5 things to know about the BART worker strike
Jul 2, 2013, 6:45 PM
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – Here are five things to know about the worker strike at Bay Area Rapid Transit, the nation’s fifth largest train system:
1.BAY AREA COMMUTERS SUFFER AS BART STRIKE CONTINUES
San Francisco Bay Area commuters endure another day of grueling commutes as workers at Bay Area Rapid Transit, the region’s heavily used rail system, remain on strike for a second day.
2.UNIONS AND MANAGEMENT REMAIN FAR APART ON ISSUES
Workers representing two of BART’s largest unions walked off the job early Monday after talks with management broke down. No new talks have been scheduled. The main sticking points are how much salaries should increase and employee contributions to pensions and health care premiums.
3.COMMUTERS SCRAMBLE FOR OTHER WAYS TO GET TO WORK
Lines for buses and ferries were much longer and usual, and the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge was clogged during the commute Tuesday morning, as tens of thousands of workers looked for alternative ways to get to their jobs without BART service.
4.TRANSIT STRIKE HURTS BAY AREA ECONOMY
The Bay Area economy could lose more than $73 million in lost productivity for each day the BART strike continues, according to the Bay Area Council Economic Institute. BART, with 44 stations in four counties, serves about 400,000 people on weekdays, including more than 40 percent of commuters coming from the East Bay to San Francisco.
5.WHY NOT TELECOMMUTE?
Telecommuting is an option for many professionals and technology workers, but a large share of employers still require their employees to physically show up, especially if they work in the retail, restaurant or hospitality industries. BART serves many of those workers. Earlier this year, Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer was widely criticized when she announced new policies to curtail telecommuting and require most employees to work in the office.
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