New York Metropolitan Transit Authority no longer on strike! Pg.6 - Page 2

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - New York Metropolitan Transit Authority no longer on strike! Pg.6 (Page 2 of 4)

Posted: 12/20/2005 6:04:25 AM EDT

[#1]

Quoted:
Quoted:

I seem to remember reading that even the station cleaners make $45k-60+.

You could barely live on $60k/y in NYC

Bullshit. You could barely live in Midtown for $60k/y. Coming out of college I was offered $33k for a midtown job. Currently working for about $20k/yr + benefits in a temp position. Hell, my school pays cashiers $37k/yr + benefits.

Posted: 12/20/2005 6:33:40 AM EDT

[#2]

I read the transit people are barred from strikeing, I thought.

If they are in violation of thier contract, I think replacment can
start immiediately.

I do labor relations for a living.

It's always a a laugh to watch the Union people's faces
when people brought in off the street do thier jobs with a
higher QA rate, faster, and usually with less people.

I remember one place that was needing to cut unskilled jobs, and,
the union was pushing for the creation of a position for a guy to
move parts on a cart from machine to machine, rather than have the machinists
have to bend over and move parts.

They went on strike. 7 months later, 5 out of 60 had jobs, and,
a year after that, nobody did.

Interesting factoid: In NY, even if you voluntarially walk off your job (strike) you can collect
unemployment bennies. Strake pay+Unemployment......

The above incident was in Rochester, NY. The pickets were making 550.00 a week for
sitting in lawn chairs on the picket line for a few hours.

Unbelieveable.

Posted: 12/20/2005 6:40:35 AM EDT

[#3]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:

I seem to remember reading that even the station cleaners make $45k-60+.

You could barely live on $60k/y in NYC

Bullshit. You could barely live in Midtown for $60k/y. Coming out of college I was offered $33k for a midtown job. Currently working for about $20k/yr + benefits in a temp position. Hell, my school pays cashiers $37k/yr + benefits.

Uhm...I lived just fine working in Downtown making $55k/year..even could afford toys like MP3 players before they really became popular, back when 64mb flash cards were all they could handle, and they were stupid pricy, too.

The difference was that unlike some people who insist on being stupid, I decided having a 45 minute/hour commute on bad days would be worth it, money-wise, and I was right. I was able to live out in Hackensack for peanuts compared to Manhattan, snag a train into Hoboken, and from there either catch the PATH to the WTC, or a ferry to WFC. On those cold winter days where I didn't feel like walking the 8 or so blocks into the office, I could snag a subway from the WTC for another $1.50. Train time was about 30 minutes, ferry/PATH time was about another 10, then it was just the walk to the office.

Working in NYC ain't that expensive, if you're not insisting that you need to live next door to work.

Posted: 12/20/2005 6:41:44 AM EDT

[#4]

Well...glad I'm not headed to The City.

Good Luck Wave!

Posted: 12/20/2005 6:48:53 AM EDT

[#5]

Quoted:

Uhm...I lived just fine working in Downtown making $55k/year..even could afford toys like MP3 players before they really became popular, back when 64mb flash cards were all they could handle, and they were stupid pricy, too.

The difference was that unlike some people who insist on being stupid, I decided having a 45 minute/hour commute on bad days would be worth it, money-wise, and I was right. I was able to live out in Hackensack for peanuts compared to Manhattan, snag a train into Hoboken, and from there either catch the PATH to the WTC, or a ferry to WFC. On those cold winter days where I didn't feel like walking the 8 or so blocks into the office, I could snag a subway from the WTC for another $1.50. Train time was about 30 minutes, ferry/PATH time was about another 10, then it was just the walk to the office.

Working in NYC ain't that expensive, if you're not insisting that you need to live next door to work.

Yup, and the commute over PATH or from Brooklyn to downtown is about as short as from Midtown or the UES.

Posted: 12/20/2005 6:50:17 AM EDT

[#6]

So why exactly aren't they all fired and new ones hired?

Posted: 12/20/2005 7:56:32 AM EDT

[#7]

Oh great... and I'm going on January 4th. I'm hoping it's not all chaotic around that time too!

Posted: 12/20/2005 8:08:05 AM EDT

[#8]

Good luck Wave.

