NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- A strike by MTA workers was averted Wednesday after a tentative deal on a new contract was reached between the MTA and the Transport Workers Union Local 100, which represents more than 40,000 NYC Transit workers, ending a six-month ordeal between the two parties.
They were without a contract since May 15.
Transport Workers Union Local 100 President Tony Utano said in a statement, "I am happy to report that we have reached a negotiated settlement with the MTA that I believe the Local 100 membership will ratify in overwhelming fashion. We achieved the framework for settlement over the weekend, and after several days of intense bargaining, arrived at the tentative agreement today, Wednesday, Dec. 4."
He continued, "I am calling a meeting of the Local 100 Executive Board for tomorrow to present the MOU for discussion and approval. I wish to thank TWU members for the incredible support you provided to me and the Local 100 leadership throughout this campaign. We were truly united. We will be reporting details of the agreement as soon as the Executive Board has had an opportunity to vote on it."
The new agreement will be voted on by union members after it heads to the union's executive board later this week.
MTA Chairman and CEO Patrick J. Foye said in a statement, "We have reached a tentative agreement with TWU Local 100 that's fair to taxpayers, our riders and the tens of thousands of Transit employees who have worked hard to improve subway and bus service benefiting eight million daily customers. This tentative agreement continues the forward momentum of NYC Transit that has led to a surge in subway on-time performance and ridership increases that reflect our customers' returning confidence in the system."
