Looming Transit Strike Could Cripple New York City

The New York City Transit Workers' Union is threatening to go on strike beginning at 12:01AM Friday morning if a deal isn't reached with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the state agency that runs the city's bus and subway lines. The city's economy could lose millions or even billions of dollars if a strike is called, especially due to lost Christmas shopping revenue, and millions of workers would be left scrambling to find a new way to work or simply left stranded at home. The last NYC transit strike took place in 1980 and lasted for 11 days.



This could be a disaster for the city, especially at this time of year. If it happens, I'll be working from home.

Related Links:
NYC Transit Strike Would Cost $400 Million a Day, Mayor Says (Bloomberg)
City of New York Strike Contingency Plans
Metropolitan Transportation Authority Strike Contingency Plans
Transport Workers' Union Local 100

Didn't this happen pretty much exactly this time last year?

It's a huge deal everytime it happens, but it's not worth it to them to do so. The government and the New Yorkers themself will bring a hailstorm of pain upon them. The MTA won't be able to survive a strike, they better negotiate out of one again.

The MTA closes, the city closes. Imagine the economic repercussions...

Yeah, I've lived here for 9 years now and I remember several of these union strike threats. This one might be the most credible one though, since the union is demanding 24% raises over 3 years () and the MTA is flush with cash, although they want to spend it on upgrades like a 2nd Av subway line.

Add to this the possiblity of a snow/ice storm tomorrow, and I think the U.S.'s largest city may be closed for business tomorrow.

New York City transit system workers go on strike at 12:01 AM Eastern if a new contract isn't reached. Plus, it's just in time for another winter storm too.

They postponed the strike until tonight/early Tuesday morning. It still looks like they're no closer to a deal and the employees of some private bus companies have already gone on strike. It doesn't look promising to me...

WB11 is reporting that the union did vote for a strike, awaiting news conference with union leader Roger Toussaint for the details...

The MTA strike is on, bus and subway workers across the city are leaving work when their route is finished.

This city is going to be a mess

i already covered this a week ago....the powers that be decided to move it here:

www.belowtopsecret.com...

but since this discussion is currently flowing, i'll contribute.

in 1981, air traffic controllers struck, which was against federal law. if you remember, they were given a chance to return to work and those that didnt were all fired. these people are striking against state law, and should also be fired. if its good enough for the feds, its good enough for the state of ny....especially if it causes a shut down of the largest city transit system in the US.

oh and by the way, this statement is coming from a federal air traffic controller.

Originally posted by snafu7700
i already covered this a week ago....the powers that be decided to move it here:

www.belowtopsecret.com...

but since this discussion is currently flowing, i'll contribute.

snafu, this thread predated your thread, that's probably why yours was moved.

Anyway, it's impossible for the MTA to fire all these workers and replace them...33,000 people who know how to run subway and bus routes aren't easy to find, and this is only against state law I think, not federal law.

I have no idea how or if I'll be able to get to work tomorrow...

Originally posted by djohnsto77
snafu, this thread predated your thread, that's probably why yours was moved.

actually, thats the date it was moved to bts...anyway...sorry, i should have clarified...it was moved from atsnn...wasnt griping at you dj, just the mods.

Anyway, it's impossible for the MTA to fire all these workers and replace them...33,000 people who know how to run subway and bus routes aren't easy to find,

thats what they said about controllers in 81. they found the replacements (mostly from the military). it was hairy for awhile, but it worked.

and this is only against state law I think, not federal law.

yeah, thats what i said. is it any more legal to strike against state law than it is to strike against federal law?

I have no idea how or if I'll be able to get to work tomorrow...

i've found this to be an excellent mode of transportation in emergencies:



good luck.

[edit on 20-12-2005 by snafu7700]

[edit on 20-12-2005 by snafu7700]

I think this action will end up destroying this union...times have changed and the fines will be imposed and bankrupt the union and most workers will likely return to work in disgrace accepting whatever is offered.