This really sucks...for all the commuters that have to walk to work. I hear having a car is a pain in the ass in NYC and the only logical solution is to ride the bus or train. I did see on the news this morning Michael Bloomberg walking with the commuters across the Brooklyn Bridge.

Are the cabs running?

As for the workers...fuck 'em.

Posted: 12/20/2005 9:32:34 AM EDT

[#9]

I just heard the state supreme court is ordering them back to work

Posted: 12/20/2005 9:33:06 AM EDT

[#10]

This sucks ass. After staying up until 03:00 this morning listening to the radio to check what was going on, I had to wake my ass up at 06:00 and drive OUT to my business partner's house in LI, and then take the LIRR into the city with him. Where he lives isn't so crowded, we got on the train and got seats no problem, but we passed some stops where you could see lines of people down the street waiting for the train. We heard that there is a THREE HOUR wait at Jamaica station for an LIRR train into the city. We're going to try to leave the city early so as not to be trapped in that horde when it's quitting time.

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
what nuts to me is how much of a raise they want about 8 % per year for 3 years, if that was me it would mean a rasie of 16 thousand over 3 years, thats a real nice chunk of change. nothing like raises that are more than what some body at McDs make a year.

No, its 8% over 3 years

okay i kept hearing on the local news that it was 8 % per year. now 8 % over 3 years in very reasonable. heck i typically get 3 to 5 % per year, well i did before i started my own company. i personally think 4% should be standard, including minium wage.

I'm pretty sure it's 8% per year they wanted, because on the radio last night they said that the MTA offered 3% this year, 4% next year, and 3% the year after (total would be 10% over 3 years) and that's what prompted them to walk out of the talks around 23:00 last night.

Posted: 12/20/2005 11:12:22 AM EDT

[#11]

Ugh. I'm glad I'm back in Ohio for the holidays.

Posted: 12/20/2005 11:26:57 AM EDT

[#12]

Yup, union is demanding 24% over three years. Final offer was 10.5% over three years, which beats the 3%/yr that Philly got.

Greedy bastards. Hope they all get fired.

Posted: 12/20/2005 12:07:52 PM EDT

[#13]

From cnn.com:

BREAKING NEWS

A judge rules the Transport Workers Union in contempt of court for striking, and orders it fined $1 million a day starting Tuesday.
--

Somebody please post a suitable "pwned" pic.

Posted: 12/20/2005 12:13:10 PM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:
From cnn.com:

BREAKING NEWS

A judge rules the Transport Workers Union in contempt of court for striking, and orders it fined $1 million a day starting Tuesday.
--
Somebody please post a suitable "pwned" pic.

I love it when a plan comes together.

Posted: 12/20/2005 12:37:35 PM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
From cnn.com:

BREAKING NEWS

A judge rules the Transport Workers Union in contempt of court for striking, and orders it fined $1 million a day starting Tuesday.
--

Somebody please post a suitable "pwned" pic.

Fine, I'll do it myself:

Now, GET BACK TO WORK!

Posted: 12/20/2005 12:49:59 PM EDT

[#16]

ARENT THE CABBIES UNION?

if so- are they not "crossing the line"

Posted: 12/20/2005 12:51:19 PM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:
Yup, union is demanding 24% over three years. Final offer was 10.5% over three years, which beats the 3%/yr that Philly got.

Greedy bastards. Hope they all get fired.

I just read that in a news article.... they can be greedy all they want, but they'll soon find out their jobs aren't worth what they're demanding.

Posted: 12/20/2005 12:52:59 PM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:
ARENT THE CABBIES UNION?

if so- are they not "crossing the line"

I doubt it. Most hacks are considered independant contractors that work for X company.

They aren't considered "scabs" becasue they are not doing bargaining unit work.

Thier function is independant of the transit workers.

Posted: 12/20/2005 12:57:19 PM EDT

[#19]

Quoted:
Quoted:
That's why I never support any 'gubment funded public transportation. I prefer to to drive my car around my schedule instead of someone else's bus, rail, tram schedule.

When you and 40,000 of your closest friends are all competing for three lanes to get to work on time, mass transit looks very very appealing.

If I lived where I could get around by mass transit, my car would be for entertainment and trips only.

Jim

I live in the Chicago area, but I live in the burbs. My sister commutes via train to work. The train is significantly less expensive, and you only have to pay $1 for parking at the train station versus %20+ a day in downtown.

