SamTrans buses are experiencing service interruptions
The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1574, which represents nearly 400 essential SamTrans workers such as bus drivers and utility workers, has rejected the company’s latest contract proposal and is planning a sick-out strike next week.
FOSTER CITY, California. – If you travel by SamTrans, you may experience disruptions on Monday and perhaps even Tuesday due to a labor dispute between union members and SamTrans.
The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1574, which represents nearly 400 essential SamTrans workers such as bus drivers and utility workers, has rejected the company’s latest contract proposal.
The two had previously negotiated for months, and the union had already rejected the last proposal in July.
The union has not yet announced an official strike, but Emily Beach, communications director for the San Mateo County Transit District, said many workers would call in sick earlier this week.
“We anticipate this will be sufficient disruption to services, and particularly with children attending school, parents and guardians need to be aware and make alternative arrangements. We just wanted to be very open,” Beach said.
SamTrans leadership expressed disappointment at the union’s harsh action.
In a statement, they described the contract offered as “competitive and fair”.
They say it includes a wage increase of 4% this fiscal year and 3.5% over the next two years.
“We thought it was a fair package and the union leadership approved it. Unfortunately, the membership rejected it,” Beach said.
The KTVU was unable to contact union representatives to ask them why they had rejected the offer or what they needed to do to reach an agreement.
In the meantime, SamTrans is working to minimize disruption as much as possible while the company continues to work toward an agreement.
“We know that our customers who ride SamTrans buses rely on us to get to work, school, doctor’s appointments or family visits. Many of them do not have their own car or other means of transportation, so we are very concerned about minimizing the impact as much as possible,” Beach said.
She said SamTrans will prioritize school transportation and there will be no disruption to Redi-Wheels and RediCoast Paratransit.
As soon as SamTrans has details, the company will publish them via social media.
