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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 029-05
January 19, 2005

MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG AND AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION LOCALS 1179 AND 1181 ANNOUNCE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT TO END STRIKE

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Locals 1179 and 1181 today announced a tentative agreement, pending ratification, for a new contract for their 800 members.  Under the terms of the agreement, the City will fund the two retroactive years of the contract, consistent with the pattern established by public sector unions in New York City.  The third year of the contract will be subject to negotiations between the ATU and the MTA.  The City will also move immediately to make solvent the unions Health and Benefits fund.  In addition the Union has committed not to oppose the transfer of the Command and Green Bus lines to the MTA.

“I’m pleased that we have reached an agreement with the ATU,” said Mayor Bloomberg.  “The buses will be rolling tomorrow morning, and we are moving forward with MTA take-over of the private bus lines.  It’s been a tough week and a half for those who rely on these buses, but this agreement and the commitment from the ATU not to oppose the MTA transfer will provide better service in the future for the riders and will prevent future disruptive strikes.  I want to thank the Office of Emergency Management for their work on the contingency plan and Deputy Mayor for Operations Marc Shaw, Office of Labor Relations Commissioner James Hanley and Deputy Commissioner Pamela Silverblatt, and Queens Borough President Helen Marshall for her dogged commitment to the people of Queens.”

The principal features of the Agreement for the period 1/1/2003 to 12/31/2004 include:

  • A one-time $1,000 lump sum cash payment per employee effective upon ratification.
  • A 3% general wage increase effective as of the first day of the 13th month of the contract.






MEDIA CONTACT:


Edward Skyler / Jordan Barowitz   (212) 788-2958




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