BART workers set weekend strike date

OAKLAND, Calif., Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Bay Area Rapid Transit system workers will go on strike this weekend, the union representing BART employees said Thursday in Oakland, Calif.

Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555, which represents an estimated 900 train operators and station agents, announced the strike would begin at midnight Sunday. The announcement followed a unanimous vote by the BART board of directors voted to impose a new contract unilaterally, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Talks on a new contract ended Wednesday when management declared an impasse after the union rejected BART's "last, best and final offer," said BART spokesman Linton Johnson.

BART Director Lynette Sweet said Thursday's decision was necessary, given the breakdown of talks.

"We can't keep going through deadline after deadline after deadline. ... Something has to give," Sweet said. "We can't continue the bleeding at this agency."

ATU Local 1555 President Jesse Hunt, however, denied the talks are at impasse and suggested the union may file a legal challenge or ask Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to step in, the Chronicle said.

An estimated 340,000 people use BART for their daily commute in the Bay Area.