Contract Implementation Moves Forward

The Contract Implementation Committee, led by Vice President Tony Utano and Secretary-Treasurer Earl Phillips, met with representatives of MTA Labor Relations and the BSC on Thursday, June 5. They report the following progress in putting our new contract terms into effect:

The wage increases will go into effect for the payroll period resulting in paychecks on July 2 for the OA and July 3 for the TA.

Retro payments will be delivered to active members on August 27 for OA and August 28 for TA.

Members will be able to opt to defer up to 80% of the retro money into their 401(k)/457 accounts. Target dates for the process are as follows:
• June 20: BSC mails Retro Election Forms to members
• July 11: deadline for members to return Retro Election Forms
If you have direct deposit, the retro money not deferred will go into your account like any other pay.  Inactive members will receive their Retro Check approximately two payroll periods later.
 

SIRTOA: We expect a response from the MTA shortly on when the Staten Island Railway Pass will be made available. Save your receipts if you are paying for SIRTOA transportation!  

LIRR/MNRR: Members who live outside the City will receive, based on their residence on file with the Company, either a temporary Metro North Rail Road Pass or a temporary Long Island Rail Road Pass. These passes are on order. Permanent Passes will be issued by each Rail Road some time in the future.  A process will be set up to accommodate people who move out of the City to apply for the Pass. Save your receipts if you are paying for MNRR or LIRR transportation!

Dental/Optical: Instituting the new Dental/Optical Benefits has a target date of September 1, although both sides recognize that a lot must be done to make this target date work. More information on this changeover will be communicated as it becomes available.

The new Maternity/Paternity benefit is effective as of May 21, 2014.  All members, even new hires who have no other leave balances, are eligible for this benefit. Remember, this new leave benefit comes before any other time off.  Company representatives confirmed that members will be fully paid, i.e., run pay, for the duration of this benefit.

Other benefits: the Retiree Spousal Bridge Benefit, the Line of Duty and Active Service Death Benefits are all effective as of May 21, although some payments may be slightly delayed due to insurance policies that have to be secured.

Expect more updates as other plans for implementation progress.