you with a better understanding of how to move forward.  

We wish you well and encourage you to contact us with your questions and concerns at employee.support@vta.org.

Guadalupe Light Rail yard employees are returning to work in phases.  

• AFSCME managers and supervisors returned to work Wednesday, July 21.
• SEIU employees returned to work on Monday, August 2.
• ATU employees will begin returning to work the week of August 9. Letters will be mailed and follow-up phone calls made providing more details.

Mandatory Trauma and Recovery training is held on the first day of return to work, followed by a walk-thru of work sites. Grief counselors are on-site to speak privately with employees who choose to do so. Following the trauma training, employees will be provided instructions on any technical training that may be needed prior to returning to their worksite. In addition, employees will receive information on interim work locations, new processes or procedures, and security measures that have been put in place. These initial return to work orientations will be tailored for each individual workgroup.

Those who feel they are not prepared to return to work on that date should contact Cassandra Leventon in Benefits prior to the designated return date so a meeting can be arranged to discuss options moving forward. She can be reached at Cassandra.Leventon@vta.org or by calling (408) 321-5758.

The following resources have been vetted by VTA and we are supporting these funds:

The California Transportation Foundation (CTF) has established the VTA Employees Memorial Fund to help the families affected during this difficult time. All donations will go directly to the VTA employees’ families. Donations are tax deductible and will be matched by CTF for up to a total match of $7,500 per family. 

Ways you can donate:

Online at www.transportationfoundation.org/donate/.

You must indicate in the drop-down menu that this donation is for the “VTA Employees Memorial Fund.” The CTF tax ID number is 68-0165257.

Checks should be made out to "CTF" and designated "VTA Employees Memorial Fund” in the memo line. Checks made out incorrectly will be returned. Mail checks to:
CTF, 9500 Kiefer Blvd., PO Box 276828, Sacramento, CA 95827-6828.

Working Partnerships USA, Union Community Resources has set up a fund to support those directly affected by the shooting.
To donate, click here.

The Amalgamated Transit Union has a fund to help workers affected by the mass shooting. To Donate, click here. 

Checks can also be mailed to the union’s disaster relief fund at:

Attention: John A. Costa.
10000 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20903

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Donations are being taken for the families of our fallen co-workers at the following sites:

A GoFundMe account has been set up to support the family of VTA paint and body worker, Henry Gonzales, who sadly took his own life August 16, 2021, in the wake of the Guadalupe Shooting incident. Donations can be made here.

Links to Verified Go Fund Me Accounts:

Abdolvahab Alaghmandan         Adrian Balleza         Alex Fritch         

Jose Hernandez         Lars Lane         Paul Megia           

Timothy Romo         Michael Rudometkin         Taptejdeep Singh