by Betty Brown
As of the writing (Sep. 30, 2013) BART management negotiators have rejected a compromise offered by Bart workers, and management is making extensive preparations for a strike cone October 11, 2013.
I wonder how many of our readers are aware of the August 6th Alameda Labor Council Resolution on the Dispute. There are four Whereas clauses and two Resolve clauses I’d like to call your attention to as follows:
Whereas, BART union members have been working hard days, nights and weekends for months to secure a fair contract from management thereby avoiding a work stoppage, and…
Whereas, While BART union members have shown a willingness to bargain on the important issues including worker and rider safety, pay discrimination, wages, health & welfare, and retirement, and…
Whereas, BART management has bargained in bad faith and has been missing from negotiations for much of the last 30 days and…
Whereas, BART management has hired an out‐of‐state lawyer, Thomas Hock, with a history of driving disputes to strikes as its lead negotiator, paying him $399,000 of taxpayer money, and…
Therefor be it Resolved, that the Alameda Labor Council immediately call on all parties involved in the BART dispute to reach an amicable resolution to this difficult situation which is essential to rider safety and reflects the workers need to earn a decent living, keep their families healthy and provide for a secure retirement, and finally…
Be it Resolved, that the Alameda Labor Council commits to aid and assist in facilitating a settlement at BART and will take whatever actions may be deemed necessary by the workers and management to reach an accord.
Josie Camacho, Executive Secretary‐Treasurer, signed the Resolution.
I personally see this as part of a bigger picture related to the strength of Unions in general and private compared to public workers. Private sector union membership has markedly declined in comparison to public sector workers. Unions being the antipathy of corporate right wing forces have been under attack and public workers in general are currently their target. I see it as in all of our best interest to oppose this race to the bottom!