As TWU Pact Deadline Approaches, No Sense Of Urgency or Unrest

CHARLES E. SCHUMER: Federal aid may be on way.

Unlike in 2005, the contract negotiations between Transport Workers Union Local 100 and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority have been out of the public view, to say the least. With the contract set to expire on Jan. 15, there is no talk of a strike and virtually no discussions inside the union among the rank and file about contract demands or updates on talks.

There has been a flurry of rumors about the inaction, the most prominent being that the MTA and Local 100 were close to a deal in October, with Governor Paterson's support, for three 4-percent raises over three years. The agreement, according to statements by several officials, was jettisoned at Mayor Bloomberg's insistence because he did not want to set such a pattern before he settled a contract with District Council 37 that provided only two 4-percent hikes.

Regional Bus Hold-Up?

Some dissidents within the union claimed that there was a disagreement among the vice presidents of the New York City Transit bus companies on the terms of a regional bus system within the contract. The two sides have not commented on the issue.

Several factors have contributed to the lack of urgency about the approaching deadline. Unlike during the past two negotiations, when Local 100 President Roger Toussaint hinted at the possibility of a strike and in one case carried one out, there is a distinctly different atmosphere.

The new MTA administration has worked more cooperatively with Local 100 on a variety of issues, improving labor-management relations significantly. And because of the three-day strike in December 2005, Local 100 had its dues check-off rights suspended for nearly 18 months, and got them restored only after Mr. Toussaint stated in an affidavit that the union had no intention of striking in the future.

Not Worth the Risk?

While that pledge is not binding, violating it would produce even more stringent penalties than were imposed for that walkout, which severely weakened the union financially.

A Local 100 insider surmised that the union, which has been negotiating with the MTA in secret and only with its high-ranking officials, would rather operate on the current contract terms after Jan. 15 in order to see if the MTA's financial situation could be improved by Albany and the Federal Government.

The Local 100 insider speculated that part of the stasis is rooted in the uncertainty of the MTA's finances. The authority passed a doomsday budget last month, which called for fare hikes, service cutbacks and the elimination of positions, a move acutely affecting Bus Operators and Station Agents.

But MTA officials are still awaiting word from Albany on whether legislators will adopt recommendations of the Ravitch Commission to bring in more revenue through bridge tolls and payroll taxes. MTA officials are expected to travel to Albany this month to make an appeal for a bailout.

And there are also signs from Washington with the incoming administration of President-elect Obama that his proposed public-works program will include funding for the MTA. U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer told reporters last month that the new administration could provide the MTA up to $4 billion in aid. There could also be movement on a $1.7-billion aid package for transit systems nationwide in Congress.