Counting Down to a Transit Negotiations Deadline With Us!

'Twas the night of the transit negotiations,
and all through the big city,
not a straphanger (or bus rider) was calm,
'cause a strike would be damn gritty.

So, it's the end of your work day and the MTA and Transit Workers Union are still engaged in intense negotiations at the Grand Hyatt right by Grand Central. (Have you seeing rallying workers?) And, uh, Newsday reports that the talks are "going nowhere." How about "...going nowhere except for a resolution at 00:00:59?" We have been enjoying the photographs from the 1980 transit strike, but it doesn't seem like they had a rainy day to deal with! Both sides are willing to negotiate on wages, but pensions are one of the wildcards.

Check out the Transit Workers Union's blog - here's what they'll do in case of a strike (for instance, for stations: "Chain and lock each STATION TURNSTILE at 12:01 a.m. STAIRWAY GATES and HIGH GATES shall remain open to allow passengers to leave the system). And we've put up the transit strike clock in the column (look LEFT!). This is certainly more climactic than New Year's!

Our work hasn't discussed "contingency plans," but we hear that some larger companies are suggesting biking and carpooling. Brooklyn Beep Marty Markowitz is opening up Borough Hall to commuters, for the potty, coffee, or rest (via digital brooklyn). Neworkology tells us that 35% of cabbies may stay home tomorrow, if there's a strike. And if you have a special unlimited and/or unlimited Holiday Metrocard, don't fear - the MTA will extend it for however long a strike is (via Dan Dickinson).

The NY Times' Transit Talks section, Newsday's transit section, the MTA, the Transit Workers Union and the city's contingency (ha!) plan.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on December 15, 2005 5:17 PM

Comments [rss]

Kojak

I have two finals tomorrow. If there is a strike and I can't get to school, I have to take them in January.

That would suck since I was planning on forgetting everything I learned this past year in a drunken orgy this coming weekend.

I hope theres a deal on the table soon, for the good of the city.

P.SLUGS

I CANT WAIT IL GO HIT SOME TUNNELS IN PEACE =0)

Kevin Walsh

>>>I'll be somewhat disappointed, and we'll have wasted a lot of time getting excited about using the VPN and learning how to hotsynch our Treos.

I know what 'tokens' are, but I have no idea what that means.

www.forgotten-ny.com

Alana Post

My workplace (located conveniently a block from the Grand Hyatt) has been planning so obsessively for the possibility of a strike that if there's a resolution, I'll be somewhat disappointed, and we'll have wasted a lot of time getting excited about using the VPN and learning how to hotsynch our Treos.

jordan

25 minutes until the deadline and increasing?

Larry Littlefield

I actually believe that if they do strike for two weeks, penalties are enforced, and as a result there is no strike for 25 years, that will be less damaging to the city than getting threatened every two years or so. After all, neither landlords nor transit workers can extort servitude from people who drive and own their homes, which is why many people left the cities to begin with.

Stupid TWU

See, the TWU member in charge of that is too lazy to even come up with new instructions.

gwong

"The T.A. will be warned not to send additional reserves of tokens."

Sounds like they just took the 2002 instructions and re-used them.

Al Cyone

According to the TWU blog, "The T.A. will be warned not to send additional reserves of tokens."

What are "tokens"???

tien

regarding what happens if you're on a train (from the TWU blog):

All scheduled runs up to 12:01 a.m. will be operated. All runs scheduled to leave a home terminal or other terminal up to and including 12:01 a.m. shall COMPLETE THE TRIP and then return to the home terminal DARK where the trains shall be laid up.

All trains are to be secured properly in the yards and lay-up tracks before the crews go out on strike.

greg

I see a lot of people who I think could use the exercise of walking to work.

If the workers are so unhappy, why don't they quit? Oops! No one else will pay them as much or give them such a cushy pension plan.

Be thankful for what you got boys...I know a bunch of people who'd gladly take your job of your hands.

MT

Phew! You scared me for a second there. ;-)

hmm

So let's say you're in a tunnel on the 6 at midnight. What would they do, pull into the next station and shut the train down there? Or would they complete the run?