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Unions and MTA 'very, very close' to averting Long Island Rail Road strike Unions and MTA reach tentative deal to avert Long Island Rail Road strike
(about 3 hours later)
The chief negotiator for Long Island Rail Road unions said Thursday they were "very, very close" to averting a weekend strike at America's largest commuter railroad after New York governor Andrew Cuomo became directly involved in the talks. A tentative deal was reached Thursday that averts a strike by workers at the nation's largest commuter railroad, a top union negotiator said.
Anthony Simon spoke before heading into discussions with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority at Cuomo's Manhattan office. Anthony Simon told the Associated Press about the tentative agreement with the Long Island Rail Road.
"We think we can get a deal done," said Simon. Asked about the potential for a strike, he said they were "very, very close to not having one." However, he also cautioned that they were "not there yet." Governor Andrew Cuomo got involved in negotiations Wednesday. He said Thursday morning that time was running short to resolve the contract dispute before the strike deadline of 12.01am Sunday.
Cuomo said Thursday morning that "time is very short" to resolve the contract dispute before the strike deadline of 12.01am Sunday. Cuomo had said everything must be done to prevent the railroad's 300,000 daily riders "from being held hostage" by a strike.
"We are less than 48 hours from the point at which the railroad would commence closing procedures," Cuomo said. "I want to make sure I have done everything I can possibly do to avert a strike." He planned a 1.15pm news conference to discuss the deal.
Cuomo has said everything must be done to prevent the railroad's 300,000 daily riders "from being held hostage" by a strike.
MTA chairman Thomas Prendergast declined to comment as he entered the talks Thursday morning.
The railroad's 5,400 unionized workers have been without a contract since 2010.The railroad's 5,400 unionized workers have been without a contract since 2010.
The talks resumed Wednesday and went late into the night after two days of increased tension and bleak prospects for resolution stemming from a railroad proposal to make future employees contribute to their to health and pension plans.The talks resumed Wednesday and went late into the night after two days of increased tension and bleak prospects for resolution stemming from a railroad proposal to make future employees contribute to their to health and pension plans.
President Barack Obama appointed two emergency boards to help resolve the dispute, in December 2013 and May of this year, but the MTA rejected both nonbinding recommendations. The emergency board's last proposal called for a 17 percent raise over six years while leaving work rules and pensions alone.President Barack Obama appointed two emergency boards to help resolve the dispute, in December 2013 and May of this year, but the MTA rejected both nonbinding recommendations. The emergency board's last proposal called for a 17 percent raise over six years while leaving work rules and pensions alone.
The MTA offered a 17% wage increase over seven years but also wants pension and health care concessions, which both sides agree is the sticking point holding up an agreement. The MTA offered a 17 percent wage increase over seven years but also wants pension and health care concessions, which both sides agree is the sticking point holding up an agreement.