Alex Mousouris/Staff

An AC Transit strike has been averted following a tentative agreement between Amalgamated Transit Union Local 192 and AC Transit just an hour before workers threatened to strike.

The agreement will prevent AC Transit’s 181,000 daily riders from having to find alternative methods of transportation.

The new agreement allows a wage increase of 9.5 percent over the next three years and monthly health care contributions of $70, $140 and $180, respectively, for each of the three years.

“This was a long and often intense negotiation, and there are no winners or losers in its outcome,” said AC Transit general manager David Armijo in a press release. “We are happy we were able to get through process without any disruption in service. Clearly, both sides focused on what was best for the riders and taxpayers of this district and what is in the long-term interest of maintaining public transit for the communities we serve.”

The union, which represents 1,800 bus drivers and mechanics, had threatened to strike on Monday amid ongoing negotiations.

All services will continue running on their normal schedule.

More updates to follow.

Andrea Guzman is a news editor. Contact her at aguzman@dailycal.org

The post Strike averted as AC Transit and union reach agreement appeared first on The Daily Californian.

ATU Local 192, which represents 1,800 bus drivers and mechanics, gave notice on Monday of its intention to strike, which could leave AC Transit’s 181,000 daily riders without transportation. Employees’ contracts expired in late June, and negotiations have been ongoing for several weeks.

According to Clarence Johnson, manager of media affairs at AC Transit, both parties have been working to come to a solution and avoid service interruption. As the third-largest public bus system in California, an AC Transit strike is expected to cause much disruption as the BART strike last month did.

“Regrettably, our contingency plan involves simply no service,” Johnson said. “We cannot operate without drivers.”

Wage increases and contributions to health care have proved to be major issues in the negotiations. ATU members currently do not contribute to health coverage costs.

“We’re more than willing to pay,” said Yvonne Williams, president of ATU Local 192. “But we need a flat rate rather than a percentage, since we can’t control what that might escalate to.”

According to Johnson, the district wants ATU employees to contribute 10 percent of the cost of the monthly premiums, which would equal approximately $120 per pay period. The union’s flat rate would equal about $80 per pay period.

In a press conference on Tuesday morning, Johnson said that he is optimistic about preventing a strike, given the steady progress that has been made thus far.

“We started this weekend at $9 million dollars apart,” Johnson said. “We’re now only about $4 million apart as of last night. We are 1 percentage point apart in our wage proposals. We’re offering 9 percent; the union is seeking 10 percent. We’re moving in the right direction.”

According to Williams, however, the negotiations have been a “difficult process.” Although the union wishes to avoid a strike, it remains a possible outcome.

“Our goal is to avert a strike,” Williams said. “But we’re still intending to strike if we do not reach a collective bargaining agreement for our members for ratification.”

Contact Somin Park at sominpark@dailycal.org.

The post AC Transit employees may strike on Wednesday appeared first on The Daily Californian.

Evan Walbridge/File

A union representing about 1,800 AC Transit workers plans to strike as early as Wednesday at 12:01 a.m.

Amalgamated Transit Union Local 192, which represents mechanics, dispatchers and clerical workers at AC Transit, plans to give notice of a strike to the AC Transit board of directors on Wednesday if no further progress is made on reaching a contract agreement.

A previous AC Transit worker contract expired on June 31. A strike could disrupt as many as 200,000 daily AC Transit passengers.

“Management has failed to meet its legal responsibility to bargain in good faith,” said ATU Local 192 President Yvonne Williams in a press release. ”Substantial health and safety issues, including meal and rest periods, and fundamental human rights are at stake.”

ATU Local 192 has cited problems with worker safety during negotiations, saying the rate of injury among AC Transit workers has increased in recent years. Last Wednesday, an AC Transit bus caught fire on I-880 south.

AC Transit unions previously threatened to strike at the end of June, when BART workers were preparing to strike. However, AC Transit administration and unions “agreed to disagree” while continuing negotiations and averted a strike.

Jacob Brown is a news editor. Contact him at jbrown@dailycal.org.

The post AC Transit strike may be called for Wednesday, union says appeared first on The Daily Californian.

