NEW YORK - Thousands of transit workers are turning up the heat on the MTA, demanding a new contract with a wage hike.

Members of the Transport Workers Union rallied outside MTA headquarters in Lower Manhattan on Wednesday.

They have been looking for a new contract since the deal struck in 2016 expired in May.

The MTA is offering a two percent raise but the union is pushing for more than double that.

"A fair contract is definitely not a two percent raise in New York City," said one union member.

"They want a lot of give backs but they're not willing to give us anything. It's a life or death situation out here," said another union member.

"Fair treatment who work hard to keep this city moving on a daily basis. That's all were looking for," noted a third union member.

The MTA is asking for employees to contribute four percent of their salary to their health care.

It also wants to change the rules so overtime gets paid after a forty hour work week instead of an eight hour shift.