Posted on 12/22/2005 11:43:08 AM PST by areafiftyone
WCBS 880's John Metaxas has just reported that TWU's executive committee has voted 38-5, with two abstentions, to resume subway and bus service as negotiations with the MTA continue. The trains and buses could be moving again within 12 to 18 hours.
"Both parties have a genuine desire to resolve their differences,'' said Richard Curreri, head of a three-member state mediation panel had said earlier Thursday. "They have agreed to resume negotiations while the TWU takes steps to return its membership.''
A judge has already imposed a $1 million-per-day fine on the union for defying an order barring the strike -- a punishment that would not take effect until appeals are complete.
A chief sticking point for the union has been the pension proposal to raise contributions to the pension plan for new workers from 2 percent to 6 percent. The union contends it is woefully inadequate and would be impossible to accept.
"The MTA has informed us it has not withdrawn its pension proposals but nevertheless is willing to discuss whether adequate savings can be found in the area of health costs,'' Curreri said.
Gov. George Pataki, a strident critic of the union, said the announcement was "very positive for all New Yorkers.'' Millions of New Yorkers were left stranded by the first citywide transit strike since 1980.
The strike, which began at 3 a.m. Tuesday, was the first citywide transit walkout in the nation's largest city since 1980. It has disrupted life for millions of New Yorkers and suburbanites, while wreaking havoc on the city economy in the week before Christmas. Mayor Michael Bloomberg estimated $700 million in lost revenue in the first two days of the strike.
The two sides returned to a Manhattan hotel around 1 a.m., the first time both sides were in the building since the strike was announced. One day earlier, union president Roger Toussaint -- who faced the possibility of jail at a Thursday hearing -- suggested a settlement was possible if the Metropolitan Transportation Authority took its current pension proposal off the table.
The tentative deal came without the MTA pulling its pension proposal.
Curreri said there would be a news blackout during further negotiations, as agreed to by both sides. He spoke at the same time lawyers from the city and state were due in a Brooklyn courtroom in an effort to get union workers back on the job. That session was postponed until 4 p.m.
There were no immediate plans for the two sides to sit down, although Curreri said his group was available right now to help forge an agreement.
The contract covering 33,000 transit workers expired last week, and the union called the strike Tuesday morning despite a state law banning public employee strikes.
On Thursday, in the first serious injury since the strike began, an off-duty firefighter was critically injured when he was struck by a private bus while riding his bike to work.
Meanwhile, millions of New Yorkers braved another frigid commute Thursday morning, streaming into commuter rail hubs, hiking over bridges and pouring into cars and cabs. Some tried to hitch a ride.
Groups of commuters huddled at designated areas to be picked up by company vans or buses or prearranged car pools. The scarves, hats and warm coats were back paired with running shoes or hiking boots.
On Manhattan's East Side, traffic was moving smoothly during the early part of the morning rush. But the story was different the night before, said Yves Desrmeaux, 47, a Manhattan parking lot attendant who lives in Brooklyn.
"Traffic was dense coming over the Manhattan Bridge,'' he said. "It (the strike) has really made a significant difference. But the transit workers work hard. I hope the MTA gives them something to make them happy this Christmas.''
Others were not daunted by the strike.
"Rain, sleet, snow or strike, we'll get to work,'' vowed Paul Jensen, the office manager at the Weber Shandwick public relations firm in midtown.
Good, but I wish they had fired the lot. Management of TWU first.
Blink
Not sure about anybody else, but if I were being docked 2 days' pay per day just before Christmas thanks to the union, I think the union would have 'splainin to do.
Get back to work you bums! You're lucky you weren't all fired and had your VERY GENEROUS pensions revoked.
Even Lucy couldn't take her way out of this one...
That'll be a fun day back at work. I bet there's not much love for the TWU employees tomorrow. LOL
The fines have been stayed, for now, because the union appealed. They might never have to be paid.
I hope they are wearing their asbestes underwear tomorrow when they have to deal with the public.
LOL we are not happy NYers right now. I would suggest they keep these trains on time!
Me thinks the Union did the typical liberal thing......
Stick your finger in the wind and see how the wind blows.
Obvious the Union is not getting ANY sympathy from the average Joe out there, in fact they are getting open hostilities. Even their buddies in the MSM can't even help them.
I can't belive they were stupid to do this the week before Christmas.
I saw one of the radical 5 on FOX what a nut case.
IMPOSE THE FINES.
DON'T BUDGE ON PENSIONS.
They are on the run and have suffered horrendous losses in court due to their illegal strike. Don't let the socialists have their way.
Yeah!...Crime Rewarded!!!!
I was kinda hoping they would keep striking till they either A. All got fired, or B. Had so many fines to pay, that they broke the union.
Either is good for us.
NYC should turn over the operation of its transit system to several private companies after competitive bidding.
Manslaughter charges should be brought to the haed union thugs for this!!
I gues there's going to be a new meaning to the words "last minute Christmas Shopping" in NYC this year!
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