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Officials from San Francisco’s Bay Area Rapid Transit and five unions that represent more than 3,000 transit district employees are continuing negotiations, which began in March, for new contracts to replace those set to expire June 30.



"The men and women who keep the trains running on a daily basis are our largest investment and they provide a valuable service to the public," said BART Chair Willie Kennedy in a prepared statement, adding that BART’s goal in the negotiations are two-fold: To provide employees a fair and equitable wage and benefit package, and to preserve BART’s ability to serve customers by maintaining financial stability in an uncertain economy.



The agency is about midstream in its $1.5 billion renovation program and plans to replace all its existing fare equipment and renovate its original 439-rail-car fleet.



The unions involved in negotiations include Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 1555, representing 806 station agents and train operators; American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Local 3993, representing 271 supervisory and professional personnel; BART Police Managers Association, representing 39 middle-management sworn officers, BART Police Officers Association, representing 228 sworn officers, revenue guards and community service assistants; and Service Employees International Union, Local 70, representing 1,737 maintenance, professional and clerical workers.