Dear BART Management and its Unions...

This is the front page from four years ago.

Dear BART Management and its Unions:

You all suck.  That's right, you all suck.  How do you screw up this badly and now there's a transit strike?

Every four years, we the public go though this BART union contract emotional drama.

I'm going to say it right now: I'm tired of this crap.  Get your ass back to that bargaining table and I'll personally chain and padlock the damn doors until it's finished.

A few hundred strikers and some management folks versus 400,000+ daily BART passengers.  Guess who is going to kick your ass.

As one twitter user suggested: Let's mail our gas receipts to the SEIU, ATU, and BART Management and demand reimbursement for their poor judgment.

[Dis]respectfully,
Akit and a hell of a lot of angry transit passengers

From an Angry Citizen: Don't Threaten Us with a BART Strike

Today should be a great day for everyone in the Bay Area.  The Defense of Marriage Act has been ruled unconstitutional, and Proposition 8 has been struck down by making same sex marriage legal in California.

But someone had to leave a huge sour note in our mouths today, and that's the BART employee unions.

As a result of the authorization to strike votes, over 98% of employees have given their authorization to leadership to call a strike, which may happen as early as Monday, July 1st when their contracts expire at 12:01AM on Monday.

If a strike happens, this transit agency who carries more than 400,000 people a day will make the entire Bay Area transportation system of roads, highways, and other transit agencies go into submission.  The MTC has worked out a war plan for such a worst case scenario, but with a possible AC Transit strike also looming, it could also turn into the perfect storm.

Governor Brown has the ability to call a 60 day cooling off period, and other resources such as mediators are at the disposal of BART management and the unions if something doesn't work out.

Akit's Opinions
Every four years, there's always a threat of a strike from the BART unions.  Those employees know, with a strike, they can cripple the entire Bay Area, and they will always win what they want, every single time.

On this round, they want a 23.2% raise over three years, and that's because they have the leverage to screw the public.  I'm a public employee making much less than the average BART worker and I haven't received a raise in five and a half years.  If I had a shot at a raise by reclassification of my job, I'd likely get a five percent bump.  If we were to strike, we wouldn't cripple the entire Bay Area, we'd just make a handful of people upset and frustrated.

It's time for us, the people of the Bay Area to finally stand-up to BART's strike threats with threats of our own:

1. Stop using us as bargaining chips.
2. Stop making threats of a strike every four years.
3. We will perservere if you strike.
4. You will never be forgiven if you strike.
5. Jerry Brown, you have the power to order that 60 day cooling-off period, DO IT.

An Open Letter to Muni's Union

Dear Muni's union,

Bite me, yeah you heard me correctly, bite me. You want to strike? I dare you to.

I'm shaking in fear... (sarcasm!)

Why am I encouraging you to strike? Because us citizens will live without Muni for a long time. We can sustain ourselves by organizing our own casual carpools, and jitney buses will magically pop-up and offer cheaper fares to ride to and from major points of interest.

We have a bad economy, and you want to strike? Gees, so grumpy about your pay and benefits? Be happy you even have a job in this crappy economy. I'm lucky I survived a furlough program where I lost 10.7% of my pay.

Here's a box of diapers, you'd better wear it because you'll be shitting in your pants in no time.

Respectfully,
Akit (and most of the rest of the city)

BART Strike Called-Off

Phew... BART's management and the ATU worked-out their problems and have made a deal. This deal means there will be NO BART strike starting on Monday at 12:01PM and your commute won't be a world of hell.

But be aware that this "deal" made between the union and BART management is not 100% official until the union votes and passes the new contract. If the vote fails, the threat of another strike could happen again.

One big factor about why the ATU rejected the first contract offer by BART is that the union wrote (in a letter to members) to not support the contract. Let's hope they won't say anything negative in their next letter regarding this modified contract on the table.

So... what does this mean for Akit's Furlough Adventures? Based on the active poll right now, it looks like I'm going to Twin Peaks, unless if you can sway the vote to send my butt to the Rockridge district of Oakland. Voting officially ends at 11:00PM tonight!

BART strike? I'm so scared...

It's time to sing (stress reducing) songs and get ready for hell if you take BART to work starting Monday.

SEIU voted: 75% in favor and the managers voted 86% in favor. But 66% of the ATU rejects their contract? What the hell is wrong with the ATU? I feel they know that if the operators and agents reject the contract and strike, they can cripple the system. If the janitors strike, the trains might be a little dirty, but will still run.

