Evening star., 1960-01-01
PactAVerts
Transit Strike
InNeW York
Two-YeorC Contract
Is oKd Only Hours
Before DeudIine

NEW YORK, Jan. ! (AP) -
A new contract agreement to-
day ended the threat Of a city
wide subway and bus strike.
Mediators worked feverishly
last night against q S am.
deadline set by the Transport
Workers Union. At 1912 am,
Mayor Robert F. Wagner an
nounced: There viii be no
strike IN New York"
Then came details of the new
two-year contract, with wage
increases totaling Is or Is
cents an hour per employe, de-
pending on job classifications.
Wage increases during the first
year viii range from 10 to Ia
cents an hour. In the second
year, boosts will come in two
steps: 4 to 51a cents hourly on
January l. 1861, and the same
step-up on July /, 1861.
Fares May Stay the Same
TwU President Michael j.
Quill, who changed the strike
deadline from midnight last
night to 5 AMIN order to ale
low New Years revelers to re-
turn to their homes via transit
facilities-said he was de
lighted with the results" Of
the negotiations.
Charles Patterson, Transit
Authority chairman, said after
the settlement that the author
ity would try to maintain the
l5-cent subway and bus fare.
The transit system carries some
8 million passengers daily.
Mrs. Anna Rosenberg, head
Of the City Mediation Commit
tee, said the contract agree
ment, which is subject to union
membership ratification, also
includes increased vacation and
disqualification BENEFITS.
Cost Estimated
The wage and benefit pack
age given the union will cost
the authority an additional $3I
to $35 million over the "a
months Of the new pact.
The authority had said earlier
1t had $12.5 million available
for wage boosts. The city had
agreed to take on the two-year.
$i3 million cost Of paying
transit police.
Joseph O'Grady. Transit Au-I
thority commissioner, said an
additional 50 million would
come from more efficient opera
ton and an anticipated increase
In the number Of subway and
bus passengers.
Under the old contract the
pay Of about $4,000 transit
workers ranged from $2.04 to
$2.72 an hour.
A New Years Day transpor-
tation stoppage seemed almost |
certain yesterday as the union |
and the authority went into |
night negotiations with a SOS
gap between demand |
and offer.
The union originally asked
$50 million In wages and bene-
Its over the two-year period.
Then 1t cut its demands by q
;hird-to $45 millions. The au-
.hority had been holding firm
with its $25.5 million offer.
Later today the TWU an
q two-year contract
agreement with seven private
BUS lines covering about 5000
workers. A spokesman for the
private lines said employees will
get hourly wage increases Of
IL cents the first year and 10
cents the second year, plus
fringe benefits. The package
vas expected to cost abo1t 80
cents an hour per man over the
length Of the contract.
Mayor Wagner said the city
will help the private lines to
pay the increased cost without
fares. He said this
help will come via easing the
companies payments in the
areas Of utility tax, franchise
AK and transportation Of
school children.
Concerning the latter. 1t was
planned to give the bus firms
part Of the difference between
he school child's reduced fare
md thet regular 15-cent fare.