Update: Port Authority Rejects Union's Last-Minute Proposal

A representative from local Amalgamated Transit Union 85 confirmed that the Allegheny County Port Authority Board of Directors  rejected a last-ditch contract proposal offered by the union today.

The proposal was meant to stave off a 15 percent service reduction cut and 180 employee layoffs for the Port Authority. The cuts are scheduled to begin Sunday.

The board earlier today to allow union members to vote on the concession proposals. The board will reconvene the meeting at 3 p.m. tomorrow.

Marty Marks, spokesman for the AFL-CIO, said that union will not vote on alternative proposals offered by Onorato's office. 

"The offer was disingenuous and unacceptable," Marks said. "There was $18 million on the table and they walked away from it. It's unheard of." 

Union President Patrick McMahon said the union, which represents Port Authority workers, offered County Executive Dan Onorato a proposal under which members would take a 10 percent wage cut and forgo a 3 percent wage increase. He said that offer, if accepted, would have saved $18.6 million for the transit agency.

Marks said the union is still open to further negotiations. 

Check back with Patch for continued updates.