(The Associated Press circulated the following article on July 6.)
OAKLAND, Calif. — BART trains are rolling in California after all. Overnight contract negotiations produced a tentative agreement this morning, avoiding a strike that threatened to cause problems for commuters. More than 300,000 riders take BART trains on a typical day, and transit officials were predicting gridlock on San Francisco Bay Area freeways if there had been a walkout.
BART’s general manager says the agreement is fair to employees and protects riders’ interests. A major sticking point had been agency efforts to cut costs to deal with a projected $100 million four-year deficit.
The union’s president calls the agreement “reasonable” and says it addresses concerns about safety and service. A spokesman says the deal also includes some raises. The agreement must still must be ratified by rank and file workers.