Port Authority, transit union still talking after contract expired

Port Authority and the Amalgamated Transit Union continue to work behind the scenes to negotiate a new contract for 2,300 operators, maintenance workers and office staff whose agreement expired June 30.

The two sides have held a series of meetings in recent months to outline the framework for a new agreement and have agreed to keep most of the discussions private at this point. But one factor seems to be a major stumbling block: the authority’s uncertain financial future because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has cut ridership and fare-box revenue sharply.

Union officials say they want a three-year deal, which has been common over the years, but the authority wants a twoyear contract with a reopener for the third year so that it is not locked into a commitment it might have trouble keeping.

“I’ve been involved in a lot of negotiations, and usually the term of the agreement isn’t a major factor,” said attorney Joseph S. Pass, who represents the union. “But with the unknown factor — the coronavirus — they don’t want a contract that goes that long without a reopener.”

Jim Ritchie, chief communications officer for the authority, wouldn’t comment on specific issues in negotiations but did issue a statement.

“While Port Authority does not typically comment on the status of labor contract negotiations, we feel it is important to say that the Authority has bargained in a good faith and open manner with ATU Local 85 for the past several months,” the statement said.

The authority said it gave the union a written proposal July 27, but that “has not been acknowledged or responded to in any substantive manner.”

Local 85 has two contracts with the authority: one for operators and maintenance workers, and one for a smaller group of first-level office supervisors whose agreement typically follows the deal for the first group. Workers continue to be covered by the expired agreement.

The previous contract, which wasn’t signed until nearly six months after the old contract expired, faced a difficult approval process by the members. After submitting the dispute to a fact finder, the membership initially rejected a modified proposal but approved it on a second vote after leaders said they did a better job of explaining its provisions.

That four-year deal increased salaries 11.25%, raising pay for top-tier employees from about $59,000 a year to about $66,000. It also included major changes in health insurance that increased costs for some employees and lowered it for others based on the coverage they chose.

The authority saw ridership fall to more than 80% below 2019 levels since March as a result of the pandemic, and it has only recovered part of that ridership. Officials have estimated that it could take two years or more to return to pre-pandemic levels.

Congress has authorized funds to reimburse transit agencies for losses because of the virus, with $141.75 million available for Port Authority. National transit organizations have estimated that those funds could be wiped out before the end of the year.