Labor Unions Suing BART After Board Vote to Reject Family Leave Provision

By Alex Gronke/Patch

The two unions representing BART workers warned last month they might take legal action after the transit agency’s governing board voted to reject a contested family leave provision in a tentative contract agreement.

The unions announced Tuesday they were suing BART following "illegitimate and unprecedented actions regarding the unions' labor contracts," according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

In November, BART Board of Directors voted 8-1 to approve a contract only if the unions agreed to remove a provision BART officials claim was included in error by a temporary employee.

The disputed provision would allow BART workers covered by the agreement six weeks of paid family leave a year. Labor leaders say the provision will cost around $6 million over four years; BART officials say the total could reach $44 million by the time the contract expires in 2017.

The unions are filing the suit in Alameda County Superior Court.