Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) union leaders are threatening to go on strike (again) Monday morning if they fail to reach an agreement on a new contract this weekend with the transit agency.
BART managers and union leaders plan to negotiate the terms of the deal Friday and throughout the weekend. However, their proposals remain $100 million apart on wages, pensions and health care benefits.
In a statement, Service Employees International Union Local 1021 pledged to sit down at the table with BART officials, but warned they could issue a 48-hour strike notice Friday if an agreement is not met, reports the Associated Press.
"We remain committed to working through [Friday] and the weekend to reach a fair and quick resolution. However, BART and its unions have yet to meet on economic and critical safety issues. In the event that negotiations fail, we may issue a 48-hour notice," said Josie Mooney, chief negotiator for Service Employees International Union Local 1021 in a statement Thursday.
Gov. Jerry Brown has the option to prevent workers from walking off their jobs by imposing a 60-day cooling-off period that would prolong a strike until mid-October. Last Sunday, Gov. Jerry Brown issued a seven-day ban on strikes and lockouts.
BART officials are pushing the governor to issue a cooling-off period, however, union leaders argue that more time for negotiations won't make a difference if the transit leaders don't seriously address their concerns.
"We need a change of heart from BART management and their negotiators," Mooney said in a statement late Wednesday, according to the San Francisco Gate.
Brown has until Sunday night to decide whether to ask the courts to block any strike or lockout for two months.
Until then, BART and its unions have a lot to do, and little time to get it done if they want to reach a Sunday deadline. They're far apart on wages, health benefits and pension contributions, and dozens of other issues also still need to be resolved as well.
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