HAHN CALLS FOR END TO TWIN STRIKES TRANSIT UNION NEGOTIATORS WEIGH OFFER.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

As transit union negotiators resumed talks on the MTA's latest offer, Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn called on Tuesday for an early end to the two major strikes that he said are damaging the local economy and causing widespread havoc.

The strikes by 8,000 Metropolitan Transportation Authority workers and 70,000 supermarket clerks employed by the three major grocers is costing the local economy $10 million a day, Hahn said at a City Hall news conference.

``It is time for talks to get under way and continue until we have a resolution,'' Hahn said.

Hahn's position is out of step with the MTA board that he serves on. His acceptance of transit union campaign contributions bars him from participating directly in the strike issue, but he joined union leaders in urging the MTA to revive negotiations.

Also recused from the talks are City Councilmen Antonio Villaraigosa and Martin Ludlow, Hahn appointees to the MTA board. They also took union money and, like Hahn, have said they are playing a neutral role in urging intense negotiations.

No talks have been held on the supermarket strike since it began Oct. 11. Meanwhile, MTA negotiations resumed Tuesday afternoon with MTA officials saying the union was responding to its offer to split control of the union's troubled health benefit fund. The offer is for an increase from $4 million to $4.7 million in the MTA's contribution to make the fund whole after years of mismanagement.

Hahn said he had no plans to step aside or to replace his council appointees on the MTA board. ``I wanted to have the best minds of people who use the transit system and are familiar with the problems to be on this board. I have no plans to change that.''

Even as talks resumed, Hahn and Villaraigosa said they did not get a feeling that negotiators on either side felt any sense of urgency.

``We need them to sit down and work around the clock, if necessary, to resolve this and get the buses back on the street,'' Hahn said.

He also repeated earlier statements that workers should return to work even if a final contract has yet to be signed.

``If we are close enough, we should encourage workers to get back on the job and provide this service to the public,'' Hahn said.

Villaraigosa said leaving the MTA's 500,000 daily riders without public transit is having a serious impact.

``We have children who can't get to school, we have people who can't get to their jobs,'' Villaraigosa said. ``We aren't here speaking for labor or management. We are speaking for the people who need the bus service.''

MTA negotiators and the mechanics' Amalgamated Transportation Union negotiated through a mediator into the evening at the Hall of Administration with the possibility of continuing the talks if progress were being made.

The MTA previously had offered wage increases and about $100 a month in health-benefit increases. Union officials had sought greater contributions toward benefits, saying workers would also increase their out-of-pocket share from zero to a range of $6 a month to $70 monthly.

Also on Tuesday, the MTA board met in a closed-session conference call for an update on the situation. MTA Chairman Zev Yaroslavsky spoke during an afternoon news conference of his frustration at the slow pace of the talks, MTA spokesman Ed Scannell said.

Staff Writer Lisa Mascaro contributed to this story.

Rick Orlov, [phone]

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com