Judge grants Bay Area transit strike reprieve
SAN FRANCISCO San Francisco Bay Area commuters got a reprieve from a potential transit strike when a judge on Sunday granted California Gov. Jerry Brown's request for a 60-day cooling-off period in negotiations between the Bay Area Rapid Transit Agency and two of its largest unions.
San Francisco Superior Court Judge Curtis Karnow ordered the unions and BART not to threaten or engage in a strike through midnight on Oct. 10. BART and the two unions are expected to continue negotiations while the injunction is in place.
The strike, or even the threat of one, will "endanger the public's health safety or welfare," Karnow said in his order. During an unusual Sunday morning court session before the order was issued, Karnow said the hearing had nothing to do with the merits of the contract dispute between BART and the unions. Attorneys for the two sides did not object to the injunction although union leaders had said earlier that Brown's request reduced the pressure to reach a deal.
BART spokesman Rick Rice said in a statement that BART was grateful that Karnow granted the governor's request. BART made a new contract offer on Saturday in hopes of reaching a deal before Sunday night. However, the agency issued another statement late Sunday saying the two sides remained far apart and that union negotiators left the bargaining table without responding to management increasing its wages and benefits offer "by more than 70 percent since Thursday."
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