White House mediators side with LIRR unions in contract dispute with MTA

White House-appointed mediators have, for the second time, sided with five Long Island Rail Road unions in an ongoing contract dispute with the MTA that could result in the first LIRR labor strike in more than 30 years.

The Presidential Emergency Board of mediators established by President Donald Trump evaluated "final offers" made by Metropolitan Transportation Authority managers and by five labor organizations representing about half of all LIRR union workers, and issued a nonbinding recommendation for a settlement.

If the two sides cannot agree on a deal, the unions, which represent locomotive engineers, signal workers, electricians and other crafts, could legally walk off the job in May.

The unions stuck to their demands for 14.5% in raises over four years. After another White House-appointed mediation board in October largely ruled in the unions’ favor, the MTA budged some off its original proposal for a three-year contract totaling 9.5% in raises. A new proposal included a fourth year at 3% and a $3,000 lump sum payment, but also called for several concessions.

The givebacks included new rules prohibiting employees from working more than 18 continuous hours of overtime except for emergencies, reducing penalty payments for workers if managers violate certain work rules, allowing the MTA more leniency in contracting out some work typically performed by employees, requiring employees to undergo computer-based training on their own time, and replacing the seniority-based overtime system with one that equalizes overtime opportunities among workers.

Although the mediators found that the proposed concessions "could provide a benefit to the LIRR without significant cost to employees," they ultimately concluded that the unions’ proposal "is the most reasonable offer."

The mediators noted that both sides could "engage in more detailed and substantive discussions on all of the work rule proposals" when they begin negotiating their next contract in about a year.

Representatives for the five unions said the board’s ruling confirmed that the unions were justified in asking for raises that keep up with the high cost of living in New York.

"It’s now the time for our employer and Governor Hochul to show some support for the workers and the commuters that rely on the LIRR," Nick Peluso, national vice president of the Transportation Communications Union, said in a statement. "Let’s get this done and keep the trains running."

Sean Butler, a spokesman for Gov. Kathy Hochul, declined to comment and directed questions to the MTA.

MTA officials were "disappointed, but not surprised that this Trump-appointed board rejected the MTA’s common-sense proposal," said Anita Miller, the authority’s chief labor and employee relations officer, in a statement.

Miller said the unions represent "the highest-paid railroad workers in the nation," but they have refused to negotiate or to accept the same terms as those accepted by most other MTA unions.

"If these unions decline to begin good-faith negotiations, the LIRR will have no choice but to prepare for a needless work stoppage that would only hurt both riders and workers," Miller said.

By Alfonso A. Castillo

alfonso.castillo@newsday.com@alfonsoreports

Alfonso Castillo has been reporting for Newsday since 1999 and covering the transportation beat since 2008. He grew up in the Bronx and Queens and now lives in Valley Stream with his wife and two sons.