Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

ATU members have been operating under the continued terms of the current contract since its expiration in August 2009.

Says it places too many restrictions on how transit systems can spend the money that is allocated to them in the legislation.

Individuals participating in the apprentice program include sheltered women who've suffered domestic abuse, ex-offenders who've been convicted of non-violent crime, and individuals recovering from drug and alcohol addiction, among others.

The driver was caught on video filling out paperwork while rarely touching the wheel during the video's 57 seconds. The video received more than 130,000 hits, since it was posted on YouTube last month.

The tentative agreement must be ratified by the BART Board of Directors at its next regularly scheduled September meeting before taking effect.

BART is working to eliminate an estimated $310 million, four-year deficit amid a decline in ridership, state transit funding and sales tax revenue.

The new contract, which will save BART an estimated $65 million in labor costs over the next four years, avoids layoffs and furloughs; foregoes raises over the next three years in favor of one-time bonuses; reduces benefits; and changes work rules to give management more say over how employees can be deployed.

The site will feature regular updates on negotiations, facts and figures about BART's budget and contract with organized labor, blog entries and video content.

Bill C-314 attempts to amend the Criminal Code to protect public transportation workers, by increasing the punishment for aggravated assault when the victim is a public transportation worker.

Although neither of the victims were a part of the ATU, the union also joined in the effort to raise money for the families.