BART and five labor unions have been at the bargaining table for many hours, and say at last that some progress is being made. BART had set the deadline for a new contract deal at midnight last night (Friday AM) but midnight came and went and the negotiators kept bargaining, saying they wanted to push through, and maintain the momentum. Without a deal, the labor unions have threatened a strike, and BART has said it will impose its own contract and conditions - both would be costly for a company trying to get $100 million in cost concessions from the unions. As of early this morning, both sides have said there is a long way to go, and BART said one union in particular still has big issues remaining. The name of the union was not released, but speculation names it as the Amalgamated Transit Union.
See "BART bargaining continues into early morning", Michael Cabanatuan, San Francisco Chronicle, July 30, 2009