MTA MECHANICS OK PACT TRANSIT SERVICE ALMOST BACK TO NORMAL, BUT INSURANCE ISSUE STILL BOILS.

Byline: Lisa Mascaro Staff Writer

MTA's mechanics voted overwhelmingly Wednesday for a contract that provides improved wage and pension benefits but fails to resolve the health-care issues that were at the center of their 35-day strike.

Mechanics were glad to get back to work after losing $5,000 each in wages during the work stoppage, but worried that the upcoming decision by an arbitration panel could force them to pay for their medical insurance after years of free benefits.

``We went out for medical, and it wasn't resolved, so why are we going back to work?'' fumed seven-year mechanic Robert Morris, adding it would be difficult for the mechanics to return to the picket lines if the issue isn't satisfactorily resolved. ``The public's going to love us for that one.''

Said mechanic Javier Perez: ``It's really kind of an unsettling feeling.''

The vote ends the five-week strike that idled bus and subway lines, stranding more than 400,000 riders.

Casting ballots Wednesday morning at the Los Angeles Convention Center, mechanics voted more than 6-1 for the contract - 1,159 in favor and 191 against - and five ballots were invalidated. Nearly 2,100 active workers were eligible to vote.

``My workers are not going back to work with their tails between their legs. They did fine,'' said Amalgamated Transit Union President Neil Silver.

``There's no take-aways. That's what's good about this contract for workers. They got a pay increase, an increase in their pension plan. ... We didn't go out on strike for wages. We went out for health care. Now the health care's being maintained.''

Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman Zev Yaroslavsky said the agency agreed to pay $7 million more than it initially proposed to get buses rolling again.

``I think were all relieved,'' said Yaroslavsky, who with City Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa held marathon negotiating sessions to seal the deal with the union. ``We're not happy about not having the medical resolved... The only alternative to doing it this way is being out on strike another month. We plan to continue talking.''

Villaraigosa also conceded the contract is a compromise ``to get the buses rolling again.''

``I knew there would be some anger and frustration, and while there was, I think that what most people felt - it wasn't what they wanted exactly - it was a compromise.''

The 45-month contract includes a 7 percent wage increase, with 2 percent of that retroactive to last Oct. 1; $63 more a month in pension payments; and one more ``floating'' holiday during the current fiscal year, in addition to their six regular and six floating holidays.

It gives the opportunity for the union service attendants to earn extra money when they take on duties like fixing windows and replacing seat cushions.

Plus, the MTA will provide a $4.7 million bailout of the union-managed health benefits fund, as well as continued monthly payments to keep the fund going through arbitration. The payments will be at at the increased rates MTA had offered, but not the higher ones the union wanted.

The ATU could strike again if the arbitration panel's recommendations are rejected, but Silver said that's something he'd ``hate to see happen.''

MTA officials said nearly 100 percent of the bus service was running Wednesday. The Metro Gold Line and Metro Green Line will be running this morning, according to the MTA Web site. The subway and Metro Blue Line are running under limited service.

All bus and train rides remain free through Saturday and the MTA will also honor October and November passes through the end of the year.

Lisa Mascaro, [phone]

lisa.mascaro(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

Bus driver Julia Phillips is all smiles about being back on the job Wednesday. She drove mechanics to the Los Angeles Convention Center where they voted for a strike-ending contract.

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer