Malliotakis Statement on Ongoing Staten Island Ferry Contract Negotiations

(STATEN ISLAND, NY) - Today Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis issued the following statement regarding ongoing contract negotiations between the Mayor and the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association (MEBA): 

"Last month, I called on the Mayor to strike a fair deal with the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association (MEBA), the union representing workers on the Staten Island Ferry, who have been working without a contract for 13 years. While negotiations are ongoing and at times have come very close to being resolved, it's been brought to my attention that talks are now being held up on overtime with the City refusing to put time and half on the table. Because our skilled mariners and captains are operating without a contract, commuters are forced to deal with service delays and reductions, including in the overnight hours where the city is falling short on providing ferry service every half hour. The mayor has a legal obligation to meet the terms of this charter and I continue to urge his administration to resolve this long-standing dispute as quickly as possible to not only avoid further legal trouble, but to do what's right by our workers and commuters."