Extra, Extra

- Hmm, the 8PM update from the NY Times says that MTA-Transit Workers Union negotiations have stalled, "increasing the possibility of a strike" - insert the !!!!!!!! And then there's the

But a third option in addition to a strike or a settlement has also emerged: several union officials hinted that they might delay a strike until Monday, rather than start one on a Friday, the day before the weekend begins.

Insert more !!!!!! Plus the Times also has a PDF "Guide to Commuting"
- Best new blog: WNBC's Today in New York blog, and our favorite reporter Gabe Pressman writes about the 1966 transit strike!
- Heartwarming story alert: A mother managed to safely toss her baby to a firefighter from a burning building
- Peter Braunstein was spotted in Tennessee!
- The Producers (the movie) has been getting terrible reviews
- Check out WNYC's Must Have Music Festival

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

By Jen Chung in Miscellaneous on December 15, 2005 8:38 PM

Comments [rss]

ryan

Waiting is ridiculous. If they're going to strike, they ought to strike at 12:01, and not pull some "Oh, we'll wait" routine. That just looks weak.

Yano

Of course they'll freeze the clock! This has been the plan from the beginning. It's not a question of "The clock will freeze and the strike will start on Monday" but rather "We'll freeze the clock and everyone's a winner." Except the workers. I hate to do this "deep background" crap, but I know someone in the MTA and this afternoon everyone who worked in the legal department knew that this would be the case. There ain't gonna be a strike, folks.

Chris G

Any thoughts on what Bloomberg might do? He's got an injunction and can threaten serious fines. Plus he was just reelected in a landslide.

I wonder if he'll come down hard on the union if they walk. I don't think he'll be pleased if there is a strike one week before xmas.

lawhawk

Ch. 5 news is saying that there's a distinct possibility that the two sides will freeze the clock and Kalikow showed up at the negotiations, which is a sign that we're finally getting down to serious offers on both sides. We'll see.

Kojak

I think I’ll walk out tomorrow on a sympathy strike! Gotta support my fellow union brothers!

Considering I already have Friday off, it might not be as meaningful as it could be.

wfpman

I agree with Chris G. the strike should start tommorow rather than Monday. Looking at the twu blogspot blog i'm thinking of where's the best place to go down and show support for TWU local 100.

Shut em down..

charles

Interesting fact about Gabe Pressman: the printing "press" was named after him.

Yano

So another strike season full of hot air. As usual the rank and file make loud threats, and the top brass echo them, but at the end of the day make these ineffectual "well, maybe we'l wait" motions. Meanwhile the rank and file get the shaft, again. And we've been sitting on pins and needles. If they pull another "stopped clock" bit, can we just decide once and for all to stop the hand-wringing each time the union to decides to posture?

Chris G

I think the Monday strike is less likely.

You figure everyone is working from home tomorrow anyway, so if the union is going to strike, doesn't it make sense for them to strike tomorrow? Let the city a sweat a bit over the weekend (when traffic is down w/out commuters) and then get some concessions over the weekend?

Waiting till Monday seems worse as far as PR for them, much closer to Xmas.

Toby

MTA-TWU: Garbage in garbage out.

Gotta love the 80-something Gabe Pressman who has covered every major story since the 1950s.

The Bronx baby toss even made it to the BBC World News.

Peter Braunstein is a pervert, lets hope he gets caught soon so the next time we think about him is when we see the Law & Order/Law & Order:SVU/Law & Order:CI episode and go "Oh, yeah that's what its based on."

Buy the original version of The Producers on DVD. Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder are great, as is the "Springtime for you know" who number.

WNYC is good. Thanks to them I discovered Edith Piaf a few years back. Another good place to discover music is WNYE channel 25's New York Noise, lots of indie bands and other good stuff. Unlike MTV they actually show videos!