Mid-Day Transit Strike Update: No News is...No News?

Not much new to report right now, except that most people who tried hard to get to work (woke up early, stood in the cold while waiting for a cab) have probably streamed into the office by now. The MTA and Transport Workers Union are in court this morning; Newsday reports, "They were set to decide when the union should face criminal contempt proceedings for violating the state's Taylor Law, which makes the strike illegal." Hmm. What are the odds of this strike going on for another day? Gothamist can't imagine the strike extending into the weekend, what with holiday travel, but with a governor like Pataki, who needs governors?

How long do you think the strike will last? And we expect to see many news stories tonight and in the coming days about the "noble commuter" who walked to work, or the "new friends made" because strangers are sharing cabs.
In other news, Peter Braunstein is back in New York (ha ha - the transit strike knocked his story out of the lead position!) and a Pennsylvania court barred intelligent design teaching from the classroom (will the Christians let us say "Hallelujah"?).

Photograph from sgoralnick on Flickr, via Gothamist Contribute

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By Jen Chung in News on December 20, 2005 12:43 PM

Comments [rss]

Different Phil

CBS suggested this morning that the International TWU was highly displeased with TWU Local 100, and might step in to end the strike quickly.

http://wcbstv.com/topstories/local_story_354094519.html

Phil

The strike is going at least a week. The only way it ends earlier than that is if the MTA caves completely in the next day or two, or if the judge allows the city's lawsuit and imposes astronomical fines that the union can't afford. The union wouldn't accomplish anything by coming back to work in a few days. Now that they're out, they need to stay out as long as they can to see if they can get the MTA to give in. I'm leaving town via Amtrak on Saturday morning, and I fully expect to walk to Penn Station and have to walk home when I get back late next week.

keith

At this point, when I think of the striking union workers, all I here is a distant dwarfish voice shouting:

"Who run Bartertown???"

Tim N.

'66 strike lasted 12 days, '80 strike lasted 11 days. I'm basing this on nothing, but I'd say they're out until New Years. I don't know what they'd accomplish coming back tomorrow.

plabtfall

Post your pictures of the transit strike at Wayfaring!

http://www.wayfaring.com/maps/show/2855

LM

My dad (retired transit) speculates at least 5 days.

hugh

If the strike does continue into the travel days ahead, does anyone know about bicycle parking or storage at the airports?

su

this transit strike is not going to be over in one day! no way! even if it is, it will take time to re-synchronize the trains, and get the workers and buses back on the streets... and what does "criminal contempt" actually mean? are they gonna throw the entire union into lock-up? in what jail cells? and even then, what would it take to get the TWU back on the job?

Phil

CBS says that the national union is somewhat freaking out, and may step in to try and end the strike:

http://wcbstv.com/topstories/local_story_354094519.html