BART System Performance Earns 1% Salary Increase at Close of Current Contract

Labor Negotiations Process Starts Today with BART Unions

 As a result of the 2009 labor contract, having met a series of economic conditions and calculations, BART employees will receive a 1 percent salary increase effective July 1, BART officials announced as the transit system begins labor negotiations for a new contract with service employee and transit worker unions today.

BART’s 2009 four year labor contract, which expires June 30, allows four of its five employee unions to receive a 1% increase if a demanding set of economic conditions were met. The criteria included increases in sales tax revenue and ridership, an upper limit on increases in pension and medical costs, and the absence of other significant and unanticipated costs. BART employees have received no increases in pay for the past four years.

BART General Manager Grace Crunican announced these conditions have been satisfied. “With record ridership and an aging system, our employees are working hard to provide on-time, reliable service for our riders,” Crunican said. “The bar was set high for our employees to receive this increase and the predefined standards were met.”

The unions that will receive the 1% increase include: Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1021, the Amalgamated Transit Workers Union (ATU) Local 1555, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3993, and BART Police Officers Association, as well as non-represented employees.

 

Labor Negotiations Begin
The increase comes the same day BART Management met with two of its largest unions, SEIU and ATU, to exchange labor contract proposals. Talks began with other unions earlier this year.

“BART must plan for the long term,” Crunican said, citing the 40th anniversary of the transit system last year. “This year’s labor negotiations will be focused on bargaining a fair contract for our hard working employees as well as ensuring the long term financial health and sustainability of our system.”

Crunican said contract negotiations will focus on important adjustments to employee healthcare, pension plans and work rules that are necessary to create a modern and economically sustainable contract.

“We must pave the way for BART to continue to be the backbone of Bay Area transportation for decades to come,” she said. “BART is looking to protect its future fiscal stability with measures to more effectively share the risks and costs associated with its employee benefits program.”