“AVTA is anticipating no local service through the remainder of the week at a minimum,” AVTA officials said in a news release.
“Updates on expected commuter and TRANSporter service will be released by 3 p.m. each day for the following day. Riders are encouraged to have alternate transportation plans and to sign up for Rider Alerts to receive the latest updates on all service interruptions,” the AVTA news release states.
The latest strike — the fourth one this year — stems from disagreements between the bus driver’s union [Teamsters Local 848] and Transdev, which contracts with the AVTA.
“The Union has twice rejected a contract that would make the operators some of the highest paid public transit operators in California, with a top rate of $25.45 per hour. The Union’s demands would have severe fiscal impacts, resulting in the elimination of our free-ride programs for veterans, AV College students, and senior citizens,” AVTA officials said in the news release.
The Union maintains that its bus drivers walked off the job Monday “because Transdev continues to break labor laws, known as unfair labor practices (ULP),” according to a news release by Teamsters Local 848.
“This particular ULP strike occurred because Transdev and AVTA locked the drivers out of work for two days after the Union sent an unconditional offer to return to work on behalf of all drivers. The strike has ended again – for now, yet Transdev/AVTA has again chosen to lock out the drivers for two days leaving the door open for another ULP strike,” according to the Union’s news release, which was issued Tuesday afternoon.
“If AVTA is so concerned with students’ ability to get to and from school then why have they locked out the drivers for two days and told them to wait to return to work until Friday?” Eric Tate, Secretary-Treasurer for Teamsters Local 848, stated in the news release.
“AVTA continues to whine that they have not received advance notice of the drivers’ next strike. I know they have very little experience with strikes so here is some free advice for them: ‘You don’t get advance notice of a strike.’ Perhaps Transdev simply doesn’t want to cut into their fat profit margins to make sure their passengers make it to and from their destinations?” Tate added.
The Union addressed AVTA’s claims that bus drivers turned down a contract that reached a top rate of $25.45.
“AVTA has failed to disclose that the top rate isn’t reached until the sixth year of the contract. AVTA has failed to disclose that Santa Clarita and LADOT drivers have their medical insurance paid by the Company, while Transdev/AVTA requires drivers to pay as much as $300 per month. AVTA has failed to disclose that Santa Clarita and LADOT drivers earn employer pension contributions of up to $3 per hour while Transdev/AVTA is proposing just 70 cents per hour by the 6th year of the contract (up from the current 25 cents per hour),” according to the news release by Teamsters Local 848.
AVTA is urging the Teamsters Local 848 to “return to the bargaining table and immediately cease actions that harm our riders and do nothing to advance their cause,” AVTA officials said in the news release.
The bus drivers would like to get back to work, but they want to be compensated fairly, according to their Union.
“All the Transdev/AVTA drivers want is to be compensated fairly, at an equivalent level to other bus drivers in the region. More than six months ago, the Union made an offer to Transdev to accept their economic proposal for the first four years if they would agree to the Union’s proposal, which would allow drivers to reach par with other drivers in the region by the end of the six-year contract. Not only has Transdev/AVTA refused this reasonable request, but the employers have continued to break labor laws in the process, leaving the drivers no choice but to strike – that’s their power, that’s their remedy,” according to the news release by Teamsters Local 848.
AVTA is urging local riders to check avta.com or call its Commuter Hotline at 661-945-9445 for the latest updates on all service interruptions.
UPDATED 8-23-17: Bus drivers will be back on the job in the Antelope Valley Thursday, Aug. 24, and will hold no further strikes until a meeting is held on Sept. 12 to continue contract negotiations, the Antelope Valley Transit Authority announced. Read our latest story here.
Previous related stories:
AVTA bus drivers back on the job despite ongoing contract dispute
AVTA prepares for impact of work slowdown
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anjie says
As a regular AVTA rider, I’m glad to read Local 848 is doing a good job representing the bus drivers. Please continue to exert pressure on Transdev/AVTA until it compromises with employees. Commensurate wages and benefits should be standard in all jobs but that’s another subject. The fact that AVTA drivers are holding the company’s “feet to the fire” is, in my opinion, the correct course of action even if I’m inconvenienced. Companies too often treat their employees poorly because they are focused on their bottom line and/or board of directors. After Transdev/AVTA takes care of their employees, it needs to take care of riders by holding public hearings to discuss and address day-to-day issues, replacing equipment that frequently breaks down and creating realistic schedules – especially in light of the recently-announced route changes and mergers. If Transdev/AVTA is unable or unwilling to improve operations, it should get out of the business of “public” transportation!
