With two weeks to go before its contract with 33,738 subway and bus workers expires, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is asking for more flexibility in work assignments, tighter sick leave rules and less substantial health care and pension benefits for future employees. The demands are part of the first specific proposal by the authority, which is negotiating with Local 100 of the Transport Workers Union of America over a new contract that would last through 2008.
See "M.T.A. Seeks Flexibility on Job Rules", Sewell Chan, The New York Times, November 28, 2005