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BART Extends Contracts for Unions

Sunday, Jun 28, 2009 | Updated 10:15 AM PST

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A symbolic start, but a start nonetheless on a five year plan to connect San Jose via BART.

BART agreed to extend contracts for two of its biggest unions today, pushing the ending date to July 9 instead of Tuesday at midnight, BART spokesman Linton Johnson said.

The transit agency agreed to extend its contracts by nine days for Local 1555 of the Amalgated Transit Union and Local 1021 of the Service Employees International Union, according to Johnson.

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 over the next four years and is asking unions for $100 million in concessions, including paying a larger share of health care and other benefits.

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, AFSCME Local 3993, as well as ATU and SEIU, voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike if leadership can't reach a contract agreement by then.

The vote authorizes union leadership to call for one if they deem it necessary. According to the terms of negotiations, workers must give at least 72 hours notice if they plan to strike.

If the remaining union decides to begin a strike Wednesday morning, as soon as their contract expires, they must give notice by midnight tonight.

A BART strike would create a severe hardship for commuters across the Bay Area. BART 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.

The contract talks will continue at a building at 2201 Broadway in downtown Oakland. BART workers have launched a Web site, www.runbartrun.org, to share updates from their perspective on negotiations and a possible strike. It also features a Twitter account that will let people know if they do decide to strike.