BART negotiator skeptical deal gets done Saturday

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- BART managers and union leaders are back at the bargaining table with the deadline to strike just about 24 hours away. And there is a strong indication there will be no deal Saturday night.

The morning started on a positive note. BART management and the two unions representing BART workers began negotiations at 10 a.m. with one goal in mind; to avert a strike and reach an agreement before Sunday night's deadline.

Both sides are still indicating they're far apart on the main issues of salary, benefits and pension.

"That changes from day to day, hour to hour. I mean, who knows. It's a matter of who's looking at it, and how you want to gauge it," said BART negotiator Thomas Hock.

"We have to get the real information to the table and do what we need to do," said Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 President Antonette Bryant.

Two hours later, union representatives emerged from the closed-door talks to leave for a lunch break. Union negotiator Josie Mooney didn't offer any update on their progress.

"No comment," she said.

Hock left for his break focusing on the fact that negotiations haven't broken down and are continuing.

"Both sides are still meeting. All three sides, so that's positive," he said.

Frustrated BART riders are hoping they don't need to find alternate modes of transportation come Monday and relive the gridlock of July's strike.

"Traffic was horrible, horrible. I had to give myself at least an hour and a half which would normally be a 20 minute commute. And I would still be late," said BART rider Julia McArthur.

"It really kind of ruins my commute. Yeah, even, yeah, no matter which alternative I go for, it's just going to be slammed," said BART rider Devin Kelly.

Stay with ABC7NEWS.COM for updates on the looming BART strike and information on how to get around if the trains stop running. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ and download our news app for the latest news whenever and wherever you want.

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BART strike, oakland, BART, unions, SEIU, strike, traffic, transportation, ed lee, san francisco city hall, muni, jerry brown, bay area traffic

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