Reinforces BART GM’s incompetence, disregard for Bay Area passengers says ATU
Washington, DC - Calling BART’s overpaid negotiator Tom Hock’s decision to go on vacation during the crucial 30-day contract negotiations an outrage and an insult to Bay Area residents, the Amalgamated Transit Union says Hock’s action reconfirms his and BART GM Grace Crunican’s incompetence and disregard for riders.
“This is an outrage to all the people of the Bay Area that Tom Hock decided to schedule a vacation at this critical juncture in these contract talks,” said ATU International President Larry Hanley. “It’s obvious BART GM Crunican brought Hock in and paid him an obscene salary for the sole purpose of depriving the people who depend on BART each day the basic respect they deserve. This proves the incompetence, negligence, and poor judgment of Crunican, who recently received a $20K ‘performance’ bonus raising her salary to $322,000 .”
Hanley pointed to a similar experience in negotiations with Hock in Worcester, MA in 2004. The workers were on strike, but Hock was frequently unavailable to negotiate a settlement while the people of Worcester had no transit system for the months of July and August. In that bargaining Hock demanded wage cuts but was also increasing the budget for barbeques for the transit agency.
Hock, who is being paid $400,000 by BART just for these negotiations, has a long history of holding transit riders hostage including Phoenix and Tempe, AZ, Escambia County, FL and Austin, TX. “Hock has left a long trail of racial discrimination, bad faith bargaining, and personal profit at the expense of transit riders and workers,” says Hanley. “With a track record of walking out of negotiations, he’s known for provoking a strike with no regard for the seniors, people with disabilities and others who rely on public transportation and always willing to come in as a hired gun for the right price.”
With only three weeks left to reach a deal Hock and BART seem to have revealed their hand to the people of the Bay Area. “They could care less about reaching an agreement to provide the people of the Bay Area with the reliable and safe public transportation they deserve,” said Hanley. “That’s why BART’s $400,000 man doesn’t mind running off on vacation and spending tax payers’ money, leaving the hard working people of the Bay Area to wait and worry that the public transportation they rely on won’t be there tomorrow.”