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New York's 3-day transit strike ends
(AP)
Updated: 2005-12-23 08:32
Faced with mounting fines and the rising wrath of millions of commuters, the
city transit union sent its members back to work without a new contract Thursday
and ended a crippling, three-day strike that brought subways and buses to a
standstill.
Union members were told to return to their jobs starting with the evening
shift. Buses were expected to be rolling again by evening. And most subways were
expected to be running by the Friday morning rush, just two days before
Christmas.
"I'm ecstatic that it's over, but I'm still really mad that they did it,"
said Jessica Cunningham, 21, who was in town for the holiday. "I really think
it's screwed up that they decided to strike the week before Christmas."
The breakthrough came after an all-night session with a mediator. Around
midday, leaders of the 33,000-member Transport Workers Union overwhelmingly
voted to return to work and resume negotiations with the transit authority on a
new three-year contract.
"We thank our riders for their patience and forbearance," said union local
president Roger Toussaint.
While the deal put the nation's largest mass transit system back in
operation, it did not resolve the underlying dispute 錕斤拷 pension contributions
were the main sticking point 錕斤拷 meaning there could be another walkout if the
negotiations fail.
Milton Woodward, one of the first transit
workers back on the job, sweeps up trash near subway ticket machines and
turnstiles at the 34th Street subway station, Thursday, Dec. 22, 2005, in
New York. [AP] | The strike cost the city untold
millions in police overtime and lost business and productivity at the very
height of the Christmas rush and forced millions of commuters, holiday shoppers
and tourists to carpool, take taxis, ride bicycles or trudge through the
freezing cold. But the strike did not cause the utter chaos that many had
feared, and traffic in many parts of town was surprisingly light.
"In the end, cooler heads prevailed," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said. "We
passed the test with flying colors. We did what we had to do to keep the city
running, and running safely."
The walkout, which began early Tuesday, was New York's first citywide transit
strike in more than 25 years. The workers left their jobs in violation of a
state law prohibiting public employees from striking.
The return to work was announced just minutes before Toussaint and two of his
top deputies were due in a Brooklyn courtroom to answer criminal contempt
charges that could have landed them in jail.
Earlier this week, state Justice Theodore Jones fined the union $1 million a
day for striking. And under the state no-strike law, the rank-and-file members
were automatically docked two days' pay for each day they stayed off the job.
"I'm ready to work the rush hour this afternoon if they let me," bus driver
Ralph Torres said from the picket line as the breakthrough was announced.
The strike left bitter feelings across the city.
"I think it was all for nothing," said commuter Lauren Caramico, 22, of
Brooklyn. "Now the poor people of the TWU are out six days' pay, and nothing
gained."
Gov. George Pataki warned there was no possibility of amnesty for the
striking workers who were penalized financially. The fines "cannot be waived.
They're not going to be waived," he said.
Just before the deal was announced, an off-duty firefighter was critically
injured when he was struck by a private bus while riding his bicycle to work. It
was the first serious strike-related injury.
A chief sticking point in the talks was a Metropolitan Transportation
Authority proposal to require new hires to contribute 6 percent to their
pensions, up from the current 2 percent for all employees. The pension proposal
remained on the table despite the end of the walkout.
An early closing notice due to the transit
strike is seen posted on the window at Carlton Cleaners on New York's
upper eastside Thursday, Dec. 22, 2005. Store manager Ron Sales said
business at the store, which is located down the block from a New York
City subway station, was down by about 30% since the start of the transit
strike. [AP] | The vote to return to work was
blasted by TWU dissidents who felt the union had caved in.
"This was a disgrace," said TWU vice president John Mooney. "No details were
provided to the executive board. (Toussaint) wants us to discuss the details
after Christmas."
After workers returned to the job, the judge overseeing the dispute adjourned
all further action in the case until Jan. 20.
"I'm pleased on behalf of the people of the city of New York," Jones said.
"Hopefully, we'll be able to salvage Christmas."
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