AnMTAlabor attorney on Wednesday said there is “no reason” the agency cannot ink a deal with five Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) unions to avoid their 3,500 workersgoing on strike this Saturday.

The lawyer, Gary Dellaverson, who is retired but serving as the MTA’s labor counsel amid the negotiations, told reporters that the agency and unions should be able to reach an agreement by Thursday — two days ahead of the threatened May 16 strike date.

“There is no reason why a deal can’t be reached and sent out for edification by the rank and file and approval subsequently by the MTA board, before everybody goes crazy on Friday,” Dellaverson said during a May 13 news conference at the MTA’s Lower Manhattan headquarters.

He also noted that the unions made a “material move” for the first time in negotiations this week, but would not specify what the move was. It apparently did not include a concession on work rule changes the MTA is seeking.

But Kevin Sexton, president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen (BLET), said in a statement earlier Wednesday that the notion they are close to a deal is “far-fetched.”

Late last month, MTA officialsdetailed their contingency planto offer limited shuttle bus service amid an LIRR shutdown.

However, Gov. Kathy Hochul said the buses will hardly be a full replacement for rail service. She advised Long Islanders to work from home, if they can, should the strike happen.

“I want to be clear that these buses will not be able to replace full Long Island Rail Road service,” she said during an unrelated Wednesday press event. “That’s why the MTA has encouraged employers and employees on Long Island to plan for work from home early next week if a strike occurs.”

Dellaverson insisted the MTA has put all of the money the unions have been requesting “on the table” at this point. But union leaders have characterized the agency’s offer as a “gimmick.”

The labor lawyer said the main disagreement between the MTA and union leaders now is whether raises for the fourth year of the contract they are negotiating, which retroactively covers 2023 through this year, will be lump-sum or recurring. The transit agency has proposed the former, and the unions want the latter.

Source: LI Press