Politics & Government
Gov. Brown Blocks AC Transit Strike for Now
California Gov. Jerry Brown today temporarily blocked a threatened strike by AC Transit workers that could have begun as early as Thursday morning. He convened an investigative board that stops any strike for up to seven days.
Posted by Charles Burr
Governor Jerry Brown today, Wednesday, blocked a threatened AC Transit strike for up to seven days by appointing an investigative board to examine the labor-management contract dispute.
The union representing bus drivers and other AC Transit workers said it might strike at 12:01 a.m. Thursday.
The AC Transit board had asked Brown for a 60-day cooling-off period. A spokesman for the Governor, Evan Westrup, said Brown would consider a 60-day cooling-off period after the 3-person investigative board completes its findings.
A similar sequence occurred when BART was granted a cooling-off period this summer.
State law forbids any strike or lock-out during the investigation by the board, which must be completed within seven days.
The board named by Brown consists of Peter Southworth (Chair), Josie Camacho and Micki Callahan.
The dispute involves AC Transit and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 192, which represents about 1,800 bus drivers, mechanics, dispatchers, clerical and other workers.
AC Transit and union leaders have reached tentative agreements, but they were rejected by the rank-and-file. Pay is one of the key issues.
Bay City News Service contributed to this report.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