For better or for worse, sometimes real life is stranger than fiction. On July 19, like something out of a Jan de Bont film, a shirtless, barefoot man stole an AC Transit bus in San Francisco’s Transbay Terminal and drove it 100 miles north on Highway 120 before being caught and swiftly arrested by officials. The reason he was shirtless and barefoot remains speculative. But it’s practically a mathematical certainty: The amount of clothing a perp is wearing is inversely proportional to how interesting we find him or her.

AC Transit spokesperson Clarence Johnson reported that the agency knew something was wrong when an emergency alarm on the bus sounded around 9:20 a.m. AC Transit’s operations control could see through a GPS tracking system that the bus, usually kept in a parking lot on standby, was leaving San Francisco and heading east.

Now, we can’t speak for everyone, but here at the Clog, an AC Transit bus would be rock bottom on the list of vehicles we would steal if we were criminals — perhaps even after our own mothers’ Toyota Siennas. The suspect, Justin Moss of San Francisco, however, seemed to make the most of it. He embarked on a joyride of nearly two hours before California Highway Patrol officers slowed down the rogue bus with a spike strip around 11:30 a.m. The bus eventually came to a halt with three flat tires, and Moss was quickly arrested near Oakdale, Calif. Moss is being held at San Joaquin County Jail, where he is now facing charges of reckless driving, driving without a license, failure to yield, grand theft auto and felony evasion, among others. There were no passengers on board. And if you were at all concerned about the status of the bus, it is now resting safely in its parking space at the terminal, emerging from the incident relatively unscathed.

Moss has a criminal history, including an outstanding $20,000 warrant from the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department for another account of grand theft auto. We’re no detectives, but what we find particularly odd is that he appeared to have the knowledge and skills necessary to operate a public transportation bus that the average layperson lacks. Could if be that Moss is a former bus driver? Or perhaps this was premeditated bus napping? We are all in the dark regarding the motive behind the act. Could it be linked to fear of future public transit strikes? Was he seeking a free tour of the Central Valley? Or is it just a classic case of distorted YOLO mentality? Your guess is as good as ours. Regardless of the intent, as (almost) always, it could have been much much worse.

Image Source: Paul Sullivan under Creative Commons  

Contact Liz Zarka at lzarka@dailycal.org.

The post Shenanigan of the week: shirtless man steals AC Transit bus appeared first on The Daily Californian.

If you haven’t been affected by the BART strike, you obviously don’t live in the Bay Area. From all the politics behind the BART system — and even our AC Transit system — the whole East Bay and San Francisco are basically reeling. It’s absolute chaos. While the BART employees have a valid argument, what about the needs of UC Berkeley students who made important summer commitments so that this world doesn’t have to be a screwed-up place? Or what about the necessary commuting needs of Bay Area citizens who have lower incomes than our BART drivers, you may wonder? Good questions. Here at the Daily Clog, we’re asking ourselves the same thing. We wonder if they’ve considered the serious impact that unsettled pay-raise decisions would have on our disabled community members, professionals and the rest of the general population. Undoubtedly, it’s gotten incredibly dangerous. Until things become a little more orderly, here are some tips to help you survive the BART apocalypse:

Give yourself more time. Sadly, there’s pretty much no way around it. The buses are packed, a boat would probably take just as long — or longer — and good luck waiting in a car for a few good moments just to pay the toll. If you’ve made important summer commitments, save yourself the stress and take responsibility. Maybe consider waking up an hour or two earlier than you usually do. After experimenting for one day, you should get a feel for when is an appropriate time to leave for work. Depending on how considerate your boss is, consider this an opportunity that shows him or her that you are a committed and hardworking employee or volunteer.

Make sure your phone is charged. This is an appropriate time to do all that Facebook scrolling and gaming. You could potentially be waiting half an hour or more than an hour. Don’t make it torture. Entertain yourself instead! Maybe even get in that luxury reading you’ve been wanting to do during the regular school year. However, making sure that your phone is charged always ensures your safety. It’s seriously crazier on the streets. Your cellphone is an important tool just in case something unfavorable happens.