Yes you're competeing against the schedule, but I'd rather have someone else worry about the driving/operating rather than sitting parked on an expressway, especially in bad weather.

If I did need to work downtown Chicago, I would live in the 'burbs and commute via bus or train.

Posted: 12/20/2005 1:11:33 PM EDT

[#20]

Fuck replacing them. Some might sneak back in

Already, trains in Paris, Cairo, and Calcutta operate with computerized or automated systems. In Paris, the Meteor Project was launched in 1998, with an automatic piloting system that controls the train line’s traffic, regulates speed, manages alarm devices, and allows for traffic of automatic and traditional conductor trains on the same line.There have been no serious accidents reported since this system deployed in the late 1990s, and more than a billion people have been transported. Computers make the trains run on time and they don’t threaten to walk off the job. All of us are replaceable, but some are more quickly replaceable than others.

Already,the MTA spends 80% of its operating budget on personnel expenses.

Posted: 12/20/2005 1:23:25 PM EDT

[#21]

The union is famed for its militancy. The transportation authority is flush with a $1 billion surplus. And now it is demanding sizable concessions on employee benefits.

It's certainly a volatile mix.

Add to that a union president facing re-election who has to demonstrate to dissidents that he is tough enough. And then have the authority give $100 million in holiday discounts to passengers, while transit workers think it should go toward a raise.

Now the recipe is explosive.

-New York Times

It not as simple as it seems.

Posted: 12/20/2005 1:25:14 PM EDT

[#22]

Quoted:
I read the transit people are barred from strikeing, I thought.

If they are in violation of thier contract, I think replacment can
start immiediately.

I do labor relations for a living.

It's always a a laugh to watch the Union people's faces
when people brought in off the street do thier jobs with a
higher QA rate, faster, and usually with less people.

I remember one place that was needing to cut unskilled jobs, and,
the union was pushing for the creation of a position for a guy to
move parts on a cart from machine to machine, rather than have the machinists
have to bend over and move parts.

They went on strike. 7 months later, 5 out of 60 had jobs, and,
a year after that, nobody did.

Interesting factoid: In NY, even if you voluntarially walk off your job (strike) you can collect
unemployment bennies. Strake pay+Unemployment......

The above incident was in Rochester, NY. The pickets were making 550.00 a week for
sitting in lawn chairs on the picket line for a few hours.

Unbelieveable.

Dang! Some of us work our butts off to make that much.

Posted: 12/20/2005 1:29:53 PM EDT

[#23]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:

I seem to remember reading that even the station cleaners make $45k-60+.

You could barely live on $60k/y in NYC

Bullshit. You could barely live in Midtown for $60k/y. Coming out of college I was offered $33k for a midtown job. Currently working for about $20k/yr + benefits in a temp position. Hell, my school pays cashiers $37k/yr + benefits.

Typed in one of those cost of living sites the amount you would have to make in NYC if you made $50k where I live... It was $250k wow !

Posted: 12/20/2005 1:59:10 PM EDT

[#24]

Quoted:
Here come the 12 hour tours and days off cancelled for us cops! Merry F-ing Christmas!
Shoule be interesting just trying to drive into work later today...

Go on strike...

Posted: 12/20/2005 2:03:06 PM EDT

[#25]

Damn. And I didn't like going to NYC when there WASN'T a strike!

Posted: 12/20/2005 2:16:54 PM EDT

[#26]

NEW YORK - A New York state judge on Tuesday slapped a $1 million-a-day fine on a New York City transit union for violating a state law barring public employees from going on strike. The judge acted shortly after Mayor Michael Bloomberg blasted the walkout as “selfish and illegal" and said it had produced a morning commute “unlike anything this city has experienced in 25 years.”

million-a-day fine would put a dent in the union's bank accounts.

Posted: 12/20/2005 2:22:36 PM EDT

[#27]

Well as usual the news orgs have put their spin on this and failed to properly report the union side of things.
I had a talk with my brother in-law who works for the MTA and he gave me his version of what they are looking for and they aren't at all what the news is reporting.
I can't remember the fine points or want to debate this but only that the news is making them out to be total asses.
I trust him way the hell more than the news so believe what they report to you. The news orgs never lie right

He is not a union kool-aid drinker either.
ETA: Nor am I

Posted: 12/20/2005 2:26:33 PM EDT

[#28]

Goes to show you when you combine two piss-poor ideas (public mass transportation & unions) you have an impending disaster.

