October
31,
2003
CONTACT:
Marc Littman
MTA MEDIA RELATIONS
(213) 922-4609/922-2700 www.metro.net/press/pressroom
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Statement by MTA CEO Roger Snoble
Response to ATU's Call for
Binding Arbitration
October 31, 2003
We welcome the mechanics union's offer to return to work.
It is critically important that we get Metro buses and trains rolling again so
that our half-million transit riders are no longer stranded.
MTA believes it has offered the
mechanics union a fair and reasonable last, best, and final offer, which should
be presented to the union members for a vote.
MTA has consistently worked with a state mediator to help
us reach an agreement and we will continue to support that process.
However, MTA does not support intervention of an outside
arbitrator into these labor negotiations for several very good reasons.
MTA cannot turn over
responsibility for negotiating contracts worth hundreds of millions of
taxpayer dollars to an arbitrator who is not accountable to the taxpayers.
MTA has made it clear that there
is no more money that can be added to this offer.
MTA believes that the use of an
arbitrator at this point will only serve to further delay a resolution of
the outstanding issues.
We appreciate the union leadership's offer, but its time would be better spent taking our last best and final offer to its members for a favorable vote.
MTA-169