This won't get the pubic happy, especially when the other unions say "yes" and just one says "no."

Before we start pooping our pants, let's get your alternatives:

1. BART shuttles running between East Bay stations and downtown SF. It's $5 a ride, but don't expect any guarantee of a seat, and your ass will get stuck in traffic on the freeways.
2. AC Transit transbay service. While cheaper in cost, you might also get stuck in traffic; but on the brighter side, they quickly get on and off the Bay Bridge via commuter lanes and their special ramp access to/from Transbay terminal.
3. East Bay ferry service. This is going to be a popular choice.
   
4. Larkspur ferry service. Golden Gate Transit stops at El Cerrito Del Norte station and can eventually get you to Larkspur for the ferry.
5. Casual carpooling... yep, traffic jams.
6. Alternate working schedules, how about still getting stuck during off-hours.
7. Telecommute?

My best suggestion, take a vacation.

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I'm lucky that I don't commute on BART. Unfortunately, I'm being furloughed by the Cal State University system on Monday, and the "furlough adventure" poll to visit the Rockridge district of Oakland may need to be called-off (I wanted to use TRANSLINK THAT DAY!). I may consider some of the alternatives like Twin Peaks or the Cable Car Museum. But I may also decide to see if there are any BART picketers to taunt and take photos at a nearby downtown SF station.

As Expected: SEIU Votes Down BART's Contract Proposal & How You can Take REVENGE

As many of us expected, BART's largest union, the SEIU has voted against a contract proposal from BART management.

SFgate reports 98.5% of union folks voted against it, with only about sixteen people saying they like the plan. Solidarity my ass, at least some want the strike to end.

What makes me scratch my head is, why do they feel like they deserve more, such as pay raise when everyone else has either been laid-off, furloughed, or had their pay cut? What makes BART so damn unique that their unions have the leverage to get more stuff while everyone else is getting crap?

It's greed. Simple greed in its purest form.

So here's my solution, go and strike, I don't give a damn anymore. You (the union) may have the power to totally make the whole Bay Area "shut down" (you got us in the balls), but the truth is, we'll find a way to survive and we'll find our ways to get revenge against BART.

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Here's how you can take revenge:

1. If you commute to/from the East Bay, why not try AC Transit? Since the last strike over 10 years ago, people tried AC Transit transbay service and never turned back. The price is right and the bus lines may stop in a more convenient spot than say... driving your car to a full BART lot?
2. Have you tried casual carpooling?
3. Just boycott BART.
4. Go to their picket lines, cross it several times back and forth to piss them off.
5. Go to their picket lines and taunt them for being greedy bastards.
6. If BART is still in operation, keep taunting the station agent of why your Translink card is not working.
7. BART management is on Twitter, why not pester them for a while? Haven't found Linton Johnson's twitter, still looking!
8. BART's labor unions is on Twitter too, why not send them some creative messages?

Do you have any other revenge tactics? Post them in the comments!

BART's Second Largest Union Says "No" to Contract Offer

As many of us Bay Area folks have known, BART's unions are getting too damn greedy, and you can smell the stench miles away after their second largest union (Amalgamated) voted "100%" on not accepting the contract offer proposed by BART.

Really, that kind of solidarity of 100%?

The big sticking point to all of this is that BART proposed a wage freeze for three years and an increase of 0.75% in the fourth year. By going on BART's plan, it would save $100 million.

But for the union, their proposed plan was kicked in the nuts by BART because it would only save $60 million, still short of the agency's deficit.

In this economy, you'd be lucky you even have a job and odds are that getting a pay raise is near impossible. As BART is a taxpayer paid agency, why should they deserve a raise when other public workers (of the non-transit type) are getting their butts furloughed and salaries cut?

Higher fares, lower ridership, and greedy unions... something is definitely wrong here.

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SF Muni has posted some helpful options for you struggling people, this map shows the numerous city owned and private parking lots within the downtown region, but you should also be aware that SFMTA has established sanctioned casual carpool areas near the carpool ramp of the Bay Bridge in the event of a strike.

• Beale between Harrison and Folsom serves Fremont and Dublin/Pleasanton routes.
• Beale between Folsom and Howard serves Richmond and Pittsburg Bay Pt. line.

Muni also provided a map for local buses and trains that serves all the SF BART stations, including the Daly City station.

