BART, Unions Still Far Apart as Talks Resume Today

By Bay City News

BART employee unions and management are expected to return to the bargaining table Monday but remain hundreds of millions apart in their contract offers, officials said Sunday.

BART officials said they have three general sessions scheduled for this week covering issues such as wages that affect all employees.

In addition, "supplemental" sessions are scheduled with the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 to discuss union specific issues.

Bargaining sessions are currently scheduled to continue through Oct. 10, when a 60-day cooling off period ordered by a judge at the request of Gov. Jerry Brown and BART management will end.

The cooling off period was ordered after BART workers threatened to strike in early August.

They had previously gone on a four-and-a-half day strike in early July before returning to work and negotiations.

The two sides reportedly remain far apart in their contract offers.

BART officials said Sunday that the differences amount to around $112 million.

BART is offering a 10 percent wage increase over 4 years with pension and medical contributions by employees, while unions are asking for a 17 percent wage increase over three years with a fully reimbursed pension contribution and small increases to employee medical costs, BART spokesman Rick Rice said.

"BART is looking for the unions to make the same type of movement BART has shown with its offer progression in order to get the deal done," Rice said.

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