SAN FRANCISCO—Though numerous months of heated negotiations have passed between BART and its labor unions, both sides continue to differ in agreement as reports from the transit company state that the difference between its proposal and the unions’ proposal is about $100 million.

News of the monetary gap became public during a public meeting on Wednesday, August 7, hosted by a three-member board committee appointed by Governor Brown. The state governor intervened earlier in the week to prevent a union strike that would have affected up to 400,000 Bay Area commuters. The committee will investigate the negotiations, supplemented by written documentation and oral testimonies from both sides of the dispute, before submitting a report to Governor Brown on Friday, August 9. The committee’s report, however, will not offer opinions on the dispute in question. Instead, it will present the contract proposals and facts as presented by BART and its unions. Brown will then have until Sunday to decide on whether or not to declare a two-month cooling-off period.

The transit agency has repeatedly called on Governor Brown to issue a cooling-off period. “This would allow us to continue negotiating while assuring the public that it will have transit service tomorrow and for another 60 days as we continue to bargain,” Tom Radulovich, Board President of BART, wrote in an August 4 open letter to Governor Brown. “We believe the public should not be deprived of this essential public service unless all alternatives to avoid a work stoppage have been utilized.”

BART’s proposal will now offer a nine percent pay increase over four years, instead of the previous offer of eight percent. The unions, however, are proposing a 15 percent pay raise over three years. Both sides still cannot compromise on other key benefits, such as pension and health care. Furthermore, the transit unions oppose a cooling-off period.

A transit worker reportedly earns on average around $71,000 and $11,000 in overtime annually, with no contribution to their pension and a flat $92 monthly for medical insurance, according to the transit agency. The unions accused BART the day after the public meeting of “misrepresenting” negotiations. Union representatives stated that BART workers pay $184 per month for healthcare and earn an average of $66,000 in wages a year.

Both sides continue to participate in slow discussions, highly reminiscent of similar stalled talks during the previous month’s first strike. In July, the transit unions decided to go on strike for approximately four days, before agreeing to call off the strike to extend their contract until August 4. The unions then proceeded to formally issue a 72 hour notice of an imminent strike commencing on August 5. The strike was averted due to the governor’s actions.

A strike, however, is still on the table. Negotiations between BART and the unions will continue Thursday, August 8 at 9 p.m. until Saturday. The three transit unions (SEIU Local 1021, ATU 1555 and AFSCME 3993) are threatening to strike the following Monday.

By Alex Mazariegos