SAN JOSE - The VTA workers are on the verge of striking starting March 10 at 12:01 a.m. Yes, you heard it right! Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265 has raised its stylish protest flag, and if you’re planning on using those buses or light rails next week, you might consider tightening those shoelaces instead.

According to the VTA’s latest news drop, bus and rail services are likely to take a nosedive, leaving many to embrace their inner trendsetters by walking or cycling, how very eco-friendly and totally not an inconvenience, right? Paratransit service will stick around, but for the average commuter trying to get anywhere in this tech hub, good luck!

VTA is acting like it’s the victim here. Their Deputy General Manager, Greg Richardson, is playing the disappointed card, emphasizing how crushed they are that ATU is leaving Silicon Valley communities hanging. But let’s get real: it’s the workers who have been left high and dry, feeling underappreciated and overworked after the havoc that was the May 2021 mass shooting.

Fun fact: VTA’s great offer, which sounds about as appetizing as stale bread, was a whopping 9% wage increase over three years, putting them as the second highest paid in the Bay Area. What’s that really worth when you take into account the working conditions? Pretty sure the workers don’t want roses when they’re getting thorns on their daily grind.

But hey, VTA hopes the union can come back to the bargaining table. In case you missed it, ATU members voted to authorize a strike earlier this month because they clearly weren’t satisfied with a measly 1% annual raise. With over 1,500 workers like bus drivers and light rail operators, they’re gunning for their rightful compensation and safer work environments. Last time I checked, their demands aren’t exactly outlandish.

As this drama unfolds, it’s a classic display of labor versus management, where workers want fair treatment, and management is playing the blame game. So, as they say, stay tuned for updates because this one’s just heating up. In the meantime, make sure your bike tires are pumped and your walking shoes are ready, folks!