TWU, Union Agree To Talks (NYC Transit Strike)

[MadAsHellNewYorker]

http://www.ny1.com/ny1/NY1ToGo/Story/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=55803

In a definite sign of progress, mediators who met separately with the transit union and the MTA all morning, announced Thursday that both sides have agreed to resume talks while the union takes steps to return members to work, thereby ending the strike.

Representatives from the union and the MTA unexpectedly returned to the Midtown Grand Hyatt early Thursday morning, where they met separately with mediators from the state Public Employment Relations Board (PERB).

No formal negotiations have been scheduled, but mediator Richard Curreri said the executive board of the TWU is expected to vote on the issue of sending members back to work as talks resume.

Meanwhile, TWU President Roger Toussaint, who was among those at the Hyatt, and other TWU leaders were due in court at the time of the press conference to face contempt charges and possible jail time, but it wasn't immediately clear whether they had indeed left the Hyatt for the court appearance.

The first sign of progress came early Thursday morning when TWU officials called a 1 a.m. meeting of the union's executive board. That meeting was subsequently called off, but other meetings began shortly thereafter.

The break in the three-day-old stalemate came after a day of escalating rhetoric between the two sides. The mayor and the governor both demanded that the union return to work Wednesday, while the union refused to back down on its demands and a judge threatened TWU leaders with possible jail time.

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[ronnykmarshall]

1. Thank god!

When will they go back to work?

[Fredda Weinberg]

2. We could have service by tonight's rush hour

or tomorrow morning at the latest.

[hadrons]

4. I heard it would take 12-24 hours to get the system up ....

[Fredda Weinberg]

6. Bogus

I'm listening to local news now ... the MTA wants to inspect the system ... they set up this thing and just can't let go ...

[sir_captain]

15. What?

Same thing happened after the blackout--they just need to make sure there's no rust on the rails or fires on the tracks anywhere and so on. I don't think it's a conspiracy.

[Fredda Weinberg]

19. The trains never stopped

Supervisors had been running trains specifically to keep the rails clear. And sure enough, the trains were running this morning.

As I said, the claim was bogus.

[sir_captain]

20. Am I missing something?

It took about 18 hours to get the trains running again. I know I'm not that great at math, but it seems to me that 18 hours is between 12 and 24 hours. So where is this "claim" bogus?

[Fredda Weinberg]

21. 18 hours? Since when?

The union officially called off the strike before the 4 PM shift change.

The subways were open by midnight.

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=traffic&id=3752660

There was never a chance that the restoration would take 24 hours, hence the accusation that the claim was bogus and an attempt to milk whatever residual resentment the MTA could against the union.

[hadrons]

3. biking from Inwood (200th st.) to 17th & 5th has been murder ....

please end this thing ... small-businesses and working class has taken a huge hit with this thing

[Zensea]

5. You could have taken Metro North at University Heights

across the 207th Street Bridge or walked up to Marble Hill at 225th and Broadway.
I live in Inwood also.
It's been about a 15 minute walk and then 20 minute train ride and then 10 minute walk from Grand Central.
Only a little bit longer than taking the A at Dyckman down to 59th and then the D to Rockefeller Center.

And so far I've only had to pay the fare twice out of the five times I've ridden the train.

[hadrons]

7. I know, my brother been doing that, but I hate depending on those lines

[Zensea]

9. It's been surprisingly smooth

Although I understand why you'd be wary.

[ronnykmarshall]

10. Ain't that the truth.

My best friend lives in Glen Ridge, NJ and he was able to get to Penn Station and walked the rest of the way to work.

He was home sick yesterday from being out in the cold for so long.

[LostinVA]

11. You can't get sick from the cold

As per the two nurses in my family.

[Julius Civitatus]

12. I work in 17th and 5th!!!

Are we neighbors??? Maybe even co-workers!!!

I live in Brooklyn. 10 mile hike! Fortunately I was able to hitchhike my way in and out of Manhattan.

[hadrons]

24. a few people here were able to hitchhike ....

I work at 122 5th Ave

[sir_captain]

8. Thank goodness

I'm cold!

But seriously, this is good for everyone.

[reformedrepub]

13. No its not

It's not good for the rank and file of TWU who put their butts (literally) on the picket line. They walked and got no concessions from the MTA about disciplinary action or roll backs of the fines. Not surprisingly the corporate media, NEVER once mentioned about the MTA being caught with two sets of books, railing on about deficits and then turning around and "finding" a billion dollar surplus. Pataki whining about them going on strike, and talking about how much they make, when he paid a woman 60 grand a year (base) to dress his wife....Bloomberg the disgrace calling them "thugs". How quick he forgets those bus drivers and train operators who stayed at posts on 9/11 with buildings crashing down, literally, on top of them. How quickly he forgot those bus drivers/train operators who showed up for work the day after the London bombings. How about all the extra training these men and women have had to undertake since 9/11,recognizing potential terrorists and how to respond to a chem/bio attack. Look at what happened to the PBA during their last contract negotiations, there is a NYPD officer standing a foot post tonight in the worst neighborhoods in the city making 25,000. That is a disgrace!!

[sir_captain]

14. Dude...we have no idea what's been negotiated yet

There's a media blackout.

I support the union and hope they get everything they wanted--the fact that there was a negotiated end to the strike, without question in my mind, has a net benefit for all New Yorkers.

[reformedrepub]

16. Media Blackout

Who do you think requested the media blackout? I can assure you it wasn't TWU, apparently the MTA closet may be flung wide open, and when Kalikow's skeletons start falling out he doesn't want the public to find out about it. The strike ended because the Union couldn't afford the fines and having Roger thrown in the joint to boot. It's amazing how un liberal the citizens of this liberal city get when they get inconvenienced, maybe they will appreciate those folks who work on the buses and trains instead of treating them like crap.

[sir_captain]

17. Give me a break.

Did you come up with this on your drive from Red Hook to Kingston? If you had been here in the last three days, you'd know that everyone here, in this 80% democratic city, is fucking thrilled that the strike is ending. Did you even vote Yes on the bill appropriating more money for public transit in NYC?

[reformedrepub]

18. I dont live

in Red Hook or Kingston, I live in Monroe. Most of my neighbors and family memebers, work in NYC. Im not upset that the strike is over, Im upset that these guys went out on line, and it seems they are still subject to fines etc..Yes, I voted for the approp bill. I also spend a whole lot of money in NYC a year.

[Nutmegger]

22. After what they went through

I hope they get their demands. I was watching the news and they showed people swearing at the picketers. Whether or not you agree with the strike, these people don't deserve to be called derogatory names. Sheesh, grow up.

[ny_liberal]

23. NO contract yet

MTA looks like a winner so far

we'll see what happens