President Chiarello Gives Contract Update: "We are at War."
JULY 2, 2026—President John V. Chiarello provided a contract update ahead of the holiday weekend, and it could be summed up in four words: "We are at war".
He outlined some of the outrageous terms the MTA is demanding, including:
-Raises below the rate of inflation.
-Raising healthcare contributions for current members by 50%.
-Increasing total healthcare costs for new members to 10%, driving yet another wedge between current members and new hires—costing you thousands of dollars more each year.
-Increasing the co-pay for ER visits from $100 to $150.
-Playing doctor with our current prescription plans, making it harder for you and your family to get the medications you need.
-They want to strip pick rights from our members out on long-term sick and workers' compensation.
-They want to link maintainer bonus payments to vague productivity targets.
Instead of bargaining in good faith, they’re also coming down on the members for undeserved discipline. Don’t give them an opportunity to discipline you. Everyone needs to play by the rules. You can’t be too careful.
WE ARE AT WAR!
Protect yourselves and look out for each other. You are your brothers’ and sisters’ keeper.
More than ever, we need to stick together. Because together we move New York.
