Contract negotiations resume between BART, two unions

Although the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) strike stretched into its third day today, contract talks between BART leaders and representatives from the agency's two largest unions resumed last night after California Gov. Jerry Brown sent in two of the state's top mediators to assist negotiations.

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1021 and Amalgamated Transit Union 1555 ceased bargaining and issued the strike on July 1 after negotiators could not settle a new contract before the previous one expired on June 30. The unions represent about 2,300 BART workers.

Negotiations resumed after the state's political leaders pressured the two sides to resolve their differences, according to an article posted on MercuryNews.com.

The contract's sticking points have focused primarily on wages, employee health and pension benefits, and safety issues.