BART union ratifies contract that ended strike; no word yet on vote by 2nd union

OAKLAND, Calif. – A Bay Area Rapid Transit labour union overwhelmingly ratified a contract agreement Friday, after a bitter dispute prompted two San Francisco area strikes, officials said.

The Service Employees International Union Local 1021 announced late Friday night that members approved a four-year contract with BART that covers workers responsible for the repair, maintenance and cleaning of the BART system.

The second BART union, the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555, also voted on the contract Friday, but there was no immediate word on the outcome.

The SEIU said 88 per cent of Friday’s vote was in favour of a contract that provides for reasonable wage increases and a compromise on pension and health care costs. The agreement also calls for significant safety improvements at the transit agency.

The contract included a 15 per cent raise and promised improved safety conditions.

The agreement also requires BART workers to pay into their pensions for the first time and increases their monthly health care contributions from about $92 to $129. The unions represent train operators, station agents, custodians and maintenance and clerical workers.

The vote also comes nearly two weeks after the unions reached a deal with BART management that ended months of tortured talks over salary, benefits and safety conditions. The unions went on strike for nearly five days in July and after a state-mandated cooling off-period, went back to the picket lines for another four days last month angering thousands of commuters.

During the second strike, two BART workers killed by a train operated by an employee under training in Walnut Creek on Oct. 19 which many believe drew the parties back to the bargaining table to finally iron out a deal a couple of days later.

If both unions ratify the contract, BART’s board of directors would likely then vote on the new contract during a special meeting, BART officials have said.