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Week of December 19, 2005
December 23, 2005
Transit Strike EndsCity subways and buses are up and running at nearly full capacity this morning, after transit workers returned to work yesterday. There is no agreement on a contract yet, but the Transport Workers Union Local 100 and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority have reached the framework for a settlement. This deal appears to be based on the MTA scaling back its demand for less generous pensions in exchange for union members agreeing to pay more for health insurance. Negotiations will continue. The exact details are unclear, as both sides have agreed not to speak with reporters.
The 60-hour strike cost the city about $1 billion, according to the city comptroller. The union faces $3 million in fines.
For more coverage, see Transportation Links in the News
To keep up on any new developments, and for a roundup of what people are saying, see The Wonkster.
A Back Channel Path to Strike�s End (NY Times)
Upon Families� Requests, WTC Debris May Be Moved From Fresh Kills (Daily News)
Governor Announces Hire of State Troopers to Target Gun Trafficking (NY Post)
Strike Took Toll on Health Care System (Newsday)
Strike Sets Stage for Continued Battle Over Pensions (NY Sun)
Extra Time Added to Metrocards to Compensate Riders for Strike (Village Voice: Power Plays)
Gifts For The Disabled: Accessibility To The Arts (Gotham Gazette)
Arts Links In The News (Gotham Gazette)
December 22, 2005
The Strike: Day 3As the New York City transit strike enters its third day, Transport Workers Union leader Roger Toussaint and top negotiators from the Metropolitan Transit Authority began to meet again in the wee hours this morning. It is the first meeting at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan since negotiations broke off Monday night.
State Supreme Court Justice Theodore Jones yesterday ordered union leaders to come to court and answer a criminal contempt charge for violating a court order he issued last week or face possible jail times for odering the strike. Meanwhile, union leaders said that they would work without a contract if the Metropolitan Transit Authority took its current pension proposal off the table.
For more coverage, see Transportation Links in the News.
For a report on the hidden issue in the negotiations, read Negotiating for Respect.
For transit alternatives and special strike regulations, see Coping with the Strike.
For the latest developments and opinion, go to Wonkster.
Also answer the question: How will you get around during the transit strike?
New York Police Covertly Join In at Protest Rallies (NY Times)
City Noise Code Gets Stricter (Daily News)
Poor Kids Get Less School Aid (NY Post)
Albany Agrees To Toughen Gun Trafficking (Newsday)
The Final City Council Meeting of 2005 (Gotham Gazette)
For Better And Worse, Strike Affects Business (Metro)
Hispanics and the Ferrer Candidacy (Gotham Gazette)
Demographics Links In The News (Gotham Gazette)
December 21, 2005
The Strike: Day 2The New York City transit strike enters its second day today with no negotiations scheduled, although both the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Transport Workers Union have indicated they are ready to resume talks. On the first day of the strike, the two sides were in court as a judge imposed a $1 million a day fine against the the union, along with automatic fines against individual transit workers. State Supreme Court Justice Theodore Jones also said he would consider whether to fine union leaders $1,000 a day during the strike. Out on the streets, millions of New Yorkers scrambled to get to work, school or wherever else they needed to go -- jamming many roads as the city put its strike contingency plan into effect. But many people stayed home, and businesses had far fewer customers than usual during the normally busy holiday season.
For more coverage, see Transportation Links in the News.
For a report on the hidden issue in the negotiations, read Negotiating for Respect.
For transit alternatives and special strike regulations, see Coping with the Strike.
For the latest developments and opinion, go to Wonkster.
Also answer the question: How will you get around during the transit strike?
Latest MTA Offer Took Union by Surprise (NY Times)
City Will Help Fund Academy to Train Principals (NY Times)
Some EMS Workers Consider A Strike of Their Own (Daily News)
Bloomberg Blasts Strikers (NY Post)
Talks Stalled as Strike Continues (Newsday)
Holiday Strike Could Cripple Retailers (NY Sun)
The EPA�s Latest Plan for 9/11 Toxins (Village Voice)
Small Businesses Hardest Hit by Strike (Metro)
Transit Strike -- Negotiating For Respect (Gotham Gazette)
Transportation Links In The News (Gotham Gazette)
December 20, 2005
Transit Strike!Transport Workers Union Local 100 President Roger Toussaint announced a transit strike at 3 a.m. this morning, shutting down the city�s subway and bus lines for the first time in a quarter century, and leaving 7 million regular riders scrambling to find an alternative way to get around.
Under the mayor's transit strike contingency plan:
Public schools will open two hours later than usual.
Cars entering the busiest areas of Manhattan must carry a minimum of FOUR people.
Metro-North and the Long Island Rail Road will offer local shuttles in the Bronx and Queens.
Yellow cabs can pick up more than one fare at a time.
For more coverage, see Transportation Links in the News.
For transit alternatives and regulations, see Coping with the Strike with a list of links (such as the city's official contingency plan information site, a list of unaffected trains, ferries and buses, ride-share bulletin boards, etc.)
For the latest developments and opinion, go to Wonkster.
Also answer the question:
How will you get around during the transit strike?
Transit Union Calls for Strike in Divided Vote (NY Times)
Complete Times Coverage Of The Strike And The Negotiations (NY Times)
Governor: I'm Right To Stay Out Of It (Daily News)
Yesterday Was A Day Of Pain For Riders In Queens (Daily News)
Mayor Hints At Pension Cuts For New City Staffers (NY Post)
Essential Workers (Police, Fire, Hospital, Etc.) Must Report Despite Strike (Newsday)
City Planning Commission Approves MegaMall At Bronx Terminal Market (NY Sun)
Strike Expected To Cause Rush Hour Chaos; Financial Markets Plan to Open on Time (Wall Street Journal)
December 19, 2005
Queens Bus Strike UnderwayWorkers at two private bus companies serving 57,000 riders in Queens went on strike this morning after a weekend of contract negotiations between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Transit Workers Union failed to produce a new contract. The union says a system-wide strike will begin at midnight tonight if there is no agreement.
The main obstacle to a settlement, both sides agree, is proposed changes in pensions. The MTA insists that new hires be ineligible for full pensions until age 62, compared with 55 for most current workers. The union filed a complaint with the State Public Employment Relations Board, arguing that the State Legislature must approve such a change and that the MTA can not legally include its pension proposal as part of its final offer.
For more coverage, see Transportation Links in the News.
For transit alternatives and regulations, see Preparing for a Strike.
For the latest developments and opinion, go to Wonkster.
Also answer the question:
�How would you get around if there were no public transportation?"
t's happening -- and what people are saying about it -- go to the Wonkster throughout the day. Also, see our Transportation Links in the News
Plan to Overhaul Workers' Compensation (NY Times)
New York, Once a Lure, Is Slowly Losing the Creative Set (NY Times)
Banks are Booming in Manhattan, But Avoiding Poor Neighborhoods in Other Boroughs (Daily News)
Brooklyn Assemblywoman Investigated For Misuse of Campaign Funds (Daily News)
Debate Over Alcohol in Bryant Park (NY Post)
60,000 Queens Bus Riders First To Suffer in Transit Strike (Newsday)
123 Reasons to Love New York (New York Magazine)
Mayor Hopes He "Loses" On Gay Marriage (Gay City News)
Hallway Settlements In Housing Court (Gotham Gazette)
Housing Links In The News (Gotham Gazette)





