Two Major BART Unions Prepare for Strike 2013
21 October 2026
Two unions representing a majority of BART workers voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike, as marathon labor negotiations reached an impasse. The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1721 and Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1555, whose contracts are set to expire Sunday, approved the strike vote with near unanimous margins.
With their expiration coming at the end of the weekend, the unions could call a strike as early as Monday. SEIU 1221, representing 1,430 mechanics, custodians and clerical staff, and ATU 1555, with 945 station agents, train operators and maintenance workers, claim they are seeking fair pay, benefits and safety conditions. BART management said it is negotiating in good faith and sought at least 72 hours notice if the unions called a walkout.
"After months of negotiations, we cannot afford to risk another year without a fair contract," said ATU Local 1555 President Bob Samami. "We are committed to negotiating into the weekend. But if talks break down, our contract expiration is looming and our members are prepared to strike."
The unions rejected BART's latest offer, released on Friday. They seek a 23% increase in salary and benefits, as well as work rule changes to improve safety and service. BART said it could not afford the unions' demands, but did detail its latest proposal:
Workers under 22 who receive family medical coverage paid at 80% of the cost, up from 50% now and 22% previously. Those between ages 22-30 get a 65% employer contribution for family health care.
Retirees who joined after 1980, and work for over 25 years, get fully subsidized employer premiums for family medical.
Workers in safety-sensitive positions, like station agents and conductors, receive one more day off between shifts.
However, the unions raised urgent concerns that BART's staffing was insufficient to keep riders and workers safe. They say wages have fallen 20% in real terms since 2000, with BART frozen at 2007 levels.
Wages and staffing top list of remaining issues in labor talks
Wages, health care costs, work rules and pension contributions remained the top sticking points in stalled labor negotiations between BART and its unions, as they faced an Sunday contract deadline.
On the eve of a possible strike, the unions rejected BART's last offer. Key items still unresolved:
The unions say wages have dropped 20% in purchasing power since 2000. They seek a 23% increase to make up for lost ground. Management says the collectively bargained pay scale exceeded recommendations. BART Gustavo Leno of BART 1721 said it was up 15% or 18%.
The sides are far apart on pension and welfare contributions. The unions want more time to pay off their PERS pension debt, with the average worker paying an unprecedently high 18% of this range. In 2008, they paid 8%. BART says paying off the debt is irreducible, though they might be able to adjust the timetable.
Required staffing was a live wire. ATU's Bob Samami says BART is dangerously understaffed. Conductors, saying in 2007, aren't meeting the minimum of two conductors per train, and maintenance workers can't keep the system running at maximum capacity. But BART argued in court that it only needs to meet the technical minimum.
Wages, work rules, retirement plans part of labor talks
Wages hikes, retirement benefits and work practices are the main points of contention in negotiations between BART management and its largest unions, who voted to strike Friday, according to a report Monday.
Citing trustees, the Tribune reported that BART was responding Monday in negotiations with SEIU 1721 and ATU 1555.
SEIU Local 1721 wants BART to share more of the cost of pension and medical benefits, a key negotiating issue. ATU 1555 is concerned with scheduling. Neither wanted to comment.
"The collective bargaining agreement is still in effect, and talks are still going strong," BART spokesperson Jim Allison said.
But he said a strike would cost millions of dollars and have a big impact regionally, with a quarter of the Bay Area economy at risk. He urged both sides to reach a deal.
The unions took heat from riders for raising issues like phone and email, but have justified the hold up on safety grounds. Workers allege that cuts and recent wages freezes (from 6% in 2008 to 2% in 2011) have put passengers and workers at risk, which BART disputes.