This does not bode well for the looming BART strike that could bring commuter rail to a halt for a second time starting next Monday. As BART representatives met with union leaders yesterday, both sides were slinging mud on the sidelines away from the negotiating table.

In one corner, BART lobbed out a release claiming ride fares would go up 18% if union pay demands are met. The unions on the other hand, accused the agency of breaking a gag order over the details of the negotiation and using the potential fare increase to win over a public growing increasingly weary at the thought of riding a bus over the Bay Bridge every day for the next month.

"It's a desperate attempt to continue shaming BART workers," SEIU's executive officer Pete Castelli told the Chronicle. According to Castelli, it is unlikely that workers' pay raises would be 100% covered by increased fares.

The union workers haven't exactly been sitting quietly while their representatives go back and forth over the bargaining table, either. There's been a great deal of criticism levied at BART's chief negotiator, Tom Hock, who makes a cool $399,000 for hammering out a deal with the unions yet still managed to spend the last week on vacation. BART workers from both SEIU and ATU showed up outside a public transit convention at the St. Francis Hotel Monday morning where BART GM Grace Crunican was giving a welcome speech. The workers called for Crunican to ditch Hock and belly up to negotiations herself. Naturally, they brought along picket signs and catchy chants of "Hock must walk!" Then there's the obvious problem that none of this back-and-forth could ever be mistaken for actual bargaining.

Some light is at the end of the tunnel, however: Progress has been made in some of the smaller issues and both sides have agreed that if negotiations go well the rest of this week, they will extend their current contract past Sunday and keep BART trains moving. That could all fall apart if negotiations break down later, but union officials have said they'll give everyone at least a 72 hour heads-up if they plan to strike. Again.

Previously: Are We Seriously Headed For a Second BART Strike?
[Chron]
[Contra Costa Times]