5 things to know about the Bay Area Rapid Transit workers strike

OAKLAND, Calif. — Here are five things to know about the worker strike at Bay Area Rapid Transit, the nation's fifth largest train system:

1.BAY AREA COMMUTERS SUFFER AS BART STRIKE CONTINUES

San Francisco Bay Area commuters endure another day of grueling commutes as workers at Bay Area Rapid Transit, the region's heavily used rail system, remain on strike for a second day.

2.UNIONS AND MANAGEMENT REMAIN FAR APART ON ISSUES

Workers representing two of BART's largest unions walked off the job early Monday after talks with management broke down. No new talks have been scheduled. The main sticking points are how much salaries should increase and employee contributions to pensions and health care premiums.

3.COMMUTERS SCRAMBLE FOR OTHER WAYS TO GET TO WORK

Lines for buses and ferries were much longer and usual, and the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge was clogged during the commute Tuesday morning, as tens of thousands of workers looked for alternative ways to get to their jobs without BART service.

The Bay Area economy could lose more than $73 million in lost productivity for each day the BART strike continues, according to the Bay Area Council Economic Institute. BART, with 44 stations in four counties, serves about 400,000 people on weekdays, including more than 40 percent of commuters coming from the East Bay to San Francisco.

5.WHY NOT TELECOMMUTE?