OAKLAND, Calif., Oct. 24 (UPI) -- The Bay Area Rapid Transit system wrapped up negotiations with its labor unions by reaching a tentative contract agreement with the organization representing nearly 300 supervisors and office workers.
The agreement with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees includes a 22-percent pay hike over the next four years, which is equal to the deal given to BART's largest unions last month.
Members of the union had been prepared to strike Monday night, however the agreement was nailed down after the strike deadline was extended for another 24 hours. The agreement was reached Tuesday night.
"The settlement provides an assurance to BART's riders that uninterrupted service will continue," BART said in a statement issued Wednesday.
More than 300,000 riders a day use the 95-mile BART system to get around the Bay Area, including downtown San Francisco and Oakland.
The contract talks had been stalled over AFSCME's concerns about work presently performed by union members being farmed out to contractors and consultants, however BART officials said the union would be seeing more work when the system is extended to San Francisco International Airport next year, creating more work for union members.
