December 15, 2005

Talks resume but transit strike may start at midnight

The city's subway and bus operators could walk off the job at midnight, massively slowing down the city and triggering a contingency plan that would enforce at-least-four-person carpools, change taxi fares and allow multiple pickups per trip and increase ferry service to Manhattan.

Talks between the MTA and the transit union resumed at 6:30 this morning with issues on the table such as salary, health benefits, pensions and disciplinary issues.

The two clips NY1 is showing this morning come from after talks ended last night.

"I can’t stand here and say I’m comfortable with the negotiations how they stand at this instant," said Gary Dellaverson, director of labor for the MTA. "I still remain hopeful and as a personal matter, optimistic that an agreement can be reached."

And from Ainsley Stewart of TWO Local 100: "What we’ve seen here tonight, we were actually hoping that would translate into other areas of the negotiation. This was just one small area where we think we see a glimmer of hope, OK, some light at the end of the tunnel."

Resources: New York City's official Contingency Plan web site
MTA Strike Contingency Plan web page
NY Times Strike Commuter's Guide (in pdf format)
Gotham Gazette link-guide to the transit strike
Daily News guide to getting around
Craigslist Rideshares
Craigslist NY, short-term sublets
NY Waterway
NY Water Taxi
Transportation Alternatives
NJ Transit

Related coverage:
Gothamites buy comfy shoes, mannequins (Post)
Transit talks proceed in starts and stops (NY Times)
City launches strike contingency website (Gothamist)
Union prepares to shut subways (NY Sun)
Strike's first victim? Fashion (Newsday)
Straphangers Dec. 3 letter to MTA, union

Earlier: MTA announces strike contingency plan
Subway and bus workers OK strike for Friday
Transit service slows as contract deadline nears
City prepares plan for December transit strike

December 15, 2005 08:17 AM in Transportology

®Copyright 2006, All Rights Reserved