Appellate court denies ATU's petition over halted VTA strike

The Appellate Court of the Sixth District in California has denied the Amalgamated Transit Union's (ATU) writ petition that challenged a Superior Court ruling that sent Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) front-line employees back to work following a two-and-a-half week strike.

ATU Local 265 members went on strike March 10 through March 27. A California Superior Court judge ruled on March 26 that the union likely violated its contract by leading its 1,500 members to go on strike after months of unproductive contract negotiations, VTA officials said in a press release.

Union representatives held the position that members are exempt from the contract's "no strike" clause as the contract expired March 3. The union also has stated the VTA contract offerings fall short on pay, among other issues.