ATU members authorize WMATA strike

Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689 members on Sunday voted to authorize a strike against the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).

The union hasn't released a timeline for the potential strike, but will "share developments at the appropriate time," ATU officials said in a press release.

Thousands of members turned out for the strike authorization vote in Forestville, Maryland. The union's last strike vote took place in 1978, resulting in a weeklong "wildcat" strike.

Dialogue between WMATA and ATU officials is ongoing, WMATA officials said in a statement.

"To ensure that Metro is always there for the millions who rely on us, the region has made a commitment to increase capital investment in Metro with the understanding that a similar commitment be made by Metro to tackle tough issues, including solving growing costs," agency officials said. "The collective bargaining process is the appropriate and legal path to finding solutions."

As press time today, the strike hadn't begun.

ATU Local 689 represents more than 13,000 workers in skilled transportation crafts for WMATA, Metro Access and the DC Streetcar.