(The following story by Caren Halbfinger appeared on The Journal News website on April 26.)
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — Metro-North Railroad and some of its unions made progress this week toward reaching labor agreements that could help the railroad avoid an August strike.
But that still leaves two unions that have rejected the railroad’s latest offers.
Ten of Metro-North’s 17 unions, representing about 2,600 employees, ratified new collective bargaining agreements that are expected to be approved today by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board. These new contracts will run from Jan. 1, 2003, through June 15, 2010, ending nearly five years of negotiations. They provide a 20 percent raise over 7 1/2 years, change the pension plan and set a new pension tier for new hires with a 20 percent cap on overtime that can count toward a pension.
“Getting them on board was a very big deal,” said MTA spokesman Jeremy Soffin. “We’re very pleased they ratified and that it’s all set.”
Another six bargaining units that constitute the Association of Commuter Rail Employees have agreed to similar terms which would cover the last three years, from now through mid-June of 2010. Their members will vote on the agreement within the next two weeks. ACRE represents about 1,400 employees.
Two more unions do not have new agreements. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 808, which represents about 560 employees, wants pay parity with their peers at Long Island Rail Road. Metro-North track workers earn $3 an hour less than those on Long Island, and their track foremen earn about $8 an hour less.
The railroad and IBEW are making their case before a Presidential Emergency Board, which was appointed earlier this month to help resolve the long-term dispute. Although the board will recommend terms, the union would have the right to strike Aug. 4 if both sides do not reach an agreement before then.
“The (presidential emergency) board met with us this morning, and they are meeting with the company as we speak,” said Teamsters President Chris Silvera, who was reached on his cell phone in Washington, D.C., Tuesday. “We’ll see where it goes from there. We hope this is a process that will lead to uninterrupted service for our customers and equal pay for equal work for Teamsters.”
The Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association, which represents about 160 employees, rejected the tentative agreement reached on March 30, 2007, but have agreed to meet with Metro-North management next week to continue talks.
“It was an extremely close vote,” Soffin said. “We’re confident we can get to a resolution quickly.”