BART Cooling-Off Period Approved by Judge – Trains Will Run

A possible BART strike was averted this morning, Sunday, when a San Francisco Superior Court judge said he will approve a 60-day cooling off period in the BART labor-management contract talks, according to KCBS radio.

In a rare Sunday hearing, the court approved a cooling-off request by Gov. Jerry Brown, who had earlier imposed a seven-day halt to a potential strike last week. In a brief 9 a.m. hearing, union representatives told the court they did not oppose the cooling off request, KCBS reported.

Judge Curtis E.A. Karnow said he will sign the order after paperwork is submitted, the radio station said. The order, in the form of an injunction, would last through Oct. 10, the judge said.

It would take effect at midnight tonight if the two sides don't reach a contract agreement before then. Talks were set to resume today at 1 p.m., KCBS reported.

Brown requested that the judge order a 60-day cooling off period to block the two unions from holding a work stoppage to halt the BART train system used by 400,000 Bay Area commuters on weekdays. 

The two unions representing BART workers, the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555, had threatened to go on strike on Monday if they cannot reach an agreement on a new labor contract with BART management.

According to a report on SFGate.com, proposals were passed back and forth Saturday via a mediator with no agreement reached on any substantial issues such as pay, employee benefit contributions and worker safety.

Service Employees International Union Local 1021 spokesman Des Patten told Bay City News that "progress has been made."

"It moves slow, but it is moving," Patten said.  "The idea is to get it signed, sealed and delivered so the governor won't have to go with the 60-day cooling off period." Patten said.

Patten said that the unions "have looked into paying more" for pension and medical benefits. "It comes down to which one, and what year," he said. 

It's a big number, as the two side are between $56 and $62 million apart on salary increases, according to the SF Gate report quoting Antonette Bryant, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555, although she said the gap is "bridgeable."

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.