There's peace in the often-contentious relationship between the MTA and the union for bus and subway workers, as the two sides come to an agreement on a new labor contract. Transit Reporter Jose Martinez has that story.
Thomas Prendergast is headed for the exits, but the outgoing chief of the MTA is now set to go with a labor peace in place.
"There were some unpleasant moments between the both of us," said Transport Workers Union Local 100 President John Samuelsen. "But I'm glad we were able to get the contract settled before he departed."
On Monday, the union and the MTA agreed to a tentative deal that will give pay raises to more than 30,000 subway and bus workers.
"The MTA's demand for a two percent wage increase, we've greatly exceeded that demand," the union leader said. "And we've pumped a lot of other economic value into the contract as well."
The deal came after more than two months of negotiations — and just hours after the previous contract expired.
Worker safety and pay were key issues for the union, though MTA had started contract talks in November with a meatier offer than in 2013.
"I can tell you this, we're not starting from three zeroes, so that's a significant difference from where it was last time," Predergast said in November. "Because the economy's in much better shape and we're in better shape."
Prendergast on Monday called the deal "an affordable agreement" that fits within the MTA's financial plan.
While transit workers rallied in front of MTA Headquarters in November and at an agency board meeting last month, the negotiations weren't nearly as contentious as in years past, notably in December 2005, when workers walked off the job for two and a half days just before Christmas.
"A strike for the Transport Workers Union in New York City is never off the table," Samuelsen. "And I'm thankful we came to an agreement."
However, the deal is not done yet — at least not officially. It still has to be approved by the union's membership and the MTA Board.