The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) and the unions representing workers at the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) will return to the mediation process once again just a few days before a scheduled work action that would shut down the nation’s largest commuter railroad.

The mediation session was scheduled by the National Mediation Board (NMB).  Participants include representatives of the MTA and the eight separate unions representing nearly 5,500 workers at the LIRR.  A prior scheduled mediation session ended after just 90 minutes with no progress.  A strike is officially scheduled to commence on July 20th.  More than 300,000 people ride the LIRR every day, commuting into Manhattan for work.

The MTA has stated it is willing to grant the 17% pay raises the unions demand, but has the raises structured over seven years, while the unions demand six.  The MTA has sought to offset this by requiring a longer road to the top pay tiers and a 4% contribution by workers towards their health care costs.  The MTA also seeks to have newly hired workers immediately contribute towards pension plans, as opposed to the current 10-year service point on pension contributions.

The unions calculate the differences in the MTA’s offer amounts to a 50% reduction in overall value for their workers, and point out that two Presidential Emergency Boards echoed their call for a six-year raise structure without significant concessions.

Governor Mario Cuomo has been called upon by state politicians to get involved in an effort to stave off what would be a disastrous strike.  So far, the governor’s office has issued no statement on the matter.