Posted: 12/20/2005 2:30:02 PM EDT

[#29]

Quoted:
Well as usual the news orgs have put their spin on this and failed to properly report the union side of things.
I had a talk with my brother in-law who works for the MTA and he gave me his version of what they are looking for and they aren't at all what the news is reporting.
I can't remember the fine points or want to debate this but only that the news is making them out to be total asses.
I trust him way the hell more than the news so believe what they report to you. The news orgs never lie right
He is not a union kool-aid drinker either.
ETA: Nor am I

I dunno. I do labor disputes for a living, and, the union usually has a seriously
good propoganda machine working.

The problem is;

A: What they are doing is illegal.
B: It hurts everyday people, not any rich people
C: They earn a good wage and have stunning bennies, and, people are growing less and, less sympathetic to that.
D: They picked Christmas to go on an Illegal strike that could've been postponed until after 1/1/06. They picked Christmas to hurt as many residents of NYC as possible, and, that is f'ed up.

Posted: 12/20/2005 2:41:23 PM EDT

[#30]

Quoted:
Well as usual the news orgs have put their spin on this and failed to properly report the union side of things.
I had a talk with my brother in-law who works for the MTA and he gave me his version of what they are looking for and they aren't at all what the news is reporting.
I can't remember the fine points or want to debate this but only that the news is making them out to be total asses.
I trust him way the hell more than the news so believe what they report to you. The news orgs never lie right
He is not a union kool-aid drinker either.
ETA: Nor am I

If it sucks working for the MTA why doesn't your brother-in-law quit and go to work someplace where it doesn't suck?

Posted: 12/20/2005 2:44:51 PM EDT

[#31]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Well as usual the news orgs have put their spin on this and failed to properly report the union side of things.
I had a talk with my brother in-law who works for the MTA and he gave me his version of what they are looking for and they aren't at all what the news is reporting.
I can't remember the fine points or want to debate this but only that the news is making them out to be total asses.
I trust him way the hell more than the news so believe what they report to you. The news orgs never lie right
He is not a union kool-aid drinker either.
ETA: Nor am I

If it sucks working for the MTA why doesn't your brother-in-law quit and go to work someplace where it doesn't suck?

Trust me, he's too old to start a new carrer but he also never said it sucked.
However part of the strike is for the new people who will be joining them. The MTA wants the new hires to work 35 years before they can collect a pension. Kinda nuts if you ask me. eta: I have alzheimers so the numbers aren't positve for a 4 hour old phone call.

On the other hand pensions in todays business is getting rare so I do see both sides.

Posted: 12/20/2005 3:15:44 PM EDT

[#32]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Well as usual the news orgs have put their spin on this and failed to properly report the union side of things.
I had a talk with my brother in-law who works for the MTA and he gave me his version of what they are looking for and they aren't at all what the news is reporting.
I can't remember the fine points or want to debate this but only that the news is making them out to be total asses.
I trust him way the hell more than the news so believe what they report to you. The news orgs never lie right
He is not a union kool-aid drinker either.
ETA: Nor am I

If it sucks working for the MTA why doesn't your brother-in-law quit and go to work someplace where it doesn't suck?

Trust me, he's too old to start a new carrer but he also never said it sucked.
However part of the strike is for the new people who will be joining them. The MTA wants the new hires to work 35 years before they can collect a pension. Kinda nuts if you ask me. eta: I have alzheimers so the numbers aren't positve for a 4 hour old phone call.
On the other hand pensions in todays business is getting rare so I do see both sides.

Fox news covered the retirement changes the Union wants, not quite what you describe. Currently union members have a 25/55 plan, where they can retire at 55 with half pay for life if they have worked for at least 25 years in the MTA. The union wants the number lowered to 50. That is ridiculous.

