7 Key Things You Need to Know About the BART Strike in California

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/labor/7-things-you-need-know-about-bart-strike-california



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1. The strike was a last resort as negotiations failed.

While BART spokesperson Rick Rice pompously declared in an issued statement that “This strike is not necessary,” the negotiations between BART management and unions have been going on for three months. Josie Mooney, spokesperson for SEIU 1021 stated: “BART management is engaging in what is called ‘surface bargaining. …They’re trying to appear in public like they are working to keep the trains running, but they’re doing nothing to respond to good-faith offers by BART workers aimed at avoiding a strike.” The unions said that BART management has failed to provide them with the budget they have to work with in order to negotiate.

***SNIP

2. The money is there.

During the recession, workers sacrificed $100 million in wage increases and other benefits. But over the past three years, BART has seen a surplus in its budget, as ridership revenue and sales tax revenue rise. But the workers haven’t seen a pay increase in four years.

***SNIP

3. BART workers are not greedy.

As BART officials have inflated the salary figures of BART train operators and station agents to an average of $71,000 annually, the SF Examiner reported workers make a maximum of $62,000 annually. While this still may seem like a decent salary, a family of four living in the Bay Area need $74,341 a year just to get by.

***SNIP

4. Worker safety is also a huge part of negotiations.

Besides demanding fair wages and compensation packages, workers are also requiring improved safety conditions, such as lighting improvements in the underground trackways and improved trainings. Since 2009, BART employee injuries have risen 43 percent. Meanwhile assaults on station agents went from nine percent to 31 percent last year. These attacks include rape and homicide.

[AsahinaKimi]

1. Interesting, thanks for posting..

I have not used BART in years.. never really had an excuse to go out of the city.. but it looks very reasonable to me.

[lunatica]

2. I support the union completely

And I can tell BART is very important in the Bay Area. Yesterday, on the first day of the strike I got caught in crawling traffic at 6am while going to work. Usually everyone is going 90 miles an hour on the freeway at that hour. I'll be leaving earlier today.

[Omaha Steve]

3. THANK YOU for posting this

I missed it. Did a search and found you had this 2 days ago.

K&R!

[ananda]

4. Why demanding a living wage and a decent standard of living ..

.. is considered greedy just shows how pervasive and widespread
rightwing corporate propaganda is.

The memes directed towards people-first advocates and their policies
are very destructive and yet they are perpetrated nearly everywhere
throughout the media.

[alcibiades_mystery]

5. Great post

Nioce to see a post about an actual issue around here from time to time. Everyone should read this post.

[KG]

6. ...