New York transit union leader: New contract offer is unacceptable

The president of the New York Transit Workers' Union says the city's latest contract offer, which would increase pension and health insurance contributions from employees, is unacceptable.

Asked whether the union's leadership would put the proposal to a vote, [Roger] Toussaint said, "No, we downright reject it," the transcript said.

According to the newspaper, the contract terms include a requirement that workers begin contributing 1.5 percent of their wages toward health insurance premiums, which is an item objectionable to union members.

When asked why his own union members reject a contract that he had negotiated, Toussaint blamed what he called a "right-wing conspiracy" by dissident union leaders who are gunning for his job.