Posted: 12/20/2005 3:28:30 PM EDT

[#33]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Well as usual the news orgs have put their spin on this and failed to properly report the union side of things.
I had a talk with my brother in-law who works for the MTA and he gave me his version of what they are looking for and they aren't at all what the news is reporting.
I can't remember the fine points or want to debate this but only that the news is making them out to be total asses.
I trust him way the hell more than the news so believe what they report to you. The news orgs never lie right
He is not a union kool-aid drinker either.
ETA: Nor am I

If it sucks working for the MTA why doesn't your brother-in-law quit and go to work someplace where it doesn't suck?

Trust me, he's too old to start a new carrer but he also never said it sucked.
However part of the strike is for the new people who will be joining them. The MTA wants the new hires to work 35 years before they can collect a pension. Kinda nuts if you ask me. eta: I have alzheimers so the numbers aren't positve for a 4 hour old phone call.
On the other hand pensions in todays business is getting rare so I do see both sides.

Fox news covered the retirement changes the Union wants, not quite what you describe. Currently union members have a 25/55 plan, where they can retire at 55 with half pay for life if they have worked for at least 25 years in the MTA. The union wants the number lowered to 50. That is ridiculous.

Raise the retirement age to 65 like all the rest of the poor working stiffs and bump that fine to $10 million PER HOUR. Fire the lot (and yank their pensions) if everything is not back up and running by midnight.

The extortionists are costing NYC $1/2 billion per day.

I've seen Unions wreck too many industries to have any sympathy for them. I have even less sympathy for management. Can the transit authority board while they are at it.

Posted: 12/20/2005 3:34:23 PM EDT

[#34]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Well as usual the news orgs have put their spin on this and failed to properly report the union side of things.
I had a talk with my brother in-law who works for the MTA and he gave me his version of what they are looking for and they aren't at all what the news is reporting.
I can't remember the fine points or want to debate this but only that the news is making them out to be total asses.
I trust him way the hell more than the news so believe what they report to you. The news orgs never lie right
He is not a union kool-aid drinker either.
ETA: Nor am I

If it sucks working for the MTA why doesn't your brother-in-law quit and go to work someplace where it doesn't suck?

Trust me, he's too old to start a new carrer but he also never said it sucked.
However part of the strike is for the new people who will be joining them. The MTA wants the new hires to work 35 years before they can collect a pension. Kinda nuts if you ask me. eta: I have alzheimers so the numbers aren't positve for a 4 hour old phone call.
On the other hand pensions in todays business is getting rare so I do see both sides.

Fox news covered the retirement changes the Union wants, not quite what you describe. Currently union members have a 25/55 plan, where they can retire at 55 with half pay for life if they have worked for at least 25 years in the MTA. The union wants the number lowered to 50. That is ridiculous.

like I said I have Alzheimers and CRS

Posted: 12/20/2005 3:38:48 PM EDT

[#35]

Fire them all. We don't like communistic or socialist inspired organizations in this country.

How long does it take to train a new driver of a subway or bus? Not hard. One two days tops with a 100% training program.

Cheaper in the long run than putting up with a strike for two days.

Sign to unions to FOAD.

You DO NOT have the right to be GIVEN better pay than the market thinks you deserve. Don't like the pay, or benefits, get a better job and/or education. Thats how it works in a capitalistic society.

Posted: 12/20/2005 5:26:40 PM EDT

[#36]

Have Hillary or Schumer made any public statements on the strike?

Posted: 12/20/2005 5:56:43 PM EDT

[#37]

I hope NY will fire everybody,kick the union out, and offer them a job for market wage.This whole episode is a perfect example of why unions benefit nobody but themselves.

Unfortunately,a more plausible outcome is that business agents will get richer for negotiating some inflated contract with the state,millions of people will be pissed at MTA for missing work and not being able to put food on the tables.Last but not least, unions will still go on extorting American businesses like they have been doing for years.

Posted: 12/20/2005 6:24:12 PM EDT

[#38]

Quoted:
Goes to show you when you combine two piss-poor ideas (public mass transportation & unions) you have an impending disaster.

What's wrong with public mass transit? The city flat out doesn't work without it. Would you prefer it be privatized? They tried that, the NYC currently public subway is actually a combination of three separate formerly "competing" private rail systems, which resulted in idiocy like incompatible railcar/tunnel size specifications and electrical supply, and piss poor connections between the lines in some areas, which make getting between seemingly close locations in the city an exercise in frustration. Some things are a natural monopoly.

