"The move came in response to a request made Monday by five labor organizations representing around half of the LIRR's 7,000 union workers. The request delayed a potential strike by the unions that could have otherwise begun as early as Thursday. "Ask and you shall receive," Kevin Sexton, national vice president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, and spokesman for the coalition of LIRR unions involved in the dispute, said in a statement Tuesday. "We are confident that the members of that board will find our coalition's contract proposals exceedingly reasonable.""
"The unions represent several LIRR trades, including locomotive engineers, machinists, ticket clerks, signal workers and electricians. The MTA wants the organizations to accept a three-year contract with 3% raises in the first and second years, and a 3.5% raise in the third year - the same terms accepted by several other MTA unions, including at the LIRR. But the holdout unions say the 9.5% total wage increase doesn't keep up with the high cost of living in New York and on Long Island, and effectively amounts to a wage cut. Union leaders on Monday said they've accepted the three-year, 9.5% terms, but want a fourth year at a 6.5% raise."
President Donald Trump established an emergency mediation board to address a contract dispute between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and five Long Island Rail Road unions. Five labor organizations representing about half of the LIRR's 7,000 union workers requested the board, delaying a potential strike that could have begun as early as Thursday. The MTA offered a three-year pact with raises of 3%, 3%, and 3.5%, matching other MTA unions. The holdout unions say the 9.5% total fails to match New York and Long Island cost-of-living increases and propose a fourth year with a 6.5% raise.
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