MTA boss Thomas Prendergast penned a letter to LIRR riders Tuesday morning describing the generous offer workers have been given as they prepare to walk off the job in five days.
“The MTA remains committed to settling this matter quickly, but any new agreement must be affordable not just today, but into the future,” the chairman wrote. “Without jeopardizing the investments necessary to maintain the service we provide our riders or placing additional pressure on future fares.”
He described the MTA’s offer to the nation’s highest paid railroad workers– which includes 17 percent wage hikes over seven years and a $22,000 retroactive payment that the average employee would get.
New hires would have to contribute 4 percent of their health care costs, and put 4 percent of their salaries towards their pensions.
The letter comes after talks between the MTA and LIRR unions broke down after just 45 minutes on Monday.
“We’ve moved three times,” Prendergast said Monday. “But they haven’t moved at all from their positions.”
The strike will begin Sunday at 12:01 a.m., and the MTA plans to start winding down service on Saturday.
About 150,000 people use the LIRR every weekday to take 300,000 trips.