SAN JOSE – The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority plans to provide Uber vouchers as a strike stretches into a third week.
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On Monday night, the agency announced it will offer vouchers up to $5 for each ride with a maximum of two rides per day. Rides must begin and end at a VTA bus or light rail stop and must be ordered on Uber’s mobile app, according to the VTA.
Customers will pay for the first $2.50 of any ride, after which the voucher will take effect, and any additional costs will also be paid by the customer, the agency said.
“We recognize the difficulties our riders are facing due to the transit strike, and we’re committed to offering solutions that can ease their transportation challenges,” VTA Deputy General Manager Greg Richardson said in a statement. “This partnership with Uber reflects our dedication to ensuring mobility for Santa Clara County residents.”
The VTA announced the pilot program after members of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265 voted overwhelmingly to reject the agency’s latest contract offer.
The proposal offered an 11% raise over three years in exchange for the union agreeing to proposals that would reduce absenteeism, as well as language regarding arbitration that both sides agreed to and a compromise regarding holidays.
“Our members want to get back to work,” ATU Local 265 President Raj Singh said at a news conference Monday afternoon. “But our members will only return to work with a fair contract, one that guarantees their rights, their dignity and their safety.”
In a statement, the VTA said it had put forward a “more than fair proposal that ensures employees receive competitive pay and strong benefits for themselves and their families.”
“VTA’s latest proposal reflects our commitment to our workforce,” the agency said, “and we urge our employees to embrace this chance to secure their future and return to work.”
The union walked off the job March 10 after negotiations for a new contract fell apart the week before, primarily due to the two sides disagreeing on arbitration language and the size of a pay raise. The strike has impacted roughly 100,000 people.
More information about the voucher program is available on the agency’s website.
