The uncertain labor situation at the Port Authority appears to be coming down to next Friday.

		Fact-finder's report • Full text of the report from fact-finder Jane Rigler

That's one day before a 15-day period expires on a fact-finder's report recommending a settlement between the authority and Local 85, Amalgamated Transit Union, which represents 2,300 bus-trolley workers and support personnel.

The authority's nine-member board will meet in special session at 1 p.m. to decide whether to accept or reject a report from former Dickinson School of Law Professor Jane Rigler, the neutral third party appointed by the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board.

On the same day, Local 85's 20-member executive board will meet at an unannounced time to decide the same matter, based on the 22-page report Ms. Rigler released one week ago.

Also on Friday, Local 85 will hold two regularly scheduled quarterly membership meetings, at 10:30 a.m. and 8 p.m., where the recommendations for a new contract will be the main topic.

If either party decides to reject Ms. Rigler's report, the bargaining process moves to talks before state and federal mediators. Meanwhile, the union membership could authorize its leaders to strike as a measure of last resort.

But if both sides decide to accept the report, whose settlement proposals Ms. Rigler called "less attractive than each would like," then it becomes the basis for agreement.

The union has been working under terms of the old contract that expired at midnight June 30. Service has not been affected for people accounting for 230,000 daily bus, trolley, incline and paratransit rides.

Local 85's executive board failed to reach a decision at a lengthy meeting yesterday, President-Business Agent Patrick McMahon said.

"We had a discussion, a lot of questions came up and we need to clarify the answers," he said. Since the authority has now made the fact-finder's report public, "we decided to utilize the extra time to get feedback from our members."

Mr. McMahon said while the executive board may make its decision known at next Friday's meetings for the rank-and-file, he said rejection is at the discretion of the union leaders. However, if they approve an acceptance, union bylaws call for a ratification vote.

"Members vote only if we accept," he said. "We'll decide on Friday."

Ms. Rigler recommended 3 percent annual wage increases for Local 85 members but she also proposed changes in health-care coverage which, while requiring higher employee contributions and co-pays, would help to cut authority costs and discourage early retirements.

She did not address management requests to reduce growing absenteeism, outsource work, restrict paying overtime until after 40 hours are worked in a week and change operating rules and procedures to help reduce costs.

Rather, she wrote, "Any other matters not previously agreed upon or specifically addressed are recommended for withdrawal" from inclusion in a new contract.