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After hearing that the transit strike was possibly nearing an end, there reports now that state mediators have a framework in place to end the strike by the Transit Workers Union, Local 100 against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the TWU executive board has approved it. All it took was an all night meeting with a moderator and the two sides finally ironed out enough differences. While details of the agreement have not been finalized yet, subways and busses are expected to start running before they are. When that might happen right now is still unknown, but we've been reading that it could take 12-24 10-18 hours.
Some details on why it might take a little time from the NY Times:
Most of the 6,300 subway cars have been placed in underground tunnels or in train yards, one next to another. Supervisors have been running empty trains over the rails to keep the rails polished and prevent rust. The 4,600 buses have been stored and guarded at 18 depots.An executive board member of the TWU just spoke, the results are 38 yes votes. 5 no votes, and two abstentions. What we will say now is that it's about damn time as New Yorkers have been commuting in freezing temps for three days.Employees would have to return to their shifts, tracks and signals would have to be inspected, and subway cars and buses examined before the subways and buses could run.
If all employees promptly returned at the start of their next shift, some subways could begin to run eight hours after managers and supervisors get word that the strikers are returning, officials said.
Reports from:
NY Times
Newsday
NY1
WNBC
WABC
WCBS
UPDATE: WNBC is reporting that during the meeting of the executive board, board members asked TWU head Roger Toussaint if they were better off now than they were before the strike and if their members would receive amnesty. Toussaint answered that they had to trust him and his abilities. They also report that members are supposed to return back to work for their next shift, which is from 10 pm tonight to 6 am tomorrow morning. The MTA has announced that they are still 10-18 hours away from full service with busses coming on line sooner, because the system requires people return back to work in sufficient numbers.
As mentioned in the comments already, unlimited Metrocards will be compensated three days for time lost.
UPDATE: Roger Toussaint stepped to the podium to tell reporters that the his members will return to work immediately and resume service. Picket lines are already starting to dissapate. Also, check out the nice form letters the MTA issued MTA Bus and MTA NYCT employees.
UPDATE: East side riders are in luck! It looks like the some believe MTA believes the M15 is the most important route in NYC. MTA maintenance workers are taking the M15 out of their garages to check that everything is working well, but until drivers report to work, the busses will remain at their terminals. The busses will not be on the streets for the evening rush, but will be for the morning. No word on subways yet.
UPDATE: Contrary to what WNBC was reporting, Mayor Bloomberg says that the next shift for workers is at 4 pm, not 10 pm. Bloomberg also says that the contingency plan will end at midnight and that most subways will run by the morning. We'll have to hear what the TWU and MTA end up saying on that.
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Newsday has it
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/nyc-strike1223,0,3319476.story
can't wait to see how much they extorted the city for... oh, and don't think for a second that these same people will be the ones bitching the loudest when the mta raises fares to cover the costs!
all i can say is that the fines better be enforced.
So those of us with unlimited Metrocards with get a 3 day credit, right? RIGHT?
Ha ha, of course, I am kidding.
Thanks for the holiday discount fares, MTA!
AP says workers will start service with "Their next shifts":
Union board members who emerged from the organization's
headquarters said workers will return to their job sites starting
with the next shifts.
actually mr. nosuch, you will.
I, for one, will blame the union for all future fare increases now.
"So those of us with unlimited Metrocards with get a 3 day credit, right? RIGHT?"
The second the strike happened, all Metrocards were 'frozen' and no time that the system was down would count against the Metrocard.
Now my question is, when do the Metrocards become 'unfrozen'.
So stop the clock on the right side! Its OVERRRRRRR!!
COUNTER ~ STRIKE NOW!!!
Deny All Goods & Services to ALL
MTA Employees. Union & Non - Union. They're all to Blame.
12 hours minimum to get system restarted, says AP:
ΒΆ It was unclear when the city's buses and subways would again
start running, although transit officials said it would take a
minimum of 12 hours to get everything restarted.
Hope there's been some solid security around all those trains that have been just sitting around for the past few days.
A salute and a raised glass to Gothamist... again, the fastest coverage and unlike NY1 your servers don't crash. Great job, you guys.
And thanks for the amusing and distracting and thought provoking posts, everyone. It made three days of shin splints a little more bearable.
you pussies. it's really not been that cold.
What a great week we've had together! See y'all in three years...
I hope it's a 3 and a half year contract...
Don't worry the MTA will drag their feet during negotiations so the TWU can strike at xmas '08. hohoho...
"during the meeting of the executive board, board members asked TWU head Roger Toussaint if they were better off now than they were before the strike and if their members would receive amnesty. Toussaint answered that they had to trust him and his abilities."
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!
http://nydailynews.com/12-21-2005/front/v-echo/story/376627p-319815c.html
FUCK THE TERRORIST WORKERS UNION!!!! I HOPE THEY WATCH THEIR CHILDREN DIE!!!!!!!
Make the HOV restrictions PERMANENT! The city was less polluted without all those nasty cars... Just make it a fine, like the seatbelt law and increase City revenue at the same time. Go ride a bike.
Stop the clock on the webpage. Its over........!
the Mole people are really gonna be bummed out by this.
a little lexicographical moment:
buses = large vehicles used by the MTA to transport people above ground
busses = kisses
Seriously, fuck the Union. After three days of bullshit, they end the strike and will get exactly what the MTA had offered beforehand. Why aren't all the Union heads in jail yet? they broke the law. Every business in the city should sue TWU for lost revenue.
Now what exactly did they strike for again? Wrecked the city and its population for exatly - NOTHING
If they pull back the fines the Gov and Mayor should be impeached.
Both buses and busses are acceptable plurals of bus.
"most subways will run by the morning" = the G train will be running again in a few weeks
I'm wondering what is the point of a union if your not allowed to strike?
