Rep. Malliotakis Urges Mayor Adams To Work With Unions, Give Ferry Workers Fair Contract

Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis

3 years ago

Malliotakis Statement on Staten Island Ferry Negotiations

“I urge Mayor Adams to make a deal with union and settle this once and for all.”

(STATEN ISLAND, NY) – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis issued the following statement regarding negotiations between the Mayor and the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA):

“This is a critical time for New York City to strike a fair deal with the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA), the union representing workers on the Staten Island Ferry. It is my understanding after speaking with both the union and the City of New York yesterday that negotiating parties have come very close to resolving the years-long issue of Staten Island Ferry mariners and captains working without a contract.

“Without a contract, we will continue to see skilled mariners and captains leave for the private sector and ferry service and commuters will continue to be impacted with service reductions.

“This has carried on for 13 years over three different mayoral administrations and has led to 2,000 missed ferry crossings last year. I urge Mayor Adams to make a deal and settle this once and for all. Do the right thing for these highly trained workers and our city’s commuters who deserve reliable ferry service.”

Banner Image: NY Skyline from the Ferry. Image Credit – Christian MacMillan

Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis

Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis was sworn in on January 3, 2021 to represent Staten Island and Southern Brooklyn. Prior to serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis was elected to the New York State Assembly on November 2, 2010, defeating a two-term incumbent. In the Assembly, she served as Minority Whip and the ranking minority member of the Assembly Committee on Governmental Employees. For five terms, Congresswoman Malliotakis fought to restore ethics in Albany, expand transit service in her district, improve programs for senior citizens, reform education and improve New York’s economic climate by reducing the tax burden on small businesses and residents. A cornerstone of her tenure was helping her community recover and rebuild following the devastation of Hurricane Sandy in 2012. In addition to advocating for these same issues in Washington, Congresswoman Malliotakis is acutely focused on securing New York’s fair share of federal mass transit funding, which would go towards expanding transportation services and easing traffic congestion, while also championing public safety by supporting our nation’s law enforcement officers. Congresswoman Malliotakis is the daughter of immigrants, her father from Greece and her mother a Cuban exile of the Castro dictatorship. She is currently the only Republican member representing New York City in Congress, representing a district spanning the boroughs of Brooklyn and Staten Island. She is a passionate advocate for animal rights and the strengthening of animal cruelty laws, and in her spare time, enjoys spending time with her chihuahua, Peanut.