nyc,mta announces full,citywide strike!

[mrFDNY]

hi all,
its 3 am nyc time.mta is on strike every member.city wide trains and bus service is suspended right away

 

[mrFDNY]

NEW YORK - The city's transit union called a strike Tuesday morning after failing to reach a deal with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority following days of bitter labor talks.

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The decision ensured New York would be thrown into chaos by the height of the morning rush hour.

"With a $1 billion surplus, this contract between the MTA and the Transport Workers Union should have been a no-brainer," said union president Roger Toussaint at a news conference. "Sadly, that has not been the case."

The Transport Workers Union and the MTA had worked furiously to try and reach a new contract, hoping to avoid the city's first transit strike in more than 25 years.

It is illegal for mass transit workers to strike in New York, which means the 33,000 bus and subway employees will incur huge fines.

Bus drivers have been instructed to drop off all passengers and return to their depots, and subways will finish their trips as turnstiles are chained and locked up. Exits will remain open to allow any last passengers off before the stations are shuttered.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg was poised to put into effect a sweeping emergency plan to reduce gridlock and keep certain streets open for emergency vehicles. New Yorkers were urged to make arrangements to car pool, bicycle and walk to work, or change their schedules and work from home.

Bloomberg has said the walkout could cost the city as much as $400 million a day, and would be particularly harsh at the height of the holiday shopping and tourist season.

 

[Robinrs]

Yikes! I remember the last one! What a mess!

I remember hitchhiking to get to work, funny how I diidn't feel any fear doing that then...?????

I worked for a radio station so we didn't have any OFF days, it was just "get there when you can". Sometimes it took me up to 3 hours to get to work.

Living in Atlanta it seems strange how a transit system can cripple a city. Liike I explained to my son the transit system was something EVERYONE used in NY, even millionaires. He was shocked. What really shocked him was the fact that I NEVER drove until I moved to the south, and I was 31 when I got here. Why drive when you have the MTA?

Here's hoping it's a short strike and my hometown is back to "normal" soon!

Robinrs

 

[Sleepy]

Public transportation is always going on strike here, but usually lets you know in advance when, however, last week the train system went on strike and did not warn anyone, so my son missed all but the last 15 minutes of his dance class. Strike ended at 5 and it was 6:15 when the first train appeared and we are stop #2 on the line. It's amazing nobody got crushed trying to get off the train at the major stops. People were pushing and it was crazy! I hate strikes! I remember saying to myself...."If I lived in NYC, I would not have to deal with this."

 

[Sleepy]

I explained to my son the transit system was something EVERYONE used in NY, even millionaires.

Here, not only is mass transit a popular choice for everyone, but scooters are too. Imagine seeing men in suits and women in dresses riding around town on a broken down scooter.