Dec. 18, 2013
NEW YORK CITY – The Metropolitan Transportation Authority adopted a $13.5 billion budget for the coming year Wednesday but only after some board members attempted to force additional spending on service improvements and union members raised the possibility of a strike if they aren\’t given raises.
The unsuccessful effort to put $25 million more toward new transit services in the budget followed vocal saber-rattling by John Samuelsen, president of Transport Workers Union Local 100, and members of his union about the MTA\’s demand that its 35,000 bus and subway workers pay for raises through givebacks in work rules and benefits.
Samuelsen, contending the MTA has the money and the union deserves recognition for its response to Superstorm Sandy, presented a petition in support of that position signed by 30,000 employees, customers and residents. Samuelsen avoided using the word \”strike\” but several of his members didn\’t. The TWU, despite a state law that prohibits strikes by public employees, struck over the last contract impasse, in 2005.
MTA Chairman and CEO Tom Prendergast said after the meeting that the agency, which has made no secret of wanting a \”net zero\” contract, will not negotiate in public and will remain at the table to reach a resolution with the union.
