REGIONAL (KRON/BCN) — BART is facing criticism today for providing contractually required bonuses to employees, but the transit agency is arguing the bonuses are an important incentive for hard-working employees.

The bonuses are part of the 2013-2017 labor contract signed after an acrimonious negotiation that led to two strikes in 2013. BART’s roughly 3,350 employees get $500 a year for every 1 percent increase in ridership, with a cap of $1,000.

No bonus was paid in 2013 and 2014, but employees did receive a bonus last year. This year they will get the full $1,000 after a 3.2 percent growth in ridership, BART spokesman Taylor Huckaby said.

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