Politics & Government

BART Strike to Continue Monday – No New Talks Scheduled

Meanwhile, NTSB investigators expect to be in the Bay Area for up to 10 days investigating Saturday's accident that killed two BART workers.

By Bay City News Service

BART's board of directors will hold an emergency meeting Monday as a systemwide strike by transit employees seems sure to continue into a fourth day.

BART spokeswoman Alicia Trost issued a statement Sunday afternoon, saying that no new talks between the transit agency and its two biggest unions have been scheduled.

"Since there is no announced end to the strike, commuters are urged to continue to make alternative plans for Monday," Trost said.

The BART Board of Directors will hold a special closed session meeting at 3 p.m. Monday to discuss labor negotiations, Trost said.

Key holdups in contract negotiations continue to be "wages and important work rule changes," Trost said.

"BART is open to restarting mediated talks if the mediator determines it is appropriate to continue," she said.

Trost said that the death of two BART workers on Saturday during track maintenance work in Contra Costa County has "redoubled everyone's commitment to a quick resolution so we can move forward in a spirit of cooperation to provide service to the Bay Area."

National Transportation Safety Board officials said Sunday night their investigators will be in the Bay Area from four to 10 days looking into the accident.

Find out what's happening in Albanywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Agency investigators have walked the area of the collision and requested
relevant documents, images and data from BART. They will also interview those
involved and inspect all involved equipment, officials said.

It could be six months to a year or longer before a final report is issued. That report could include recommendations for changes to prevent similar accidents in the future.

Find out what's happening in Albanywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Meanwhile, CBS 5 reported the names of the two men killed in the accident. The San Francisco television station said they were BART manager Christopher Sheppard of Hayward and contract employee Larry Daniels.

Copyright © 2013 by Bay City News, Inc. – Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here