By Associated Press - Wednesday, May 21, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) - A White House-appointed mediation panel has rejected an MTA proposal for a Long Island Rail Road union contract, the second time a board appointed by President Barack Obama has sided with the union.

Newsday reports (https://nwsdy.li/1qTBAIj ) the three-member Presidential Emergency Board issued its nonbinding resolution on Tuesday, calling the unions’ proposal a “reasonable” solution.

MTA spokesman Adam Lisberg said the agency was “disappointed” with the board’s ruling.

Members of the Sheet Metal, Air and Transportation Union, the railroad’s largest union, voted to strike in February. Smaller LIRR unions have approved similar votes to walk off the job.

LIRR unions could strike in July. They’ve been without a contract since 2010.

A union spokesman says they will “work hard to prevent any inconvenience to riders.”

The railroad carries 300,000 daily commuters.

___

Information from: Newsday, https://www.newsday.com

Copyright © 2024 The Washington Times, LLC.

Please read our comment policy before commenting.

Click to Read More and View Comments

Click to Hide