UPDATE on 6/25/2012: The San Joaquin Regional Transit District now will not be providing any bus services on July 4, including the limited demand response service as previously planned.
RTD had announced that it would provide the limited service, but that conflicted with an April 2012 arbitration ruling that eliminated holiday pay for employees on six holidays, including July 4, according to a statement issued Monday (June 25).
“RTD met with representatives of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 276 (which represents RTD’s coach operators and mechanics) with the hope of negotiating an exception to pay a few employees to provide a limited demand-response service on July 4,” read the RTD statement. “Unfortunately, the union is not willing to change its position that, if RTD operated any service, it would need to pay all employees holiday pay, whether or not they worked the July 4 holiday – something RTD cannot afford to do.”
Story posted June 22, 2012
STOCKTON – The San Joaquin Regional Transit District will not operate regular bus routes on the Fourth of July.
Stockton Metro, Metro Express, Intercity, Hopper, and San Joaquin Commuter, along with Dial-A-Ride services will be affected. RTD’s administrative offices and the Downtown Transit Center Customer Service Center will be closed.
RTD instead will operate a limited demand-response service by reservation only on a first come, first served basis at a premium fare of $5 per one-way trip. This service is available within the Stockton Metropolitan Area. Priority will be given to passengers who are elderly or with disabilities. RTD is accepting reservations from June 27, until close of business July 2. Reservations will be limited to one round trip per passenger. For reservations, please call (209) 955-8400.
RTD will resume regular service and reopen its administrative offices and the DTC Customer Service Center on July 5.
