News

NEW YORK, NY February 28, 2006 —Petitions are circulating within the Transport Workers Union requesting a second vote on the contract that was rejected last month by only seven votes. WNYC's Beth Fertig has more.

REPORTER: The petitions are going around several bus depots in Brooklyn. John Paul Patafio chairs the Jackie Gleason depot.

PATAFIO: I believe that if members have a second chance, knowing what they know today it will pass.

REPORTER: MTA Chairman Peter Kalikow told reporters following today's board meeting that he liked the original deal, which offered a wage increase of almost 11 percent over 3 years. But he said any revote is the union's business.

The Union's second in command, Ed Watt, told WNYC he'll have to see what the MEMBERS want. Meanwhile, the MTA has asked a state labor panel to settle the contract dispute through binding arbitration, which the union opposes.