BART issues statement on union leadership’s labor lawsuit

BART spokeswoman Alicia Trost issued the following statement on union leadership’s decision to pursue legal action: 

“This unnecessary action will only delay resolution to BART’s labor contract. A lawsuit is not needed to correct a mistake. When mistakes are made in contract negotiations they are corrected administratively by the parties, acting in good faith. Fortunately this mistake was caught in time before the mistaken language was brought before the District's Board for ratification.  

For the sake of BART’s riders, union leadership should allow workers to vote on the corrected agreement so BART can move forward with a renewed focus on providing safe, reliable and convenient transportation under a fair labor contract.

This mistake would give BART union employees an additional six weeks of paid leave per year. This additional six weeks of paid leave comes on top of the 3-6 weeks of vacation, 13 paid holidays and 12 sick days that employees already receive annually. District negotiators would never have knowingly agreed to such a financially backbreaking proposal. The union’s proposal for six additional weeks of paid leave was twice rejected by the District and then withdrawn by the unions. That withdrawal was reaffirmed by the District. After that point, it was never discussed again.

BART will review the lawsuit over the next several days.”