Just because you finally made it home last night does not mean the most recent Muni mess is over. For, as the SFMTA said in an alert sent to media at 6:11 Tuesday morning, they "continue to advise customers to make alternative transportation arrangements during a second day of service disruption."
"All routes and lines continue to experience missed and delayed service," The transit agency says. "Even with 100 additional vehicles on the street today, significant delays will remain. Customers should expect crowding and waits of up to 60 minutes. Some routes may be turned back mid route to help minimize crowding."
As always, riders are urged to follow Muni on Twitter for the most current service alerts, especially important as, according to the transit agency, NextMuni predictions are inaccurate at times of major service disruption.
The SFMTA helpfully suggests that people who typically ride their vehicles bike, walk, drive, take a cab, or get a job that allows "flexible work hours to avoid the peak commuting periods and telecommuting."
BART is also accepting customers with valid Muni proof of payment between Daly City and Embarcadero stations. Don't try to tag your Clipper to get the BART fare, however: instead, you must go to the BART Station Agent gate to request entrance.
If you must ride Muni today, and can overlook the hour-long delays and turnarounds, here's how your usual routes might be different Tuesday:
No limited-stop service (affects the 5L, 9L, 14L, 28L, 38L)
The following routes will not operate:
1AX/BX, 31AX/BX, 38AX/BX 16X, 88 3 Jackson - The majority of stops on this route are covered by the 2 Clement 8AX Bayshore Express and 8BX will operate without changes.
The cable cars are not in operation. Cable car lines will continue to be covered by limited bus shuttle service.
The F Market Line will continue to operate between Fisherman’s Wharf and the Ferry Building. For service along Market Street, use Muni Metro.
Though this Muni operator sick-out is apparently a result of unsuccessful contract negotiations, representatives of the employee union, Transport Workers Union Local 250-A, have not returned SFist's multiple requests for comment since Monday morning.
Friday, TWU Local 250-A members voted overwhelmingly to reject the most recent proposed contract (here's a PDF of the results). It had been rumored on the day of the vote that Muni drivers, displeased with how contract negotiations were proceeding, would hold a sick-out Monday. (I think we can mark that rumor as "confirmed," don't you?)
That sick-out is apparently continuing today, despite a strongly-worded memo (you can read it here) sent by the SFMTA Monday night to all drivers, which warned them that "any such work stoppage is prohibited under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the SFMTA and Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 250-A (9163)."
The proposed contract that the drivers voted down would give Muni workers an 11.45 percent raise over the next two years, making operator compensation $32 per hour by July, according to SFMTA spokesperson Paul Rose.
However, the contract also proposes that workers contribute 7.5 percent to their pensions, an amount that is currently being covered by Muni.
Rose said the city pays 92.5 percent of transit operators’ pensions, an amount he said “is in line with most other city workers.”
Update: In a release sent to media this morning, District 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener says he's planning on introducing "a resolution urging San Francisco Muni drivers to end their illegal sick-out, return to work, and resolve their labor dispute through the required arbitration process."
Wiener had tweeted angrily about the sick-out Monday, saying "Walking from Castro to City Hall due to Muni driver illegal sickout. Thank you to the Muni drivers who actually showed up to do their jobs."
As you might imagine, responses to that tweet were mixed.
Though it's unclear what, if any impact the resolution might have as anything other than a helpful suggestion, it "will be placed on today's imperative agenda and voted on by the Board of Supervisors today."
