Gov. Brown Will Seek Court Order to Stop BART Strike If No Agreement Reached

UPDATE: None of the unions involved in negotiations with BART management submitted a 48-hour strike notice on Friday -- necessary if either union would want to strike in the event a contract is not agreed upon by the Sunday midnight deadline and the court rejects Gov. Brown's request for a cooling off period. A 48-hour notice of intent to strike is required before the workers walk out.

By Bryan Goebel

Governor Jerry Brown says he'll seek a court order to stop a BART strike on Sunday, if management and unions can't come to an agreement.

Meanwhile, BART labor talks are still going on in Oakland.

The Amalgated Transit Union's Leo Ruiz says he's frustrated that BART rejected some of the union's proposals yesterday. He doesn't think there will be an agreement by a Sunday night deadline.

"There were four proposals on the table," Ruiz said. "All four were rejected. I don't have hope. I did four days ago. Not after yesterday."

The unions say BART did not want to talk about wages in yesterday's round of negotiations. But the agency's chief negotiator, Thomas Hock, says that's not true.

"Everything's on the table and everything's being discussed, just not at the same time perhaps," Hock said.

"Everybody realizes we've got a job to do, and everybody's trying to do it."

A court hearing is scheduled for Sunday morning, when Brown is expected to ask for a 60-day cooling off period.

Note: For a personal essay about growing up in a family depending on the salary of a BART worker, see Rosa Solorzano's Perspective.