Court imposes 60-day cooling-off period for AC Transit strike
on October 24, 2013
One week ago, Bay Area commuters faced the potentially crippling possibility of both an AC Transit strike and a BART strike. While the BART strike did move forward — and ultimately resolve with an agreement between management and unions — Governor Jerry Brown himself intervened in the AC Transit strike by calling for a 60-day cooling off period on Tuesday.
“Another strike in the Bay Area is the last thing we need,” said Brown in a press release. “I urge the parties to resolve their differences, keeping the bus-riding public in mind.”
The governor’s request went before the Superior Court of Alameda County, which then officially imposed the 60-day cooling-off period on Wednesday. The parties in the dispute are AC Transit management and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 192, which represents almost 1,700 bus drivers, mechanics, janitors, and various other employees for the bus line.
“A threatened or actual strike or lockout … will significantly disrupt public transportation services and endanger the public’s health, safety, or welfare,” Judge Evelio Grillo wrote in his decision.
The cooling-off period is set to come to an end just three days before the Christmas holiday.
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