Chief Negotiator: MTA, LIRR Unions ‘Very, Very Close’ To Averting Strike

[hrmjustin]

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – The chief negotiator for the Long Island Rail Road unions says they are “very, very close” to averting a strike this weekend, but said “we are not there yet.”

United Transportation Union President Anthony Simon spoke Thursday before heading into another round of negotiations with the MTA at Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Manhattan office.

Cuomo, who had previously said he wouldn’t intervene, said Thursday he began participating in talks directly after the two sides met Wednesday, but still did not reach an agreement.

“Time is very short. We are less than 48 hours from the point at which the railroad would commence closing procedures,” Cuomo said in a statement. “I want to make sure I have done everything I can possibly do to avert a strike.”

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/07/17/mta-lirr-unions-resume-talks-in-effort-to-avert-looming-strike/

[hrmjustin]

1. Stephen Colbert to Mayor de Blasio: If LIRR strike happens ‘can we just go crash at Gracie Mansion?’

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/stephen-colbert-asks-de-blasio-lirr-commuters-crash-gracie-mansion-article-1.1869957

[hrmjustin]

2. De Blasio and his vacation during a possible strike.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/17/nyregion/de-blasio-takes-a-vacation-and-a-calculated-risk.html?ref=nyregion&_r=1&gwh=B3DB68AD7D363ECCCB61CDC464E2BD5E&gwt=pay

[hrmjustin]

5. Eric Adams Says De Blasio Should Go on Vacation and He Wants To Do The Same

http://observer.com/2014/07/eric-adams-says-de-blasio-should-go-on-vacation-and-he-wants-to-do-the-same/

[hrmjustin]

3. Cuomo issues a carefully measured LIRR warning

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2014/07/8549069/cuomo-issues-carefully-measured-lirr-warning

[hrmjustin]

4. LIRR Strike Would Boost Some Businesses

http://online.wsj.com/articles/lirr-strike-would-boost-some-businesses-1405561707