The 54 electrical and maintenance workers for the San Francisco International Airport’s AirTrain who were on strike this week will be going back to work from March 16 to the end of the month after the union signed an extension contract while bargaining continues with Alstom Transport USA, the company that employs them.
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 617, the union representing AirTrain workers in central operations and maintenance, said previously that Alstom had not bargained in good faith on their requests for wage increases and initiated strike action.
A formalized contract with Alstom has still not been reached, IBEW Local 617 Business Manager Scott Wein, and the union will continue to bargain with the company on its requests for wage increases to keep up with the rising cost of living and paid time off for employees that work 24/7 schedules.
“Our members are going back on the job starting Monday, with an intent to negotiate on the 20th to hopefully come to a resolution,” he said. “At the end of the month if there is not an agreement, there very well may be another strike.”
Alstom representatives did not immediately respond to request for comment on the end-of-month extension, but said previously that they’re working to find agreement. SFO Public Information Officer Doug Yakel said previously that SFO was monitoring the situation closely and that Alstom had brought in personnel from other locations to work on the AirTrain while the strike was ongoing.
The union agreed to the end-of-month extension, with workers operating under their old contract, to ensure AirTrain passengers would stay safe, Wein said.
“We wanted to help out SFO and to ensure the most quality maintenance individuals are out there keeping that train operating for the public while we reach a deal,” he said.
IBEW Local 617 previously said that Alstom hadn’t been bargaining in good faith since the contract expired Feb. 8, alleging the company has posted false information about contract proposals and canceled bargaining sessions.
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