BART Negotiations Called Positive But Slow

Johnson said the two sides, which have been negotiating since April 1, will meet throughout the July Fourth weekend in hopes of reaching an agreement by July 9, when the contract for union employees expires.

The contract had been scheduled to expire at midnight on June 30, but both sides agreed last weekend to extend the deadline after state mediators became involved in the talks.

Referring to both sides, Johnson said, "People are pretty positive in the negotiating room now and people are ready to work over the Fourth of July weekend."

Carlos Rivera, a spokesman for Local 1021 of the Service Employees International Union, which represents about 1,200, mechanics, custodians, safety inspectors and clerical employees, agreed that some progress is being made.

Rivera said, "So far so good. Negotiations are moving along and we plan to negotiate throughout the weekend."

He said talks have been going better since mediators got involved last Friday, saying the difference is "day and night."

   KCBS' George Harris reports

Jesse Hunt, the president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555, which represents about 900 train operators, station agents and power workers, said he also believes that "some good progress has been made."

Hunt said, "We're making some leeway on some issues" and "talks have been fruitful since the mediators came in."

He said it's "helpful" that "some of the rhetoric has quieted down" from Johnson, who speaks for management and has angered union leaders by stating that BART employees are highly paid and that it would be "outrageous" for them to strike during the current economic downturn.

Johnson said management's proposal ensures that BART employees would keep their current salaries but would achieve $100 million in labor cost savings by having employees contribute more of the cost of their benefits, such as health care and retirement, and eliminating wasteful work rules.

He said BART wants to reduce its labor costs because it faces a projected $250 million deficit over the next four years.

SEIU Local 1021 and ATU Local 1555 are the two largest of BART's five labor unions.

The third-largest union is Local 3993 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents about 200 middle managers.

Members of SEIU Local 1021, ATU Local 1555 and AFSCME Local 3993 have voted by overwhelming margins to authorize a strike.

The two smallest unions represent BART police officers and managers.

The BART Police Managers Association represents sergeants, lieutenants and commanders and the BART Police Officers Association represents rank-and-file officers.

However, members of the police unions are barred from going on strike.

Johnson said BART's board of directors has scheduled meetings for every day between Friday and the July 9 deadline in order to comply with open meeting laws that require at least 24 hours notice before meetings are held.

But he said the board won't actually meet unless there is something significant for them to discuss.