MTA board approves LIRR unions’ contract, formalizing agreement that ended strike
As News 12 has reported, the four-year deal will give workers 14% raises. Most of the raises will be in the form of retroactive pay.
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The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has formally approved a new labor agreement with five Long Island Rail Road unions, ending a yearslong dispute that culminated in a three-day strike last month—the first LIRR work stoppage in decades.
The MTA board voted Wednesday to approve the deal, which includes a series of pay raises over four years: 3% in each of the first two years, 3.5% in the third year and 4.5% in the fourth year.
During negotiations, the MTA’s chief financial officer warned that the raises could lead to fare increases to help cover the cost. However, both MTA officials and Gov. Kathy Hochul have said no additional fare hikes will be imposed as a result of the deal.
Officials outlined several measures they say will help offset the cost. Under the agreement, workers will be required to complete certain training on their own time, a change the MTA says will reduce overtime expenses. In addition, the contract was extended by six weeks, which the agency says effectively lowers the final year’s increase. While the fourth year includes a 4.5% raise for 52 weeks, the last six weeks carry no increase, resulting in an effective annual increase of about 3.8%, coupled with other savings, according to the MTA.
“It’s hundreds of millions of dollars spread across the MTA, so we were standing our ground to make sure the real cost to the MTA was one we could manage,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber.
Union leaders said the agreement contains no concessions from workers.
“We were told fares were going to be increased if these raises went into effect. The entire riding public and the region has seen that has not happened,” said Gilman Lang, of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.
