This story is archived. Visit bart.gov/news for the latest BART news.

Unions approve tentative contract agreement

BART Board to Vote on contract at next meeting

Tuesday evening July 19th, members of BART's two biggest unions, SEIU and ATU, voted to approve the tentative agreement that their leaders and BART negotiators reached early in the morning of July 6th.  BART's Board will vote on the contract at its next regular Board of Directors meeting, scheduled for 9 a.m. on July 28, 2005.

"We are extremely pleased with the vote," said BART Board President Joel Keller. "This contract puts BART back on stable financial ground and keeps it operating as the #1 Transit System in America.  We look forward to approving this very important contract at our next meeting."

While the four-year contract means there will be no wage increase in the first year, it does provide BART workers with a combined 7 percent raise in the following three years.  Additionally, the contract:

  • Resolves BART's $100 million, Four-Year Deficit.

  • Preserves Employee & Retiree Medical Coverage for the Entire Family, But Increases Contributions From $25/mo to $75/mo.

  • Maintains Current Service Levels.

  • Means No Fare Increase Beyond the Board-Approved 10 Cent Surcharge Plus the Automatic Bi-Annual, Inflation-Based Fare Increase. 

"In May, the BART Board approved an interim and unbalanced budget that included parking charges and a 10 cent ticket surcharge, "said BART General Manager Tom Margro. "But that still left a $100 million, four-year deficit.  We are pleased that this contract eliminates the deficit without further burdening our riders."