Dear BART, please avoid a strike
By: Tamara Barak Aparton
Examiner Staff Writer
July 1, 2009
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| Looking for a ride: A strike would be devastating for the 350,000 people that commute on BART daily. (Examiner file photo) |
SAN FRANCISCO — A strongly worded letter to BART from 15 Bay Area lawmakers expresses concern about the direction of current labor negotiations and what a strike could mean for those who depend on the transit agency.
BART, which increases fares today, has been at the negotiating table with unions for 90 days, seeking $100 million in concessions from its 2,800 unionized workers in order to help close a $250 million deficit for the next four years.
But 15 Bay Area lawmakers wrote in the letter that they are “concerned by reports on the district’s bargaining positions, which we believe has the potential to spark a labor dispute with the unions representing workers at the district.”
The original deadline for the contract talks was June 30, and two of the unions representing the most workers voted to authorize a strike, which could have started as early as today.
Late last week, however, the transit agency and the two biggest employee unions agreed to extend negotiations till midnight July 9.
In the letter, which is addressed to BART General Manager Dorothy Duggar and dated just days before the agreement in the tumultuous bargaining process, lawmakers urge transit leaders to bargain in good faith with employee unions.
Also mentioned in the letter is a request by the BART board of directors for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger not to grant a cooling-off period after the deadline for negotiations.
BART spokesman Linton Johnson said district officials are well aware of the impact a strike would have on the Bay Area economy.
“That’s why we asked for no cooling-off period,” he said. “So that if, God forbid, there were a strike, it would happen in the summer and not around the time the Bay Bridge closes.”
Johnson said he appreciates the letter from legislators, who are standing up for their constituents.
“We share the same constituents and we’re standing up for them as well, by making sure we can offer service at an affordable price,”
he said.
If there were a strike, it would leave 350,000 daily riders in the lurch, the letter said.
“We’re very concerned about a potential strike. It means people can’t get to work and school and get where they need to go,” said Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, whose District 12 includes San Francisco, Daly City, Colma and Broadmoor.
Jean Hamilton, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3553, which represents about 200 middle managers, said that while negotiations appear to be improving, she shares the concerns expressed by legislators.
“The unions are very much at the table with a goal of reaching a fair and equitable solution. We just hope the district is there for the same reasons, too,” Hamilton said.
Possible walkout spurs backup plan
If BART workers strike, the more than 130,000 commuters who descend on San Francisco each day will be looking for new ways to get to work — with highway and street gridlock a likely result.
On Tuesday, Muni unveiled its contingency plan to deal with parking, traffic and directing commuters unfamiliar
with The City’s transit system.
The plan involves close coordination with Caltrain, SamTrans, AC Transit and ferry services, and is designed to quickly connect displaced BART commuters with alternative transportation.
Muni service along the BART corridor will be beefed up, including the 14-Mission, 49-Van Ness-Mission, J-Church to and from Balboa Park/Geneva, and N-Judah to and from Caltrain at Fourth and King streets.
City employees will also assist motorists when garages are full. The casual carpool pickup areas will expand to include a dozen additional spots on Beale Street, just south of Folsom Street. The boarding spots will be in effect between 3 and 7 p.m. Taxis will also be deployed to key areas.
Muni officials are also urging commuters to bike or walk, if possible, or avoid peak commuting periods, telecommute or take a vacation.
For more information, visit www.sfmta.com, call 511 or visit www.511.org.
tbarak@sfexaminer.com
