NEW YORK, NY February 02, 2006 —A new tally released by the Transport Workers Union shows that subway workers were more likely to vote no on their contract with the MTA than bus workers. The contract was rejected last month by only 7 votes. About 70 percent of subway condutors and train operators voted no. WNYC's Beth Fertig caught up an with one of their representatives today.
Dennis Boyd is a train operator who's an Executive Board member in the union. He said subway operators and conductors work longer hours and therefore would have had to pay more for healthcare, because the contract called for a 1 point 5 percent contribution on all wages.
Boyd is an ally of union president Roger Toussaint. Opponents within the union deny accusations of misleading members about the contract. They say union leaders have only themselves to blame.
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