A tentative LIRR union agreement with the MTA, which still must be ratified by union members, settles a four-year contract dispute between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the eight unions that represent the Long Island Rail Road’s 5,400 workers. Andrew Siff has the story.
Members of the unions representing most Long Island Rail Road workers have approved the four-year contract that was negotiated last month.
Anthony Simon of the United Transportation Union tells Newsday on Friday that about 95 percent of the members of the eight unions voted in favor the contract.
The unions and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority reached a tentative labor deal on July 17.
The deal came after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo prodded the two sides to reach an agreement and avert a strike.
The contract provides a 17-percent raise over six and a half years. It also requires workers to begin paying for health care at a rate of about 2 percent of their weekly wages.
Negotiations are continuing between the MTA and three smaller unions.
