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New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority has scheduled a meeting with unions next week to discuss both fare increases and service cuts made necessary by the economic crisis. An announcement that MTA cannot afford raises this year is expected at the same meeting. A contract representing most MTA workers (bus and subway employees) expired in January, and new terms are to be set by arbitration. Experts speculate a wage freeze will result, as arbitrators often focus on management's ability to actually pay raises to its employees. Other MTA employees have contracts extending through the rest of the year. MTA unions have already protested 1,000 planned layoffs, but MTA is struggling to secure additional government funding to avoid such measures.