Hardly anyone will support them, I've overheard conversations blasting them, they already have far better benefits than the people who ride the transit system...I see a lot of these picketers being given the finger by people having to walk to work in the cold.

while i have no problem with the union (i myself am a union member), i have a huge problem with job actions that violate law. negotiation and political manuevering are the keys, not strikes. you are absolutely right in your assessment that this will bring the public against them. the idiots running the show should be taken out and given a good beating by the members, because in the end they are just screwing themselves. if the mayor and governor have any testicular fortitude, they'll fire every last one of them and start handing out CDLs like candy for the scabs.

i really feel for you dj, and everyone else who is going to pay for this unions illegal actions.

Originally posted by snafu7700
i really feel for you dj, and everyone else who is going to pay for this unions illegal actions.

Thanks for your sympathy snafu

I think my best option is to walk 42 streets downtown (and several avenues east), then take a train to another state (New Jersey) then another train to back to pit that was the World Trade Center, then walk to work from there...sounds like a dream commute, doesn't it?

I'll probably forget doing that today and stay home, hoping it ends quickly...

I think that union is sorely out of touch with the realities for workers. They want something like a 8-9% annual raise for the workers, pensions starting at 50 years old! These are not impoverished workers.

ON STRIKE!!!! I pity the number of people that have to walk to work this morning in the cold.

[edit on 12/20/2005 by gimmefootball400]

Call this a stretch and feel free to string me out to dry, but.....

How is this not close to being an act of terrorism? I know an act of terrorism is to strike terror into the hearts of many. BUT, the only thing that separates this from a bomb taking out the transport system is a terrorist group taking responsibility for it and purposely trying to take out American life, or at least grind it to a halt!

And actually, if you think about it, this is worst than any attack could be. bad people may be able to take out the subway OR the bus lines, but not BOTH. Not without years of planning.
I'm not calling the MTA a terrorist group or saying that NY'ers working on buses and subways are terrorists. I am saying this is LIKE an attack. People have gotten picked up by the gov't for a lot worst than crippling an entire city.

To further compare: We get signs that an attack will happen, whether it's a note, a video tape, chatter, or just suspicious activity in the area of interest. We got a sign on this one: Friday, they hinted at striking on Tuesday. Monday night, they said as of 12:01 am, we are on strike. 12:01 am hit, and transportation in NY is done. Everyone was warned, and they followed thru on the threat.

Now, is there a power company union? Is there someway that maybe these forces can combine and they can turn off the juice if a contract isn't met? Why wasn't this dealt with before this even happened? Is this the way to get that raise you've been looking for? Bite the hand that feeds?
I've been doing it all wrong then. Rather than working my tail off all year to get a raise and a Christmas bonus, maybe around review time, me and the rest of my group should just say "We want so much money before review time, or we are walking out"

I'm sure there are people out there that are gonna say that the MTA workers have been getting screwed by NYC for years and this is their just desserts. Yea? Even the frickin MAYOR had to walk to work today.
I wonder why the union's gettin hit with a cool Million dollar fine everyday?

I just got another thought about the terror idea. If we were to parallel this strike with terror, and we are fighting a war on terror, does that mean that the US could attack NY, making itself it's own terrorist group?

BTW, I used the word terror and terrorist WAY too many times, and I HATE that/those words

Oh boo hoo hoo!
The mayor had to walk to work heaven forbid!
I can't believe you people, our ancestors fought and died for the right to organize and strike. You can thank generations of strikers not the benevolence of big business for any progress the American worker has made. Yet your all so quick to throw it away because of a little inconvenience.

peacibly not in a destructive manner like this.

In this instance its more like blackmailing an entire city then peaceably organizing over unfair treatment.

Fox News had a blurb about how the average pay of a NYC transit worker is $54,000 per year, while the overall average pay of people in NYC is around $43,000 per year.

Once again the greed and selfishness of today's Unions rears it's head, just in time for the Holidays too. I think the fact that they choose to do it during the absolute worst time of the year for it is going to make the backlash that much worse.

I predict eventual violence if the strike doesn't end really soon. How much is police protection for the picketing union members going to cost anyway?