Patrick McMahon, president of the Port Authority's Amalgamated Transit Union Local 85, this afternoon challenged Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato to personally join him at the negotiating table in ongoing contract talks, if he is so intent on restructuring the authority's labor costs.

"If [Mr. Onorato] thinks this collective agreement is so important, he should be at the table, and not his staff," Mr. McMahon, who is also the business agent for Local 85, said in response to the county chief executive's move to suspend funding of the Port Authority yesterday.

Mr. Onorato signed an executive order restricting any new county funds from going to the authority until its labor unions make certain concessions. The Port Authority's current three-year contract with Local 85 will expire in June.

Mr. Onorato has said he wants Local 85 to accept concessions similar to those that the authority's management and nonunion employees agreed to in March, including changes in retirement age and health care.. Otherwise, he will withhold the county's $30 million subsidy to the authority.

The county's subsidy is critical for the authority to leverage state funds.

But Mr. McMahon this afternoon said it is not enough for Mr. Onorato to ask Local 85 to accept concessions that include a wage freeze, higher contributions for health insurance and elimination of early retirement and retiree health insurance.

Given the importance of these contract talks, the county chief executive should personally be at the table, instead of his staff, Mr. McMahon said. The next round of contract talks is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. tomorrow, he said.

Mr. Onorato couldn't be reached for comment.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.