Today marks the deadline for BART officials to come to an agreement with its labor unions.
After 120 days of negotiating, it is reported that the SEIU, the largest of all three unions, is ready to move a step forward and approach a deal.
The union says they are ready to make sacrifices, even though changes to their contract might mean “drastic changes to employee benefits and work rules.”
As the SEIU approaches proposal acceptance, another one of the unions, ATU, which represents stations agents and train operators, has gotten board members to consider their cost-saving plan.
But while the SEIU seems to be inching closer to reaching an agreement with management, BART says that ALL unions have to be in accordance with the contract until a solution to these 3 months of negotiations is official.
Due to the $310 million deficit they are facing in the next four years, BART officials have requested $100 million dollars in savings from the unions.
If unions do not accept the conditions which BART officials present to them today, BART’s Board may have to set up an imposing Terms & Conditions of Employment on the unions.