Keep your wallet in your front pocket. We’re broke enough as it is, y’all. With being forced to be squished next to someone that you don’t know, make sure you know where all the belongings that you care about are. There are so many distractions on our buses, and there are thieves who know this. Be your own responsible best friend, and protect your belongings. Let’s just say that once it’s gone, you’ll probably never see that item again.

Ditch the heels. We all know this: Everyone wants a seat. And we mean everyone. Chances are that you’re going to be doing some serious standing and some serious walking. By the end of this strike, you’re going to know a whole bunch of street names and bus lines that you never knew about before. But don’t ruin your feet in the process! We’re for the pumps as much as the next guy, but consider comfort and practicality. Snug sneakers can make your bus commute so much easier.

Vent. Yes. We’re all stressed: BART drivers, AC Transit drivers, MUNI drivers and then the rest of us. If you have any friends or family members who also may be having a hard time getting around the Bay Area, or if you have friends or family members who are concerned about what’s happening to our public transportation, don’t be afraid to let it out! Don’t keep your emotions bottled up — you never know when you’re going to explode on an innocent person. Letting your feelings out can be therapeutic and can relieve serious stress. Venting is a good way to connect with others and maybe even get more tips on how to avoid skin-to-skin contact with strangers and traffic.

Consider that this is also an opportunity for us to cooperate as an entire Bay Area community. Times are tough, and everyone is having a hard time, so don’t feel like someone up there targeted you to make your life worse. Plan accordingly, and consider that having a positive attitude and outlook on this current situation can make your commute easier and more comfortable. It’ll just be another part of your day.

Any tips on how to avoid the chaos from the shut-down BART system? Let us know in the comments!

Image source: aaron_anderer under Creative Commons

Contact Karen Kwaning at kkwaning@dailycal.org.

The post Survival tips for the BART apocalypse appeared first on The Daily Californian.

The strike is in its third day, and BART and union officials have yet to agree on a compromise in wage negotiations. As the BART strike severely restricts the flow of public transit, here are some transportation alternatives to know to ease your daily commutes.

BART

Free parking in lots during strike

Casual carpooling spots for commuters

Free transbay shuttles:

• West Oakland station shuttles to SF from 5 to 9 a.m. (reverse trips 3 to 7 p.m.)
• El Cerrito, Walnut Creek, Dublin/Pleasanton, Fremont stations to SF, 5 to 8 a.m. (reverse trips to 3 to 7 p.m.)

AC Transit

Extra F line buses

CalTrain

Service throughout the Peninsula to San Jose and Gilroy

San Francisco Bay Ferry

Alameda Main Street to SF Ferry Building every 45 minutes

Oakland’s Jack London Square to SF Ferry Building, weekday peak commute hours every 45 minutes

The post Transportation alternatives to use in midst of BART strike appeared first on The Daily Californian.

Michael Ball/Staff/File

This Fourth of July, Berkeley residents will not have to stray far from home to find several exciting Independence Day events.

The largest event of the day is the Berkeley Marina Fourth of July fireworks & festival taking place from noon to 10 p.m. Along with live music and food, the festival will feature entertainment ranging from free dragon boating to pony rides. At the end of the day, there will be a fireworks show visible from the Marina at 9:30 p.m.

If BART is still on strike, several modes of transportation to the event are still available.

For those driving, parking passes at the Marina will cost $15 for the day; however, no vehicles will be allowed in or out after 7 p.m. until the event is over. There will also be paid parking at nearby Golden Gate Fields racetrack with shuttle service to the event.

Although it will be a holiday, AC Transit will run until 6:30 p.m. Cyclists will also have the option of free-of-charge valet parking at Richmond Spokes near Adventure Playground at the Marina.

In addition to the Berkeley Marina festival, two smaller events highlighting the cultural diversity of America will be offered.

From noon to 5 p.m., the exhibit “Our Many Cultures” will be open to the public at no cost at Expressions Gallery, located at 2035 Ashby Ave. The exhibit highlights the many cultures present in America and in the world.

Kala Art Institute, located at 2990 San Pablo Ave., will also offer free admission from noon to 5 p.m. to the exhibit “Freedom of Expression, The Work of Enrique Chagova.”

