No BART strike today, federal mediator says

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) trains are operating on a normal schedule today, as contract negotiations between management and the agency's two largest unions are continuing with the assistance of a federal mediator, BART and union officials announced early this morning.

Negotiations continued all day yesterday, after the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 and Service Employees International Union Local 1021 agreed not to have their members walk off the job Monday despite the expiration of a 72-hour strike notice.

George Cohen, director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, told the unions that workers should report to work today. He also said negotiators are making progress on a new contract, according to national news media reports.

The unions, which represent about 2,300 BART workers, have been working without a contract since June 30. They conducted a five-day strike in early July.