One mistake is that Muni forgot to tell passengers to use the 28 and 28L lines also serves Daly City station. A passenger can easily transfer to/from the 28 and 28L by using the "M" Ocean View line at either Stonestown platform or SF State platform. The 54-Felton is not usually the best bus line, but a quicker ride to/from downtown would be the 28 and M.

BART Strike Update: On Hold for Union Vote

A fresh update just came up minutes ago from KPIX news at 11PM:

BART has proposed an offer to the Amalgamated and SEIU unions, and now the unions are forced to make their members to take a vote on this.

Since organizing a vote would take some time (within a week), this means a delay in a possible strike.

• If the vote passes: No strike and everyone goes home happy.
• If the vote fails: Back to the bargaining table or possibly a strike.

But at this time, the reports show that a strike is unlikely at this immediate time while the formal procedure of an employee vote is completed. But as my favorite college professor once taught me, always expect the unexpected.

Prepare to Soil Your Pants - BART STRIKE may Start at 12:01AM Friday

If you are reading this and today is Thursday, you might want to ask your boss for tomorrow off. A brand new report from KPIX/CBS5 is that a BART strike is possible starting at 12:01AM tomorrow (Friday).

The article states that the 72 hour notice was only effective during the contract extension. Since the contract ends tonight at 11:59PM, it means the unions do not have to give prior notice to strike one second after midnight on Friday.

I'm re-posting my tips to alternate ways to get around without BART and add some new ideas (new ideas will be in green):

East Bay to SF: Your commute is going to really suck since the Bay Bridge is a nightmare.

• AC Transit Transbay service. But you'll get stuck on the bridge.
• Oakland/Alameda and Harbor Bay Ferries to the Ferry Building.
• Golden Gate Transit at El Cerrito Del Norte and Richmond BART via Richmond Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge. Then transfer to a SF bound bus, or gamble on a space on the Larkspur ferry.
• Casual carpool. Yep, stuck in traffic too.
• BART said in the news last night that they could hire strike breakers to drive buses from certain major stations to SF, but since they depend on our freeways, expect long delays and confusion.
  

Inter-East Bay:

• AC Transit's local service. Rapid likes 72R and 1R will help a bit.
  

San Mateo County to SF: Well, nobody gives a damn about BART in that area since there's such low ridership.

• Caltrain (DUH!)
• Samtrans express buses to Transbay Terminal.

Inter-San Francisco: Tack on an extra hour on your journey.

• Muni (Cough! Vomit! Puke!). But Muni will offer increased service in areas like Mission St. and the N-Judah (where Caltrain stops).
  
• Taxi!

San Francisco Giants Fans, the San Diego series is happening this weekend:

• Check with Golden Gate Ferry, Vallejo Baylink Ferry, and Oakland/Alameda Ferry for direct service.
• AC Transit Transbay service, but be warned of traffic on Bay Bridge.
• Dumbarton Express and transfer to Caltrain.
• Just sell your tickets on StubHub, there's no chance hell you are going to make it in time.
  

For more strike tips, visit: http://www.511.org

UPDATE: BART's unions are talking to the media and they claim "reasonable notice [of a strike]" is at least ONE HOUR. What the hell is that? They are curtailing that answer by not claiming "one hour."

72 hour advance notice of a BART strike? Yeah Right

As you may have known, in order for BART and their unions to have a contract extension for nine days, the unions agreed to provide advance notice of a strike and it must be at least 72 hours.

A notice for an upcoming strike has not been released, so it looks like the negotiations are continuing.

When you think about it... a 72 hour notice is helpful for the public to prepare for the worst nightmare in the Bay Area.

But really...

The union doesn't have to give notice. They could call a strike at any time without advance warning if negotiations falls through.

Like what's the punishment for all the employees of BART if they strike without advance warning? Everyone gets fired? Fat chance, then the system will have to train new people and that will take many months.

Maybe the punishment will be a lockout from BART management; but in a PR point of view, that's a really bad image for the agency because locking out their workers for even one day will cause the general public to hate on BART for a long time. Even the last strike took ridership away when it ended, this is because people loved the AC Transit Transbay service so much that they stuck with it.

Hey, while BART's going trigger happy and I want to make their blood boil... when will Translink be activated?

BART strike? Will there be one this week?

