More than 60 SamTrans union bus drivers — about 30% — participated in a contract-related sick-out Thursday, prompting the transit agency to rearrange bus schedules to minimize service disruptions to its thousands of daily riders.
A SamTrans spokesperson said the agency was preparing for another sick-out Friday based on the number of bus operators who had already called in sick by late Thursday.
SamTrans spokesperson Randol White said the agency had been preparing for a sick-out that never happened on Aug. 26 and 27, nearly two weeks after members of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1574 overwhelmingly rejected a three-year contract proposal that was supported by union leadership.
White said the proposal offered a 18.3% raise for bus drivers over three years, a 21.9% pay hike for mechanics and utility workers over three years, and an 11.4% pay increase for customer service representatives over three years.
A representative from ATU Local 1574 was not immediately available for comment Thursday.
White said SamTrans prioritized school service Thursday without disruption. Routes 292 and 122 were not impacted by the workforce shortage because contractors operate those routes. In addition, Redi-Wheels and RediCoast paratransit services also did not experience disruptions related to the sick-out.
“We know that for many people who depend on SamTrans, there are no alternative transportation options, which is why we take this sick-out very seriously and are doing everything we can to prioritize critical routes and schedule times,’’ White said.
SamTrans buses are critical for many low-income residents in San Mateo County. Based on data from the San Mateo County Affordable Housing Index, 90% of riders are considered low-income and nearly 75 % of riders do not have access to a vehicle.
White said SamTrans remains committed to finding a contract resolution and is prepared to work collaboratively with ATU members, adding that it is now the responsibility of union leaders to submit a revised contract proposal following the membership’s contract rejection vote on Aug. 14.
SamTrans serves an average of roughly 32,000 riders on weekdays.
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