I do feel sorry for all those who could not move around and take care of business.
The citizens have my sympathy. but what about those who work for 20 years and get squat for a pension? have we forgotten the gold watch days? and what the hell has any corporation done for anyone but themselves. ceo's get bonuses even if the fourth quarter shows loss. whens the last time you been to a christmas party thrown by the company or receive a christmas bonus( dont forget that bonus is taxed in half!).
welcome to the new america.
"I'm wondering what is the point of a union if your not allowed to strike?"
Exactly. The problem with the Taylor Law is that it completely neuters the Unions and it ends up drawing out contract negotiations for years. Just look at the teachers union and the hell they went through.
If the city and state does not want stuff like this to happen, they need to ammend or toss out the Taylor Law and figure out a new way to enter collective bargaining without completely towering over the Unions.
The strike was not the greastest idea. But there was no other choice given the situation.
hey i wonder how the transit workers are going to get to work, considering there's no trains running? Are any of them going to be walking across the brooklyn bridge?
tee - the MTA isnt a corporation its a Public Athuority and no one ever proposed anyone getting "squat" for a pension - the proposal was for new workers to contribute more than existing workers - which makes sense since life expectancy has increased just as health care costs.
As for Unionization w/o striking - the point of a Union isnt the power to strike - it is the power to negotiate collectively - if there was no Union the MTA could negotiate each employment arrangement seperatly (like all of us do) and for a low skilled job like bus driver - you could be sure for a much lower wage. Additionally the collective bargaining allows the Union to instill work rules that remove the "at will employment" that most of us have.
Sure striking puts alot of power in the Union's hands but the Taylor law gives a lot of power in return not the least of which is Binding Arbitration w/ PERB - just remember the Taylor Law is NY law and NY has always been one of the most pro-labor states in the country
let's not forget when you allow other public workers to strike, like police officers
remember Robocop?
And let's not forget that labor unions have PLENTY of law in their favor. For example, they are exempt from the Sherman Act. Labor unions are gigantic, anti-competitive organizations that do all the sorts of things that people point fingers at Microsoft for doing. And yet they can do so without any threat of antitrust challenges. I'd say that's quite a strong position. So yes, what's the point of unions if they can't strike? plently. tee- if the police ever go on strike, i'm going to your house first and taking your stereo.
Robocop was a movie, dude b.
anyway, does anyone know - when have the NYPD or FDNY gone on strike? just curious. other cities?
praise be to tee.
i know, i was being sarcastic about Robocop, but it was funny seeing OCP on strike
i don't know if the police/fire dept have gone on strike, i can't imagine what that'd be like
As I wrote to Samuel Gompers in 1919, "There is no right to strike against the public safety by anybody, anywhere, anytime."
In addition to being a dumb movie, the cops in RoboCop were employed by a private, for-profit company (like hospitals).
i'd like to see a debate/conversation between a freelance writer, a broker, a blogger, someone who works on staff at a media organization, and a union member re: pension, health insurance (including health insurance for family members), job prestige, sick days, physical risks on the job, job protection (ie, how easily you can be replaced,) and other daily work issues we all face. (surely there are people who are some or all of the above combined--)
oopsie, missed the sarcasm b. i'm a touch dumb like that. sorry.
a police and fire strike would feel a LOT different. shit.
Calvin Coolidge, while the transit system surely makes life easier for the region (and rocks compared to most other US cities), it's not a vital component of public safety. sure, it's important, but really, this whole union strike=terrorism is a crock. some of us here sure are real drama queens and kings.
Hey Schumacher, busses is NOT acceptable plural form for bus. In the AP and NYT style guides, buses is the plural form of bus (transportation vehicle). Busses is the plural form of buss (kisses).
I'm just glad that it's all over, and I don't even live in NYC! I got family in Brooklyn and Queens though....
I'm just glad that it's all over, and I don't even live in NYC! I got family in Brooklyn and Queens though....
any word on the jamaica bus lines and the triboro coach? gotta get to laguardia tomorrow and wonder if the Q33 will actually be running (since they aren't a part of this taylor law mess). nothing like hitting up the G train AND the Q33 the day after a crippling strike! merry f#$% christmas!
Sorry e, but you took the words right out of my mouth with your last sentence! Merry *(&($# xmas!
(Now what exactly did they strike for again? Wrecked the city and its population for exatly - NOTHING)
They struck to be able to retire at age 50 after 20 years of work, and to be paid by us to do nothing for us for the rest of their lives.
Could the MTA have modified the current pension plan or health benefit without TWU consent? Absolutely not. They could have just held out, used the $3 million now due in fines for campaign contributions to the potential future Governors (who will appoint their future boss) during next year's campaign, and negotiate a raise during that campaign. By the end of next year, the MTA's fiscal position will be clear.
The struck to cripple the city so those with the most seniority could leave shortly for Florida, leaving the transit system in ruins. Same as in 1966 (Toussant idolizes Quill, and was probably itching to follow in his footsteps to jail). In the conflict between rival factions, New Directions had promised 20/50, the New York State legislature had passed it without a single no vote, and they had to either get it or convince their members that it couldn't be got.
this is neither the first, nor the last that such misleadings by the feds should appear as misgivings of the proletariat. blame not touissant, i know, for he is only a messenger not of those very laborors that which he represents, but rather his older and bigger brother. we shall be affored for our own pedal labors - a holiday blast - free of such destruction, as our army of skilled comput-ANTs traced the tunnels, and swept the the Battlefield of the New Age. Yes, our grandest of all bothers in London, and Jerusalem have all but become accustomed to the luxury of which we travel - a subconscious free of that sound - BOOM!
Thank dog that Roger Toussaint is no Mike Quill.