Politics & Government
BART Board May Reject Labor Contract Because Of Family Leave Provision
A provision reportedly on family leave pay was inadvertently left in the contract that was approved by union members
BART officials released a statement Thursday evening that said a provision that the transit agency did not agree to was inadvertently left in the labor labor agreement that was approved two weeks ago by union members.
The statement said the BART board will have to "factor in this item" when it votes at its board meeting next Thursday on whether to ratify the three-year contract.
The BART board has a closed-door session on Friday morning, but the statement said the directors would be reviewing the various aspects of the labor agreement and not voting on it.
BART officials would not comment furthur on the situation.
ABC 7 News reports the provision involves paid family leave.
The contract states BART would pay for the first six weeks of family leave. However, BART officials said they rejected that provision, insisting that union members use up sick time and vacation time first, according to ABC 7.
The San Francisco television station quotes sources as saying when BART management noticed the error, union leaders refused to take the provision out.
On Thursday evening, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 President Antonette Bryant issued a statement on behalf of the union, "We negotiated in good faith for six months. BART management is now attempting to go back on agreements it made in July and August and that were part of the final deal. This is unconscionable."
Officials with the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 could not be reached for comment.
If the BART board rejects the contract, union workers could decide to go on strike again.
They have walked off the job twice already since June 1.
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