PAT Board Votes Yes on Contract Terms

The board of the Port Authority of Allegheny County has accepted the fact finders report setting up terms for a new labor contract. The old deal expired this summer. Members of the board say while the deal is not perfect it does for the first time deal with some of the long-term retirement and legacy costs. Pat CEO Steven bland says the real benefits are not seen for years to come when retirement and other savings begin. He says in the short term there are still real issues the board will have to deal with through cost savings and revenue stream increases. Bland and board member Eddie Edwards both stressed that if the union rejects the deal it would mean the talks are back to square one. They stressed that the report would not be used as a starting point for negotiations. At the same time the board voted on an outline of procedures to take if there is a strike. Chief among them is a total shutdown of service. The Union will announce its decision later today.