Votes On New BART Contract Won't Happen For At Least A Week

The trains are running again, but the new contract with BART's two biggest unions still isn't official.

It'll be at least a week before union members vote on the proposal hammered out on Monday.

Representatives from Service Employees International Union Local 1021 and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 didn't return repeated calls made by Patch for comment.

However, the SEIU website says a vote by its members on the contract is tentatively scheduled for Friday, Nov. 1. It notes the chapter's bylaws require that members have at least five days to look at an agreement before they vote whether to ratify it.

The ATU website says their executive board is meeting with BART officials to go over the tentative deal. It says a vote will be held once the agreement is signed and copies are passed out to union members.

BART spokeswoman Alicia Trost said the BART board will vote on the contract after it has been ratified by the two unions.

The unions and BART haven't discussed details of the proposal, but a Contra Costa Times story said the four-year contract contains a 15.8 percent pay hike as well as increases in the contributions employees make to pension and medical benefits.

Trost said the Saturday afternoon accident that killed two workers on the BART tracks near the Walnut Creek station was a factor in settling the labor dispute.

"i think it made everybody redouble their efforts to reach a settlement and begin the healing process," said Trost.

Trost also defended the salary of BART's lead negotiator Thomas Hock of Veolia Transportation.

Hock was hired as a contractor for a fee of $399,000. He is also submitting expenses that will push his compensation to more than $400,000.

BART unions complained during the negotiations that Hock's tactics and demeanor were a major obstacle in reaching an agreement.

Trost said it's not unusual for a public agency to hire an expert to guide them through negotiations. She said the $400,000 is less than some negotiation consultants have been paid in the past.

She said the union's criticism was not surprising.

"His position is never one that is well-liked," said Trost.

Trost added BART officials are pleased their employees are back on the job.

"It's always good to have the trains running," she said.