NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A tentative contract agreement that applies to about 600 train mechanics, inspectors, cleaners and cabinet makers for the Metro-North was reached with the MTA Friday, according to Pete Donohue, the Senior Director of Communications for the Transport Workers Union.
The agreement – which is a retroactive agreement, running from Sept. 1, 2019 to Oct. 30, 2023 – comes after months of heated debate and provides the associated union members with a 9.5% wage increase, following the commuter rail pattern, the TWU said.
Additionally, employees are receiving an unprecedented increase in their annual tool-allowance, jumping from $150 to $650.
"This agreement is economically favorable to our members at Metro-North and achieves our goals." TWU International President John Samuelsen said. "Our members can now fully focus on what they do best, providing uninterrupted quality service to MN riders."
The associated union members, from TWU Locals 2001 and 2055, haven’t had a contract since August 2019.
A highly-disputed point of contract negotiations, that the MTA be allowed to open the contract at any point, is not in this final agreement, the TWU said.
“I am committed to providing the best possible service to Metro-North riders and I am pleased that the Transport Workers Union and the MTA have reached a tentative agreement that allows this critical service to keep moving forward,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said.