Brown quotes two sections of the government code that he says give him the right to block the strike while the board he appointed conducts an investigation. The board is made up of chairman Jacob Appelsmith - the current director of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and a former special assistant to the California Attorney General, Robert Balgenorth - the current San Francisco Director of Human Resources and Micki Callahan-the president emeritus of the State Building and Construction Trades Council.
Brown urged both sides to work together to avoid a work stoppage.
His letter announcing the appointment of the board is below:
Ms. Grace Crunican
General Manager, San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District
P.O. Box 12688
Oakland, CA 94604
Ms. Antonette Bryant
President, ATU Local 1555
132 Ninth Street, Suite 100
Oakland, CA 94607
Ms. Roxanne Sanchez
President, SEIU 1021
100 Oak Street
Oakland, CA 94607
Ms. Jean Hamilton
President
AFSCME, Local 3993
80 Swan Way, Suite 110
Oakland, CA 94621
Dear Ms. Crunican, Ms. Bryant, Ms. Sanchez, and Ms. Hamilton:
At the request of the Bay Area Rapid Transit District, I am appointing a board to investigate the threatened strike that would disrupt public transportation services in the Bay Area. This board is appointed under the authority of Government Code, § 3612, subdivision (a), because the strike will significantly disrupt public transportation services and will endanger the public’s health, safety, and welfare.
The three individuals appointed to the board of investigation are:
Jacob Appelsmith, Chairman
Robert Balgenorth
Micki Callahan
The Government Code prohibits any strike or lockout while the board completes its investigation. (Gov. Code, § 3612, subd. (b).)
The board is directed to provide me with a written report within the next seven days. For the sake of the people of the Bay Area, I urge - in the strongest terms possible - the parties to meet quickly and as long as necessary to get this dispute resolved.
Sincerely,
Edmund G. Brown Jr.
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