BART contracts extended 9 days
Demian Bulwa, Chronicle Staff Writer
Sunday, June 28, 2009
PRINT E-MAIL SHARE COMMENTS (19) FONT | SIZE:
(06-28) 09:36 PDT OAKLAND -- BART and its two biggest unions agreed late Saturday to extend their labor contracts by nine days as they attempt to hammer out new deals and avoid a potentially devastating work stoppage.
MORE BAY AREA NEWS
Cityscape: S.F.'s Downtown Center Garage 06.28.09
Pacifica: Highway sign mysteriously disappears 06.28.09
Pittsburg girl who hid in closet dies in fire 06.28.09
The contracts, which had been set to expire Tuesday, were extended until July 9 at midnight, BART officials said in a written statement.
Union and management leaders are expected to continue bargaining today with the help of state mediators and under the threat of a shutdown of the critical transit system.
BART officials say they are seeking $100 million in labor cost savings as part of an effort to shave down a $250 million projected deficit over the next four years.
Union leaders, who have questioned BART's budget figures, have the support of their members to call a strike if they deem one is necessary.
BART has a daily ridership of about 355,000. Serious traffic problems occurred the last time a job action shut down the rail agency, in 1997.
Demian Bulwa, Chronicle Staff Writer
Sunday, June 28, 2009
PRINT E-MAIL SHARE COMMENTS (19) FONT | SIZE:
(06-28) 09:36 PDT OAKLAND -- BART and its two biggest unions agreed late Saturday to extend their labor contracts by nine days as they attempt to hammer out new deals and avoid a potentially devastating work stoppage.
MORE BAY AREA NEWS
Cityscape: S.F.'s Downtown Center Garage 06.28.09
Pacifica: Highway sign mysteriously disappears 06.28.09
Pittsburg girl who hid in closet dies in fire 06.28.09
The contracts, which had been set to expire Tuesday, were extended until July 9 at midnight, BART officials said in a written statement.
Union and management leaders are expected to continue bargaining today with the help of state mediators and under the threat of a shutdown of the critical transit system.
BART officials say they are seeking $100 million in labor cost savings as part of an effort to shave down a $250 million projected deficit over the next four years.
Union leaders, who have questioned BART's budget figures, have the support of their members to call a strike if they deem one is necessary.
BART has a daily ridership of about 355,000. Serious traffic problems occurred the last time a job action shut down the rail agency, in 1997.