BART contracts extended till July 9
Bay City News
June 28, 2009
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| Just in case: BART’s three largest unions voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike if a contract cannot be worked out. (Examiner file photo) |
SAN FRANCISCO — BART agreed to extend contracts for two of its biggest unions last weekend, and offered to extend the contract of a third, pushing the ending date to July 9 instead of midnight Tuesday, BART spokesman Linton Johnson said.
The transit agency agreed to extend its contracts by nine days for Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 and Service Employees International Union Local 1021, according to Johnson.
He said the same extension had been offered to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees — a union that represents some middle managers, marketing personnel, planners and financial analysts — but it had not been accepted as of Sunday afternoon. If that union had decided to begin a strike Wednesday morning, as soon as its contract expires, it would have had to give notice by midnight Sunday.
On Friday, three state mediators arrived to assist with negotiations, just days before BART’s contract with 2,800 union employees was supposed to expire.
BART is facing a projected $250 million budget deficit during the next four years and is asking unions for $100 million in concessions, including paying a larger share of health care and other benefits.
On Saturday, a fourth mediator was dispatched by the state to help with negotiations. Only one mediator was present during the last round of contract negotiations four years ago, Johnson said.
“It’s unprecedented to have four mediators doing bargaining,” he said.
Members of BART’s three largest unions voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike if leadership cannot reach a contract agreement.
The vote authorizes union leadership to call for one if they deem it necessary. According to terms of the negotiations, workers must give at least 72 hours notice if they plan to strike.
A BART strike would create a severe hardship for commuters across the Bay Area. Its trains carry about 360,000 passengers each weekday. Other area transit agencies, including SamTrans and Caltrain, have developed contingency transportation plans in the event of a strike.
