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Four MBTA Unions Agree To One-Year Wage Freeze

More than 500 MBTA workers from four unions are voluntarily foregoing 4-percent wage increases granted through arbitration last year. The raises were set to take effect July 1.

General Manager Daniel Grabauskas says the T's 24 other unions have not yet reached agreements on salary freezes.

"No one's told me no," he said. "The others are considering it. I know that there are at least one or two unions that have meetings scheduled in the not-too-distant future to discuss this very matter."

Grabauskas acknowledges that, even if every union agrees to an one-year wage freeze, riders will still likely see service reductions and possible fare increases.

"I couldn't tell them that I can guarantee if you vote this deferral, no member of your union will get laid off," he said. "But what I did tell them was, if you do this, you'll be the last door that I come knocking on."

The MBTA is facing a $160-million budget shortfall for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

This program aired on May 18, 2009. The audio for this program is not available.

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