If many of you are familiar with the word around the public transit sphere, BART contracts are being negotiated with management at this time and the threat of a strike was to happen at the stroke of 12:01AM on July 1st, but the unions and BART agreed to a nine day contract extension that would end this Thursday at midnight.

It sounds a little confusing on when the extension ends, is it 11:59PM on Wednesday or 11:59PM on Thursday? Based on this question, would the strike start on this Thursday or Friday?

But with all the attention on Michael Jackson's memorial service in the headline news today, what about the possibility of a BART strike? The local media agencies are not talking about this big elephant in the room that's ready to stomp the crap out of all the commuters who depend on this transit service to get to work, school, college, and just everything else that keeps this Bay Area moving.

Checking on BART's website this morning, the contract negotiations are still going on, so the possibility of a strike may happen, but word from BART is that in order to have the nine day extension, the union had to agree to give the public 72 hours advance notice if they are to strike.

With so little media attention on this issue and the potential for a strike, will the 72 hour notice come-out in time? What I'm hoping won't happen is that Governor Arnold will pull off the "cooling off period" and we let this drag into the Labor Day weekend when traffic will be crippled on the Bay Bridge and people have no choice but to take a ferry or alternate bridges because BART decided to strike at this perfect time.

Prepration for BART Strike? Expect the Unexpected

BART strike? If the unions don't work out a deal with BART management, that is what you will expect as early as Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at 12:01AM.

It's always every four years we hear about this. Four years ago, it was headline news with big news articles telling you what you should do. Here we go again...

If BART strikes and doesn't resolve their problems by July 3rd, they'll piss-off more than just the regular commuters, but also the thousands of passengers who will be going to the Giants/Padres series at AT&T Park (it's fireworks night on that Friday).

Also, during a BART strike, all public transit vehicles that serves BART stations will not be allowed to enter the property, so alternate bus stops will be used.


Alternatives to BART during a strike, or you passengers just want to stick your middle finger at management even if they don't go on strike:

East Bay: Your commute is going to really suck since the Bay Bridge is a nightmare.

• AC Transit Transbay service. But you'll get stuck on the bridge.
• Oakland/Alameda and Harbor Bay Ferries to the Ferry Building.
• Golden Gate Transit at El Cerrito Del Norte and Richmond BART. Then transfer to a SF bound bus, or gamble on a space on the Larkspur ferry.
• Casual carpool. Yep, stuck in traffic too.

San Mateo County: Well, nobody gives a damn about BART in that area since there's such low ridership.

• Caltrain (DUH!)
• Samtrans express buses to Transbay Terminal.

San Francisco: Tack on an extra hour on your journey.

• Muni (Cough! Vomit! Puke!)
• Taxi!
  

CSU Strike?

If you haven't heard the word, the California State University faculty association has voted and the tally is that a strike has been authorized.

Read it here.

Other than the cooling off period before the universities go on a rotating strike, just how much will this affect students?

I know that some students will celebrate by sleeping-in late and enjoying their nice day without the pressure of turning in their homework.

Others would say that it would impact them, especially that there are only about six weeks left in the academic year and that some also needs to complete their semester projects.

For undergrads... they are screwed. Grad students are a little more lucky, depending on their program. Grads only working on their thesis work will not be affected because it is just independent work. Grads taking seminar classes won't be in too much trouble either because some classes are a little more laid back and flexible in their assignments.

I don't really like strikes, especially if it will deeply affect my daily activities, but I really think that professors and lecturers deserve a higher salary for the amount of education they receive. This may sound interesting, but if you work as a bus driver, you'd earn more or equal the salary of a professor. When comparing education, a bus driver may only need a H.S. education, when a professor needs a PhD.


If they do strike... please stop using those generic ass chants that everyone else uses! They are so annoying!

Here's some examples:
"What do we want? (Bla bla bla) When do we want it? Now!"
"Hey hey, ho ho, (bla bla bla)'s got to go!"

Think of something creative, like imitating Gov. Arnold's voice: "Hey Ka-Lee-Forn-Ya, I'm gonna turm-inate your education! I'll pay you to wash my Humm-ahh (hummer)."

Or how about playing fart sounds over a bullhorn, and commenting: "Does it smell like Chancellor Reed in here? I guess passing gas is better for him than giving us a new contract."

Or how about an improvised rap jam? or a song parody?

Let's summarize my rants:
They don't want to strike, but the faculty may be forced to do so.
I'm gonna be a bus driver!
Stop using annoying strike chants!