Taxpayer says
We may not be able to ride the bus, but we have the most expensive electric BYD buses that tax payer money can subsidize.
anjie says
not all routes are created equal… some routes have busses so old they have stairs! so, enjoy your route’s “most expensive electric BYD buses”.
My 2 cents says
It’s too bad that the AVTA can’t just fire anyone striking. If you don’t show up to work, bye bye!
If you want to be paid more, look for another job. Set your ambitions higher than driving a bus for a living.
This type of thing infuriates me.
alex says
Many cities are incorporating Mobility on Demand (MOD), and other methods of transportation to accommodate the public. It is shameful to see Transdem/AVTA keep holding people hostage. How many strikes so far this year? Public-Private co-operation.
alex says
Competition, not monopolies, can improve public transit.
alex says
AVTA needs some competition. People are at their mercy when minds can’t come together for the good of the communities.
Tim Scott says
Please name one city in America that has multiple competing municiple transit services.
Taxpayer says
Many cities have combinations of bus and rail working in conjunction.
The problem with AVTA is leadership. The Marv-Hof-Bishop trio is more concerned about pleasing BYD and wasting tax money by going all electric than providing the best service. Once the grants run out for the busses, who is going to pay for the all-electric fleet? The answer is you and me, a.k.a., the taxpayer.
They should focus on how to best operate the system and make improvements.
BYD may contribute to their campaigns, but that doesn’t help those of us who use the AVTA services.
Tim Scott says
Working in conjunction, not competing. The previous commenter was obviously one of those “magical free market makes everything better” believers, and I was basically just using a roundabout way of calling them an idiot.
Walmart1660 says
Damn these drivers are greedy I’ll be happy to work for $20/hr AVTA call me hire people that will be happy to work for less
Tired of the BS says
Screw it. Shut it down and sell the buses.
Terminator says
Robots will replace them soon.
Jennifer says
First of all the cost of living in santa clarite is twice as much as it is here in AV, so it would make sense that they would make more money. However, knowing what these bus drivers may have to deal with I think a raise is sufficient. Maybe not what they are asking tho. And lots of ppl have to pay for insurance. Thats life. They should be content that they have a job, instead of putting others jobs at risk by striking.
Shane Falco says
I wouldn’t say the cost of living is twice as much in SCV. Gas, groceries, the cost of vehicles, and utilities is the same. Housing definitely costs more but real estate usually does in places where people want to raise families.
I know if you’re offering better wages and benefits, you can attract better candidates from which to choose. There’s nothing stopping anybody in the AV from driving to SCV for work. I have employees that do it.
Tim Scott says
The cost of LIVING in Santa Clarita is, on average, lower than it is in the AV because people generally buy a lot less gasoline. The cost of HOUSING in Santa Clarita is a lot higher.
alex says
You are wrong about the cost of living in Santa Clarita being lower than the AV. Please do you homework before you automatically decide to be contrary.
alex says
You are right about the cost of living in Santa Clarita being higher than in the AV. Only 2% though.
Tim Scott says
Source?
Andres says
George,
It always amazes me how bigots can’t spell. Have your sister-wife show you the dictionary.
George says
Well they were at the back of the bus years ago now there at the front of the bus and still grip,they can’t drive that bus too ,dump them
Michele says
$300/month for medical insurance? My husband pays $850/month. Poor babies!!!
Shane Falco says
Let me see if I understand this, these drivers want the same pay and benefits as Santa Clarita and LADOT. Instead of complaining and striking, why don’t these drivers just go for jobs there?
Tim Scott says
Or just start a charity for bus drivers and then channel all the funds to themselves?
Taxpayer says
Why doesn’t the AVTA board purchase natural gas buses instead of those expensive BYD ones? The environmental impacts offset each other. There will be more money for operations because once the subsidies run out someone has to pay for Rex’s campaign contributor’ so buses. That would be the taxpayer. Hey Rex, Marv, Hoff, and Bishop, do you remember the taxpayer?
M. D says
Just great! I like how they wait and choose to do this when school is back in session!
Super annoyed says
Agreed! Why isn’t AVUHD stepping in with a contingency plan to get these kids to school??? They say they provide transportation if the kids live more than 5 miles away. Really? What kid is going to walk 4 miles to school in the morning! Need to find out when the next High School Dist. board meeting is.