aGameOfThrones
10-22-2013, 10:44 AM
Negotiations resumed and a settlement was reached just two days after two track workers were killed in a BART train accident in Walnut Creek and a day after unions offered concessions on work rules — a key point of contention in the talks. Federal investigators said Monday that the train was run by a BART employee who was being trained. Union officials had warned that training managers to operate trains during the walkout could be dangerous.
"This is a reminder, this weekend, that this is about people," said Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who joined BART and union officials to announce the settlement.
Of the strike, he said, "This has got to be the last time this happens."
."
Antonette Bryant, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555, expressed her condolences Monday night to the families of the workers who were killed.
"We did not want to strike," she said, "and we are glad to have a tentative agreement that we feel will work for all parties."
The key issues in the negotiations were salaries and worker contributions to their health and pension plans.
Talks began in April, three months before the June 30 contract expirations, but both sides were far apart. The unions initially asked for 23.2 percent in raises over three years. BART countered, offering a four-year contract with 1 percent raises contingent on the agency meeting economic goals.
The unions contended that members made $100 million in concessions when they agreed to a deal in 2009 as BART faced a $310 million deficit. And they said they wanted their members to get their share of a $125 million operating surplus produced through increased ridership.
But the transit agency countered that it needed to control costs to help pay for new rail cars and other improvements.
http://news.yahoo.com/trains-running-deal-reached-end-strike-131947738--finance.html
"This is a reminder, this weekend, that this is about people," said Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who joined BART and union officials to announce the settlement.
Of the strike, he said, "This has got to be the last time this happens."
."
Antonette Bryant, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555, expressed her condolences Monday night to the families of the workers who were killed.
"We did not want to strike," she said, "and we are glad to have a tentative agreement that we feel will work for all parties."
The key issues in the negotiations were salaries and worker contributions to their health and pension plans.
Talks began in April, three months before the June 30 contract expirations, but both sides were far apart. The unions initially asked for 23.2 percent in raises over three years. BART countered, offering a four-year contract with 1 percent raises contingent on the agency meeting economic goals.
The unions contended that members made $100 million in concessions when they agreed to a deal in 2009 as BART faced a $310 million deficit. And they said they wanted their members to get their share of a $125 million operating surplus produced through increased ridership.
But the transit agency countered that it needed to control costs to help pay for new rail cars and other improvements.
http://news.yahoo.com/trains-running-deal-reached-end-strike-131947738--finance.html