New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority said it intends to participate in talks the National Mediation Board has scheduled for July 8 with a consortium of eight Long Island Rail Road unions.
The unions could strike as early as 12:01 a.m. July 20 under rules established by a Presidential Emergency Board.
"We are eager to get back to the bargaining table," MTA director of labor relations Anita Miller said in a July 2 statement.
The MTA last week sweetened its offer to 17% raises over seven years, including a retroactive period to 2010. The offer also calls for health care contributions of 2% from existing employees and 4% from new employees. The LIRR's largest labor organization, the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Union, has called the offer unacceptable.
