News

NEW YORK, NY March 17, 2006 —The MTA and the Transport Workers Union appear to be heading toward binding arbitration, now that a state appointed conciliator has concluded the two sides have nothing left to talk about. WNYC's Beth Fertig has more.

The recommendation was made after the mediator spent a day of shuttle diplomacy earlier this week listening to both sides. With a final ruling expected by the state's Public Employment Relations Board, the fate of the contract will be up to a three member panel. The panel will consist of representatives from the MTA and the Union and one neutral party.

The union has resisted arbitration because it may be forced to accept proposals it rejected last year - like having conductors roam the trains, or assigning additional tasks to station agents. Meanwhile, Union President Roger Toussaint still wants his executive board to allow a second vote on the contract, which was defeated by only seven votes. But the MTA says that offer is off the table, making another vote meaningless.