Politics & Government

BART Labor Talks Stalled – Mediator Requested

BART on Tuesday asked for a state mediator to help with stalled negotiations with two unions whose contracts expire at the end of this month.

By David Mills

BART management asked for a state mediator today to help resolve stalled negotiations with its two largest labor unions.

The talks have been going on since April 1 with the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555.

The contract for both unions, which represent train operators, station agents and other employees, as well as three other labor unions expire on June 30.

There's no word yet on what would happen on July 1 if no new contract is reached. BART employees could work without a contract as negotiations continued. The workers could go on strike. The governor could order a cooling off period.

BART officials are asking for a mediator from the California Department of Industrial Relations to get involved in the negotiations

Examine the issues below and then tell us in the comments who you agree with and what you think should be done to reach a compromise.

BART officials say the two unions are asking for a 23 percent pay raise over the next three years for their workers.

BART management calls that request "far above what the transit district believes is financially sustainable for BART’s future."

BART spokeswoman Alicia Trost said the 23 percent pay hike would add $143 million over the next three years to the $400 million in annual labor and benefits BART now pays. Its proposed budget for fiscal year 2014, including capital projects, is $1.62 billion.

Trost said the average BART salary, including management, is $79,000 a year. BART General Manager Grace Crunican was hired in 2011 at a base salary of $300,000 a year.

Train operators and station agents have a maximum annual salary of $62,000 with an average of $17,000 a year in overtime pay.

Trost said BART officials want a lower series of pay hikes, although she wouldn't say what percentage that would be.

She also noted BART management wants SEIU and ATU workers to pay more for their medical and other benefits. In addition, the union employees do not contribute any money to their pension funds. BART wants them to start chipping in.

“There’s no question that our workers are highly skilled and dedicated,” said Crunican. “But they’ve got to take a greater stake in the financial future of BART. We’ve got to normalize our employees’ pay and benefits to bring them in line with the rest of the Bay Area if we’re going to to keep BART running for another 40 years.”

Calls to SEIU and ATU representatives have not been returned yet. This story will be updated when Patch talks with union officials.

In February, the BART voted to raise fares in 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020. The hikes would be tied to inflation. The first increase, which takes effect Jan. 1, is 5.2 percent.

Trost said all that money will be used to purchase new trains and make other system improvements.

BART is also raising parking fees at some of its stations this summer. That extra money will be used for station improvements.

This week, it was revealed that former BART general manager Dorothy Dugger was paid $333,000 last year even though she didn't work a single day. Dugger, who resigned under pressure in 2011, was paid for unused vacation time and other items as specified in her contract.

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