Posted: 12/20/2005 7:42:34 PM EDT

[#39]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Goes to show you when you combine two piss-poor ideas (public mass transportation & unions) you have an impending disaster.

What's wrong with public mass transit? The city flat out doesn't work without it. Would you prefer it be privatized? They tried that, the NYC currently public subway is actually a combination of three separate formerly "competing" private rail systems, which resulted in idiocy like incompatible railcar/tunnel size specifications and electrical supply, and piss poor connections between the lines in some areas, which make getting between seemingly close locations in the city an exercise in frustration. Some things are a natural monopoly.

I disagree, if a private company ran it, there wouldn't be the type of problems you see right now.

Posted: 12/20/2005 8:55:49 PM EDT

[#40]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Goes to show you when you combine two piss-poor ideas (public mass transportation & unions) you have an impending disaster.

What's wrong with public mass transit? The city flat out doesn't work without it. Would you prefer it be privatized? They tried that, the NYC currently public subway is actually a combination of three separate formerly "competing" private rail systems, which resulted in idiocy like incompatible railcar/tunnel size specifications and electrical supply, and piss poor connections between the lines in some areas, which make getting between seemingly close locations in the city an exercise in frustration. Some things are a natural monopoly.
I disagree, if a private company ran it, there wouldn't be the type of problems you see right now.

Three private companies used to run it, and screwed the pooch.

Posted: 12/20/2005 9:13:38 PM EDT

[#41]

We wouldn't have strikes like theese if companies were still allowed to hire strike breakers (strike busters?) to go and umm......convince them to continue working

Posted: 12/20/2005 9:29:43 PM EDT

[#42]

I've got lots of popcorn... I can't wait to see how this plays out.

Posted: 12/20/2005 9:32:02 PM EDT

[#43]

I couldn't give a shit less.

Posted: 12/20/2005 9:33:54 PM EDT

[#44]

Quoted:
We wouldn't have strikes like theese if companies were still allowed to hire strike breakers (strike busters?) to go and umm......convince them to continue working

They still do it, its called a rat bastard scab.

Very unhealthy job though, some guys take that shit personally.

Posted: 12/20/2005 9:38:08 PM EDT

[#45]

It's just fucking dandy... My final exams were rolled over into January. Took my mother 2.5 hours to go each way to/from work today (from Brooklyn). I have a freind who took 4 hours just to get into the city from Queens (one way! Normally a <20 minute drive to work). Yes, gridlock is about right.

I don't know enough about the specifics of the debate to insert my own comment, so I'll just hold onto my 2 cents.

Posted: 12/21/2005 1:10:10 AM EDT

[#46]

Got 4 hours of overtime today for it, let's see if this strike continues into my days off so I can really bank some cash!

Posted: 12/21/2005 1:18:02 AM EDT

[#47]

NYC Enters Second Day of Transit Strike

Dec 21, 4:09 AM (ET)

By DAVID B. CARUSO

NEW YORK (AP) - New Yorkers faced another bone-chilling commute Wednesday without their cherished subways and buses as a transit strike entered its second day, leaving both patience and shoe leather wearing thin.

With talks still stalled, a judge imposed a huge fine Tuesday against the Transport Workers Union - $1 million for each day of the strike - and lawyers were due back in court Wednesday.

The sanction was levied against workers for violating a state law that bars public employees from going on strike. The union said it would immediately appeal, calling the penalty excessive.

The strike over wages and pensions began Tuesday morning, just five days before Christmas and at a time when the city is especially busy with shoppers and tourists.

"It's too cold for this," said Jose Cespedes, 55, a hotel maintenance manager who was planning on walking 25 blocks home in 24-degree weather and winds swirling. "I'm very disappointed that neither side thought enough about the community."

The mayor put into effect a sweeping emergency plan, including a requirement that cars entering Manhattan below 96th Street have at least four occupants.

Crowds were thick at both Pennsylvania Station and Grand Central Terminal as commuters waited for trains on the two suburban rail lines, where the number of riders soared.

"It's pandemonium," said Dana Berkowitz, outside Pennsylvania Station during Tuesday's evening rush hour. "I feel like I'm in the mosh pit of a Metallica concert."

Bundled up in heavy coats and hats, others shared cabs and car pools, caught water taxis, biked, rollerbladed or even walked. The mayor joined pedestrians hoofing it across the Brooklyn Bridge.