“Freedom of Expression” explores the history of Mexico and current political events with ties to American history and popular culture, specifically around colonial conquest and current issues surrounding the U.S.-Mexico border.

For more information, see the event calendar of visitberkeley.com.

Contact Nico Correia at ncorreia@dailycal.org

The post Local attractions provide Berkeley residents many options this Fourth of July appeared first on The Daily Californian.

AC Transit provided 1,000 free one-year EasyPasses on Thursday for employees of small businesses in the Elmwood, Telegraph and Downtown areas to encourage them to take advantage of free public transit in order to increase the number of available on-street parking spaces for visitors and reduce Berkeley’s carbon footprint.

Until 2015, goBerkeley will test out a combination of carsharing, free transit passes and its new supply-and-demand pricing system for parking in efforts to alleviate traffic congestion and limited parking in business districts. The city received funding from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s Climate Initiatives Program, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the Federal Highway Administration to test its plans.

“We want to free up the spots to visitors in these commercial districts to bring in higher sales revenue,” said Councilmember Jesse Arreguin.

Part of the problem is that employees of businesses in select areas occupy a great number of on-street parking spots, leaving limited visitor parking, Arreguin said.

The program will partner with the city of Berkeley, MTC, UC Berkeley, AC Transit and public transit nonprofit organization TransForm, among others.

Ann Cheng, a program director at TransForm, says its goal is to get outside employers and employees to take advantage of Berkeley’s public transit options. With the dynamic pricing policy, parking rates will vary by time of day and location so that people can quickly find parking spaces in busier districts.

“The businesses are very supportive,” Cheng said. “I think it’s a really good sign when businesses understand the importance of helping visitors find parking.”

According to Cheng, TransForm’s goal is to increase street parking availability by 16 percent.

City CarShare, a Bay Area nonprofit car-sharing service, was also invited by the city to partner with goBerkeley and help provide more eco-friendly methods of transportation.

“The city of Berkeley is such a forward-thinking city in that it looks at the problem of car congestion and for other ways to get around while looking at sustainability,” said Anita Daley, marketing director of City CarShare.

Some community members have expressed concern surrounding specific aspects of the goBerkeley program. One controversial proposal involves extending metered parking time. Arreguin said that extending meter time would have a negative impact on businesses.

“Oakland did that a few years and there was a huge backlash from businesses and residents, and I think we will see that from the Berkeley community,” Arreguin said.

Contact Lydia Tuan at ltuan@dailycal.org.

The post goBerkeley program aims to increase parking availability in Berkeley appeared first on The Daily Californian.

Alex Mousouris/Staff

BART and union officials announced that wage negotiations resumed at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, following BART employees’ strike beginning on Monday, which delayed thousands of Bay Area commuters.

As of Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., the strike is set to continue into Wednesday, with no indication of when negotiations will be resolved. In a press release Monday, BART called on union leaders to end the strike, while AC transit officials said they do not expect a strike on Wednesday.

“This strike is not necessary and we call on union leaders to end it and join us at the table so the Bay Area can get moving again,” said BART spokesperson Rick Rice in a press release on Monday. “We are prepared to negotiate the significantly improved proposal we delivered on Saturday.”

Negotiations have been ongoing for several months, with both parties unable to reach an agreement before employee contracts expired on Sunday night.

The inability to reach an agreement comes from the opposing parties’ inability to reach a consensus on what should be prioritized, with BART focusing on employees’ increasing pension and medical costs and unions focusing on employee safety.

Union leaders feel that their employees should be compensated for having stagnant wages since 2009. Another grievance that unions have is the lack of safety for their employees, citing the documented increased violence faced by BART employees over the last year.

Two of the unions that represent most of BART employees, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 and Service Employees International Union Local 1021, filed an unfair labor practices lawsuit against BART on June 24 under the allegation that BART management was unwilling to negotiate over employees’ safety.

Carlos Rivera, a spokesperson for SEIU 1021, said that he expected negotiations to be slow, which is why he thought it was necessary to warn commuters.

“We sincerely apologize for inconvenience to any Bay Area residents,” Rivera said on Monday. “We tried to make sure people knew ahead of time of alternate ways of travelling. We gave a 72-hour notice so that people could start making alternative plans.”

