Labor

After months of bargaining and a week of unfulfilled strike threats that kept commuters on edge, BART workers went on strike after unions and management failed to reach a deal on employee contract terms.

We’re following this morning’s snarled commute. Stay tuned to Oakland North for updates.

Almost a full week of negotiations unraveled Thursday afternoon when union workers and BART management came to a stalemate and talks ended in the threat of a strike set to commence at midnight Thursday.

BART would normally provide over 400,000 rides to people in the Bay Area on an average weekday, according to the group’s most recent ridership report.

In an unexpected twist, BART unions will be going on strike at midnight after federal mediators announced they are returning to Washington after failing to help broker a deal.

Despite the constant threat of transit strikes, all trains will be running as normal tomorrow and negotiations will continue once more for BART workers’ contracts.

A strike by the bus line would have left thousands of riders without their usual transportation on Thursday.

Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) local 1555 announced on Twitter shortly after 10pm that there would be no strike on Wednesday.

Governor Jerry Brown is weighing a request by AC Transit management for a 60-day cooling off period in the planned strike by the bus line’s workers, which otherwise could happen as early as this Thursday.