"The city is functioning, and functioning well considering the severe circumstances," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said before ripping into the union, saying "their leadership thuggishly turned its back" on New York.

On the picket lines, transit workers expressed outrage at management.

"We're tired of being treated like we're the garbage of the city," said Angel Ortiz, 32, standing on the Bronx-Manhattan border with hundreds of other striking transit workers beneath an elevated rail line that carried no trains.

Aside from a police officer being accidentally bumped by a flatbed truck at a checkpoint in Queens, there were no reports of strike-related injuries, accidents or crimes.

"New Yorkers always try to find a way to deal with things like this. New Yorkers always find a way to overcome," said Chris Reed, 37, an insurance executive waiting in line for a taxi.

Anthony Sabino, professor of law and economics at St. Johns University, estimated the city was losing about $100 million a day, a sum he described as "a big blow to New York. The timing is lousy and the economic impact is lousy."

New York retailers, restaurants and bars are expected to bear much of the brunt of the strike. The week before Christmas traditionally accounts for up to 20 percent of many stores' holiday sales, and consumers who must pay higher taxi fares or face long walks could slow their spending.

The union said the latest MTA offer included annual pay raises of 3 percent, 4 percent and 3.5 percent. Pensions were another major sticking point in the talks, particularly involving new employees.

In its last offer before negotiations broke down, the MTA had proposed increasing employee contributions to the pension plan from 2 percent to 6 percent, said union lawyer Walter Meginniss Jr. He added that such a change would be "impossible" for the union to accept.

"Were it not for the pension piece, we would not be out on strike," union president Roger Toussaint said in an interview with NY1. "All it needs to do is take its pension proposal off the table."

The International TWU, the union's parent, had urged the local not to go on strike. Its president, Michael O'Brien, reiterated Tuesday that the striking workers were legally obligated to resume working. The only way to a contract, he said, is "not by strike but continued negotiation."

State Supreme Court Justice Theodore Jones has yet to rule on whether a second union, the Amalgamated Transit Union, will also be fined. The union has two chapters in New York that have joined the strike.

Also undecided is whether the individual officers of the two unions will be fined for supporting the strike. The Transport Workers Union's 33,000 members already face the loss of two days pay for every day they are on strike.

The nation's largest mass transit system counts each fare as a rider, giving it more than 7 million riders each day - although many customers take a daily round trip.

The strike was costing Jack Akameiza, 66, a day's pay. He was trying to get from Manhattan to Coney Island and got as far as Grand Central Terminal, where he was trying to find a car pool.

"I cannot go to work," he said. "I cannot take care of my family."

PHOTOSHOP TIME!

Union transit workers keep warm around a fire outside a facility in New York Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005, during the transit strike. The nation's biggest mass-transit system ground to a halt after 3 a.m., when the TWU called the strike after a late round of negotiations with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority broke down. The subways and buses provide more than 7 million rides per day. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaks during a news conference at City Hall on the state of the city after day one of a system-wide transit strike Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005, in New York. Joining the Mayor, left to right, are Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta, and other city officials. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg takes a question during a news conference at City Hall on the state of the city after day one of a system-wide transit strike Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005, in New York. The Mayor was joined by the police and fire commissioners along with several other city officials. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaks during a news conference at City Hall on the state of the city after day one of a system-wide transit strike Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005, in New York. Joining the Mayor are Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, center rear, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, right rear, and other city officials. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

Posted: 12/21/2005 1:33:55 AM EDT

[#48]

Damn Wave, 5AM, lots of overtime that must be! (as for me, I'm just suffering from insomnia tonight -- postponed finals => me sleeping 'in' yesterday (for 16 hours!).

Posted: 12/21/2005 3:54:22 AM EDT

[#49]

man, horrible miscalculation on the union's part, pulling this shit over christmas...it's like a big "fuck you!" to the masses trying to get everything done before the holidays. any sympathy they might have engendered for their cause is g-o-n-e...

my sympathies to all you board members caught in this craziness!

Posted: 12/21/2005 4:01:56 AM EDT

[#50]

one warning- get back to work now or your fired. period. no takers. Bye.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - New York Metropolitan Transit Authority no longer on strike! Pg.6 (Page 2 of 4)

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