Because of the BART strike, many commuters found themselves trying to navigate the AC Transit system for the first time. Some bus lines, such as the F line or transbay line, had twice as many passengers as normal on Monday, according to Clarence Johnson, a spokesperson for AC Transit.

In a press release on Tuesday, AC Transit officials called ongoing negotiations with ATU a signal that they will be “providing bus service as usual” on Wednesday.

Extra AC Transit lines and early-morning shuttles were offered from the most congested areas, such as downtown Oakland and routes into San Francisco. AC Transit also ran six more trips than normal of the F line to account for additional passengers.

On Monday, Caltrans officials urged commuters to find alternate ways of getting to their destinations. There was heavy traffic all day on many of the major highways, with officials estimating an extra 60,000 vehicles on the road today.

Despite efforts to help commuters get to work, many found themselves either late or having to stay with a friend to avoid a difficult morning commute.

“It was just not knowing how crazy things would be today,” said Helen Jentzen, a UC Berkeley library employee. “I’d much rather stay overnight and make sure I have a way to get to work Monday morning as opposed to have to deal with any kind of craziness.”

However, many passengers who rely on BART to get to work found it unfair that they had to suffer due to the ongoing negotiations between BART management and its employees.

“My impression of the strike is that the labor contract is up, and the union is taking advantage of that by asking for higher wages,” said Suzi Ferguson, a UC Berkeley alumna who works at One Medical Group in San Francisco. “It’s a shame that they are holding a huge portion of the workforce hostage for this demand, especially in a time when jobs are not plentiful.”

Contact Jose Hernandez at jhernandez@dailycal.org.

The post No agreement reached after second day of BART strike appeared first on The Daily Californian.

Michael Tao and Tony Zhou/File

Following a failed last-minute attempt at negotiations, BART union representatives confirmed on Monday at midnight that there will be a workers’ strike, leaving over 400,000 daily commuters finding alternative means of transportation.

The contract for BART workers was up for renewal on Sunday evening at 11:59 p.m. Around 8:30 p.m., BART union leaders left the bargaining table, rejecting an offer of an 8 percent salary increase over the next four years. A strike by AC Transit workers is also imminent following a preliminary authorization vote. A strike by workers from one company could place a heavy burden on the other.

“The unions have not officially notified us that they are going on strike, but we think our riders need to be prepared for one,” said BART spokesperson Rick Rice.

According to the BART Labor News website, BART union workers are asking for a 23 percent increase in wages over three years as well as the ability to pay into their own pensions. The unions have also requested better security to protect themselves from violence on the job and general improvements such as better lighting on the tracks.

As of Sunday evening, BART had proposed solutions to a number of union demands, including pension reforms and two propositions regarding worker safety.

“BART is presenting an updated proposal on the offers on salaries, requests on pension, requests on benefits,” Rice said. “In addition, employees should start paying for a portion of their pensions.”

AC Transit workers are also negotiating their contract this week. According to Sharon Cornu, a spokesperson for Amalgamated Transit Union Local 192, AC Transit union workers have voted 97.4 percent in favor of a strike regarding their own negotiations, but the union president has not yet confirmed a strike.

According to Cornu, the BART strike will also put a burden on AC Transit resources, and AC Transit may not have enough buses to accommodate displaced commuters.

Clarence Johnson, a spokesperson for AC Transit confirmed that if AC Transit workers did not strike next week, they would continue their existing bus routes.

Rachel Wilson, a sophomore at University of Michigan who is taking a summer class at UC Berkeley, takes BART from Orinda to Berkeley and is frustrated that the strikes could affect both AC Transit and BART.

“I am probably going to have to catch a ride from one of my parents into class, which will cut into their schedules,” Wilson said. “If the buses and the train go on strike at the same time, I am really in trouble.”

Berkeley residents who use BART or AC Transit can visit 511.org for further information on bus and ferry schedules and on forming carpools.

Executive news editor Shirin Ghaffary contributed to this report.

Contact Sophie Mattson at smattson@dailycal.org.

The post BART workers announce strike appeared first on The Daily Californian.