OAKLAND, Calif. -- Talks with the only BART labor union not to approve a new contract have reached an impasse, elevating the chances of strike against the Bay Area transit agency.

BART chief spokesman Linton Johnson said management ended its talks with leaders of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555, which represents about 900 train operators, station agents and power workers, at 9:45 p.m. Wednesday night after the union rejected BART's "last, best and final" contract offer.

BART’s Board Of Directors has scheduled an emergency meeting for 11 a.m. and will consider imposing contract terms unilaterally on the union.

ATU chapter president Jesse Hunt said that if the board adopts terms and conditions, "that would certainly precipitate a work action, but we're doing everything we can to avoid that."