BART, unions continue labor talks through weekend to avoid strike

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and its two largest unions agreed late last night to continue contract negotiations through Sunday, thus averting a potential strike at least through the weekend.

The extension came just after a 60-day cooling-off period ended at midnight last night. However, the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1021 have issued a 72-hour notice that if the talks do not result in a new contract by midnight Sunday, they will go on strike starting on Monday, according to a BART press release.

"We are grateful the Bay Area will not be impacted by our unions for the next few days and that the trains will be running while we continue to negotiate," said BART spokesman Rick Rice.

Last night two significant changes occurred at the bargaining table: BART board members became involved in the negotiations, and the unions expect BART General Manager Grace Crunican to join in talks this morning and remain involved until an agreement is reached, SEIU Local 1021 officials said in a prepared statement.

"We believe that these developments can only help bring a resolution to these drawn-out negotiations and for this reason, we will continue bargaining through the weekend," they said.

The unions represent about 2,300 BART workers, who went on strike for five days in early July until union and BART officials agreed to a 30-day extension of the previous contract, which expired June 30. After the two sides still couldn't agree on contract terms, the unions indicated they would pursue a second strike. At that point, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a 60-day cooling off period, which expired yesterday.