Contract negotiations between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and New York City Transit Workers Union Local 100 have officially begun.
Labor will want salary increases that keep up with inflation. Two years ago inflation was 4%. Last year, it grew to over 8%. It continues to grow in 2023.Â
The MTA previously budgeted only 2% per year for the next round of labor contracts. What the NYC TWU Local 100 obtains for its membership, both Long Island Rail Road and Metro North Rail Road unions with thousands of members will want parity.Â
TWU President Richard Davis, who represents 40,000 bus and subway workers, has made clear to the MTA that they should not try to nickel and dime or balance the agency budget on the backs of workers during contract negotiations.
He is looking for higher wages, better health care and mental health benefits, and improved pensions along with ending ceilings on overtime pay counting toward pensions.
This could add up to a billion dollars or more over coming years to the current multibillion-dollar, multi-year MTA financial deficit.
There is also ongoing fare evasion, which in 2022 resulted in $600 million in lost revenues. Add another $15 billion shortfall to the current $51 billion 2020-2024 Five Year Capital Plan without congestion pricing toll revenues.
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Larry PennerÂ
Great Neck
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Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously served as a former Director for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office of Operations and Program Management. Â
