ARBITRATION OK BUT ONLY IF NONBINDING, MTA OFFICIALS SAY.Byline: Lisa Mascaro Staff Writer Hoping to ``break the logjam'' in the MTA (1) (Message Transfer Agent or Mail Transfer Agent) The store and forward part of a messaging system. See messaging system. (2) See M Technology Association. 1. (messaging) MTA - Message Transfer Agent. mechanics' five-week strike, the MTA board proposed Wednesday to submit the divisive health care issues for nonbinding arbitration. The three-person arbitration-mediation panel would consist of one representative from the union, one from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority plus a health-care expert in a neutral role. Either the union or the MTA could reject the panel's recommendation by a supermajority Supermajority A corporate amendment in a company's charter requiring a large majority (anywhere from 67%-90%) of shareholders to approve important changes, such as a merger. 60 percent vote. The board wants the striking mechanics to come back to work in the meantime Adv. 1. in the meantime - during the intervening time; "meanwhile I will not think about the problem"; "meantime he was attentive to his other interests"; "in the meantime the police were notified" meantime, meanwhile , as the union had offered two weeks ago when it first suggested more formal binding arbitration. ``We hope it will be taken in the spirt it was offered. The strike has gone on long enough,'' said MTA Chairman Zev Yaroslavsky Zev Yaroslavsky (born December 21, 1948) is a Los Angeles County politician. He served on the Los Angeles City Council from 1975 until 1994, when he was elected to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. He was preceded in both offices by Edmund D. Edelman. as he announced the board's unanimous decision A Unanimous Decision is a winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts and others sports involving striking in which all 3 judges agree on which fighter won the match. , alongside Mayor James Hahn For the Iowa politician, see . James Kenneth "Jim" Hahn (born July 3, 1950) is an American politician from the Democratic Party. He was the Deputy City Attorney (1975-1979), City Controller (1981-1985), City Attorney (1985-2001) and Mayor of Los Angeles, California , Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa Antonio Ramon Villaraigosa (born Antonio (Tony) Ramon Villar, Jr. on January 23, 1953) is the mayor of Los Angeles, California. He is the first Latino mayor of Los Angeles since Cristobal Aguilar in 1872. and Supervisor Gloria Molina. Amalgamated Transit Union The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) is a labor union in the United States and Canada, representing workers in the transit system and other industries. The ATU was founded in 1892, and today has more than 180,000 members in more than 273 local unions in 46 states and 9 President Neil Silver welcomed the proposal but said he needed to consult with the state-appointed mediator because this raises ``more questions than answers.'' ``It's certainly an interesting proposal that deserves consideration,'' Silver said. ``If somebody says something that's close, it's definitely worthwhile looking at it.'' Bringing in what Yaroslavsky called a ``referee'' comes after the two sides have been at a stalemate for weeks. Health care remains the key issue, with the union wanting the MTA to contribute more for benefits, which now include free care until they're 65, after which they pay $21 a month. Meanwhile, the strike has shut down bus and train service for more than 400,000 primarily poor public transit users. The board also announced Wednesday it unanimously agreed to expand its ``lifeline'' service being run by other public agencies or contractors to help those stranded by the strike. As for arbitration, the board is scheduled to meet again on Friday after the union has been forwarded the proposal to decide whether to pursue it. Silver's questions include whether the union could walk off the job again if the recommendations are rejected and how other contract issues would be resolved. But his main question is how much the MTA would contribute to health benefits during the interim - the MTA said Wednesday it would be at the current level, but Silver has wanted the higher level. Lisa Mascaro, (818) 713-3761 lisa.mascaro(at)dailynews.com |
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