BART workers on strike

Six months of labor negotiations between BART employees and management failed to yield enough agreement to avoid a strike, with BART workers walking off the job Friday, Oct. 18, 2013, just after midnight, Pacific Time.

Overtime compensation was a major sticking point in negotiations, with overall wage issues also involved. Union leaders expressed frustration with what they described as management attempts to impose new work rules to limit various costs.

The impasse is the second in three months, again forcing 200,000 weekday customers to seek other means of transport. A strike in July lasted more than four days. It is unclear when talks might resume.

“Unfortunately, yes — we are on strike as of midnight,” said Antonette Bryant, president of the local Amalgamated Transit Union.

“It’s not management that asked for the strike; it’s the union,” BART General Manager Grace Crunican charged following the negotiations breakdown.