NYC Transit asks members to ratify new contracts

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

A tentative contract agreement has been struck, five days after New York City was ground to a halt in a transit strike. The executive board of the Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 100 and the Metropolitan Transportation Agency (MTA) had been negotiating under a media blackout, but terms of the agreement have started to come to light: A 3% increase in salary the first year, 4% increase the second year, and a 3.5% increase in their third year. There will be no changes in the employees' pension plan and the retirement age remains at 55 in exchange for employees contribution of 1.5% of their paycheck.

The new contract still must be approved by the state-run authority's board, whose next regular meeting is on January 25, 2006. There is no word yet if a special meeting will be called.

The Union's workers will vote by mail, a process which may take weeks to complete.

Union members probably will ratify the contract because it would be "near suicidal" to strike again, says Gary Chaison, professor of labour relations at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Background

Picketers at the 207th Street Yard / Kingsbridge Bus Depot

Thirty-four thousand Transport Workers Union members walked off the job on December 20, when negotiations broke down over disagreements concerning pensions, health benefits, and pay. The strike, which lasted three days, affected an estimated 7 million commuters daily.

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Related news

"Striking NYC transit workers will return to jobs" — Wikinews, December 22, 2005
"NYC Transit on strike" — Wikinews, December 20, 2005
"NYC transit deadline past, no strike or talks" — Wikinews, December 16, 2005

Sister links

2005 New York City transit strike

Sources

"Union Leadership Approves Transit Contract" — 1010 WINS, December 28, 2005
Nahal Toosi. "New York Transit Union OKs Tentative Deal" — Associated Press, December 28,2005
"New York Transit Union Asks Members to Ratify Contract Offer'" — Bloomberg.com., December 28, 2005
"NYC Transit Union Board OKs New Contract" — FOXNews, December 28, 2005
"TWU Scheduled to Meet" — WNYC, December 27,2005

Live Sources

Errol Lewis (sitting in for Brian Lehrer). "The Brian Lehrer Show" — WNYC, December 28 ,2005, 10:00-10:40 EST (15:00-15:40 UTC)

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