Jun 24, 2009 7:45 pm US/Pacific
BART Riders Asked To Prepare For Strike
OAKLAND (CBS 5 / BCN) ―
Bay Area transportation officials are urging residents to plan alternative methods of getting to and from work in the event of a strike by BART employees.
A strike became a distinct possibility this week when two of BART's three largest unions voted to authorize a walkout if negotiations break down.
Speaking at a briefing with reporters at BART headquarters Wednesday, Spokesman Linton Johnson said the vote to authorize a strike if a new contract agreement isn't reached by the June 30 deadline "sends the wrong signal when a lot of our riders are out of jobs."
"It's outrageous to even talk about a strike in these economic times," he said.
Johnson said negotiators for BART management and its five labor unions are working around the clock in hopes of reaching an agreement.
Ninety-one percent of BART workers with Local 3993 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents about 200 middle managers, who voted on Tuesday approved authorizing a strike.
"This vote does not mean that we will automatically go on strike. It just indicates that membership is solidly behind union leaders," Local 3993 president Jean Hamilton said.
According to Hamilton, BART executives are conveying that the only way to close their budget gap is to raise fares and take away job and retirement security from employees.
Spokesman Jeff Gillenkirk said 99 percent of members of Local 1555 of the Amalgamated Transit Union who voted Tuesday approved authorizing a strike.
Local 1555 represents about 900 train operators, station agents and foreworkers. Gillenkirk said he doesn't know how many of the union's members voted on Tuesday.
Members of Local 1021 of the Service Employees International Union, which represents about 1,200, mechanics, custodians, safety inspects and clerical employees, were scheduled to participate in a strike authorization vote on Thursday.
Two smaller unions also are in the midst of negotiations with BART management.
Johnson said the district will incur up to an additional $1 million in negotiating costs if talks extend an additional 60 days past the deadline.
"We're trying to get this done by July 1," Johnson said. "It's time for the union leadership to step up to the plate and get this contract done by July 1."
(© CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Bay City News contributed to this report.)
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