Letter: LIRR unions should take compromise
The MTA on Thursday, June 19, 2014, balked at a call from Long Island's congressional delegation urging the transit agency to accept an offer from Long Island Rail Road union leaders to postpone a possible July strike until September. Credit: Newsday / J. Conrad Williams Jr., File
The Long Island Rail Road's unions have to know that Metropolitan Transportation Authority chairman Thomas Prendergast is not going to hand out 17 percent raises without any contributions to pensions and health care ["No delays, MTA says," News, June 20].
The unions also have to know that many people have made their vacation plans beginning in July, which is why they "generously" offered to delay a possible strike until September -- to inconvenience as many as possible.
These already overpaid individuals, whose average salary was $87,000 in 2012, should take the MTA's 11 percent offer. This would still be 11 percent more than just about anyone else will get.
Ed Levy, Valley Stream
