LIRR Strike Averted

On Thursday, the MTA and unions representing LIRR employees reached a tentative agreement to provide workers with their first contract in roughly four years.  For months, the two sides butted heads as they disagreed on the timeframe for raises, and healthcare contributions.

The final agreement includes 17% raises to be doled out over six and a half years, and it calls for workers to devote 2% of their pay to their healthcare. Had the deal not been reached, workers were prepared to strike this coming Sunday. The new contract is retroactive to June of 2010, and expires in December of 2016.