A bone of contention

Talk about hard bargaining.

In 2001, the Transport Workers Union Local 234 was up against stiff opposition, trying to get Viagra and other drugs covered for erectile dysfunction.

The sticking point was the number of pills allowed under the prescription program.

Well, the 10-pills-per-month program that was offered aroused such interest that the issue turned up again in these talks, but this time under cost containment.

Some members wanted the pills every day.

So, the E.D. sideletter was replaced in this year's labor contract - before any strike was discussed - to allow daily doses, with a caveat: "The prescription plan will cover daily doses of the drug to the extent that the monthly cost does not now or in the future exceed the monthly cost of the 10-pill prescription."

"So, if you have a problem with a four-hour erection during the strike, you won't be able to take a bus," said a source familiar with the sideletter.

- Kitty Caparella