The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will begin negotiations with the union that represents 34,000 New York City bus and subway workers. The MTA has said that it will keep its budget frozen for three years, and officials hope that workers will agree to concessions similar to those taken by state public employees earlier this year. The Transport Workers Union says that its members want a fair pay increase, not a wage freeze for three years. The two parties have had contentious negotiations in the past, leading to a strike in 2005 and clashes in 2009. The current contract expires on January 15.
See "New York transit agency, union start negotiations", The Associated Press, The Wall Street Journal, November 14, 2011