'Still a long way to go' toward an agreement, union official says

Seven hours into a marathon bargaining session between MTA managers and LIRR labor leaders, there’s still “a long way to go” to reach a deal to avert a shutdown of the railroad this Saturday, and reaching a settlement some time Thursday remains “unlikely,” a key union official said.

Emerging from the talks alongside fellow union leaders, Kevin Sexton, national vice president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and a spokesman for the coalition of five unions, said it is “unlikely in my opinion at this point in time” that both sides would close a deal before Friday in the three-year long contract dispute.

“We’ve been bargaining throughout the day, passing proposals back and forth,” Sexton said. “We’re going to do everything in our power to reach an agreement, but I cannot guarantee that at this time.”

Speaking shortly after 5 p.m., the union leaders, with rolling suitcases in tow, said they were heading to check into a hotel and would reconvene talks with MTA negotiators at 7 p.m.
“We’ll stay as long as we can stay. We’re here to work,” Sexton added.

The sticking point in negotiations, Sexton said, remains the MTA’s proposal to provide workers extra pay in the fourth year of a new contract in the form of a lump sum that the MTA has said would be the equivalent of a 4.5% raise.

The unions have held firm that they want increases to their wages, and not a lump sum, which they’ve dismissed as a “gimmick.”

Asked if any progress was made Thursday on the issue, Sexton said “We’re working toward it slowly. … Very, very slowly

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.