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VOL. 75 No. 38
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INCORPORATING THE WEST HEMPSTEAD BEACON
LIRR strike on hold…for now Unions seek federal mediation with MTA
said negotiations had broken down after the National Mediation Board expedited the release of the unions. That opened the A potential Long Island Rail Road door to a strike that could have begun at strike that was looming on Sept. 18 has 12:01 a.m. on Sept. 18. The last LIRR strike occurred in 1994. been paused for now after the five unions “We have attempted to negotiate in threatening to halt service announced they are requesting intervention from the good faith with these five remaining labor organizations,” Free said. “A fair offer has Presidential Emergency Board. The move means negotiations will con- been made and accepted by the majority tinue under federal mediation, postpon- of all the other represented employees at the Long Island Rail Road, including the ing any immediate threat of a strike. largest union, SMART, and The development comes four others.” amid mounting tension The five unions still between the Metropolitan holding out include the Transportation Authority Brotherhood of Locomotive and the five remaining Engineers and Trainmen, unions that have yet to the Brotherhood of Railreach a contract agreement road Signalmen, the Interwith the railroad. These national Association of unions represent more than Machinists and Aerospace half of the LIRR’s workWorkers, the International force, and their decision Brotherhood of Electrical earlier this month to purWorkers, and the Transporsue a strike authorization tation Communications alarmed the MTA and the Union. Collectively, they commuters who depend on JoHN J. MCCARTHY form the Long Island Rail the system every day. Road Bargaining Coalition, More than 270,000 daily MTA chief of policy and representing 55 percent of riders would be affected by external relations the unionized workforce at a walkout. While the latest the LIRR. action delays that possibiliAccording to the MTA, its current proty, the disputes over wages and work rules remain unresolved, leaving the long-term posal calls for a 9.5 percent wage increase over three years. But the unions are pushoutlook uncertain. The MTA quickly responded to the ing for an additional 6.5 percent raise on top of the existing deal, without giving unions’ decision. “After months of radio silence, these ground on work rules that management outlier unions have finally admitted that says are ‘outdated.’ “Locomotive engineers make over $49 they weren’t serious about negotiating,” said John J. McCarthy, the MTA chief of an hour currently. The average salary is policy and external relations, in a state- over $160,000 a year, with top earners ment. “They never had a plan to resolve above $300,000,” Free said. “That’s largely the result of antiquated work rules that this at the bargaining table. “If these unions wanted to put riders allow multiple days’ pay for one day of first, they would either settle or agree to work. And now they want a bigger raise binding arbitration,” he continued. “And while keeping those rules in place.” The BRS’s 809 members voted overif they don’t want to strike, they should say so -- and finally show up to the negoti- whelmingly to authorize a strike as talks ating table. This cynical delay serves no stalled. About 600 BLET workers also approved a work stoppage. one.” “[The] Long Island Rail Road has not During a Sept. 11 news conference at Penn Station, MTA President Rob Free COntinued On Page 7
By BRIAN KACHARABA
bkacharaba@liherald.com
Courtesy Antonio Kelley
in front of the monument placed by former Mayor James a. garner’s administration on Sept. 11, 2002, local officials solemnly lit candles to commemorate the four people from Hempstead who died in the fall of the twin towers, at Hempstead’s 9/11 remembrance ceremony on denton green.
Hempstead’s 9/11 ceremony: Each year, a little different Brooklyn Bridge,” said Rev. Katherine Corbett, who delivered the invocation. “I watched people come walking over the Each year, with a dignified ceremony bridge. I watched the impact of the trauon Denton Green, Hempstead Village ma on the community.” “On September 11, commemorates the four 2001, I was eight years villagers who died when old,” said County Legislathe World Trade Center’s tor Olena Nicks, a volunTwin Towers fell on Sept. teer with the Uniondale 11, 2001. Fire Department. “I stand The focus of this year’s here as a first responder, remembrance was “Stronstill mourning the lives ger Together.” that we lost.” She noted “Our hearts remain that deaths from connected to those memo9/11-related illnesses conries,” said program emcee tinue to rise. Angela Stanley, HempFormer mayor, teacher, stead’s director of Human and community servant Relations/Community GARY RUsH Don Ryan remembered a Events, “and together we Interim Superintendent, letter received by Engine affirm that we will never Hempstead Public Schools 4, the Hempstead fire forget.” company where Durrell Two poignant music selections, performed by violinist Adri- “Bronko” Pearsall volunteered before he enne “Sh’Lo” Green, evoked both the died with other first responders in the sadness and the somber beauty of the Twin Towers. As he arrived at the towers, Pearsall occasion. Several speakers offered reflections saw a woman standing on the devastatabout the trauma of 9/11 that still ed street, ash-covered, frozen with fear. “He shook her and said, ‘Listen to affects many people today. “On 9/11, I was a sitting principal in me. Listen to me. I want you to turn and COntinued On Page 4 Brooklyn, right on the other side of the
By REINE BETHANY
Special to the Herald
U
nity is what counts, and we’re only as good as the support we give to the people around us.
A
fter months of radio silence, these outlier unions have finally admitted that they weren’t serious about negotiating.