As one door opens, another closes...
The first strike (for 25 years) on New York's Metro and bus networks has been called off, within the last hour.
From Reuters New York transit strike called off after 3 days
By Chris Reese and Claudia Parsons
NEW YORK, Dec 22 (Reuters) - New York transit workers on Thursday called off a three-day subway and bus strike that caused havoc in America's most populous city at the height of the holiday season and which may have cost the economy $1 billion.
"They'll go back right away," Transport Workers Union Local 100 leader Roger Toussaint told reporters after the union's executive board voted overwhelmingly to end the strike after mediation by a state labor board.
A TWU spokesman said workers would soon be opening 26 subway routes and many local and express bus routes but it would take 10 to 18 hours to resume full operations. Commuters still faced a chaotic return home on Thursday evening.
City officials have estimated the economic hit from the strike at $1 billion over the three days. It came in the week before Christmas and Hanukkah when retailers, restaurants and other service industries would normally be at their busiest.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg welcomed the resolution and said he expected some bus lines to be running later on Thursday, and most subways back to full service on Friday. "There's still plenty of time for people to shop," he added.
Reaction on the streets was unanimous. "I'm glad that it's over. I didn't think I'd be able to leave the city to go home to Virginia for Christmas with all the hassles," said fashion stylist Christina Turner.
The strike was called off after talks at which the union and transit authorities agreed to resume bargaining on key issues such as pensions and healthcare, mediators said.
The union's executive board voted 36 to 5 with two abstentions to resume work immediately.
Some 34,000 workers in the Transport Workers Union Local 100 walked off the job on Tuesday after contract talks broke down over pay, health care and pensions, stranding some 7 million passengers who use subways and buses each day...
NEW YORK, Dec 22 (Reuters) - New York transit workers on Thursday called off a three-day subway and bus strike that caused havoc in America's most populous city at the height of the holiday season and which may have cost the economy $1 billion.
"They'll go back right away," Transport Workers Union Local 100 leader Roger Toussaint told reporters after the union's executive board voted overwhelmingly to end the strike after mediation by a state labor board.
A TWU spokesman said workers would soon be opening 26 subway routes and many local and express bus routes but it would take 10 to 18 hours to resume full operations. Commuters still faced a chaotic return home on Thursday evening.
City officials have estimated the economic hit from the strike at $1 billion over the three days. It came in the week before Christmas and Hanukkah when retailers, restaurants and other service industries would normally be at their busiest.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg welcomed the resolution and said he expected some bus lines to be running later on Thursday, and most subways back to full service on Friday. "There's still plenty of time for people to shop," he added.
Reaction on the streets was unanimous. "I'm glad that it's over. I didn't think I'd be able to leave the city to go home to Virginia for Christmas with all the hassles," said fashion stylist Christina Turner.
The strike was called off after talks at which the union and transit authorities agreed to resume bargaining on key issues such as pensions and healthcare, mediators said.
The union's executive board voted 36 to 5 with two abstentions to resume work immediately.
Some 34,000 workers in the Transport Workers Union Local 100 walked off the job on Tuesday after contract talks broke down over pay, health care and pensions, stranding some 7 million passengers who use subways and buses each day...
but... In London...
A union has called a 24-hour strike on the Tube network for New Year's Eve.
The 4,000 Members of the Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) voted five to one for the industrial action over staffing levels and will walk out at midday.
The RMT fears plans by London Underground (LU), including closing ticket offices, could lead to job losses and compromise safety.
LU and RMT officials are to meet on Friday morning at conciliation service Acas to try to resolve the dispute.
Tube bosses said they were redeploying staff to more "visible positions" and there would be no cuts.
Another 24-hour strike has also been called for 8 January which will begin at 1830 GMT.
Safety-critical staff
BBC London's transport correspondent Andrew Winstanley said the strikes would severely disrupt services.
The New Year's Eve stoppage could prevent the Tube running all night on 31 December.
Transport for London had already announced the continuous running with the Tube being free from 2345 GMT on New Year's Eve until 0430 GMT on New Year's Day.
Last December the RMT agreed a deal which would effectively create a 35-hour week for Tube station staff.
The RMT will not accept any dilution of safety standards either for our members, or Tube users
RMT's Bob Crow
But RMT general secretary Bob Crow said the strike vote had been taken because of Tube bosses "back-door attempts to displace hundreds of safety-critical station staff under spurious cover" of the deal.
Mr Crow added: "The RMT will not accept any dilution of safety standards either for our members, or Tube users and we hope that the travelling public will join us in calling on London Underground to step back from the brink and start talking to us seriously."
He said the RMT headquarters would shut down for Christmas at 1700 on Friday and not reopen until 1 January, so management had "better get a move on".
A London Underground spokesman said: "There are no staff cuts across the Tube network.
"London Underground and the RMT agreed to implement a shorter working week, as long as it came at no extra cost to the Tube fare payers.
"This means some staff being redeployed from ticket offices to station platforms and ticket halls, which can also boost reassurance for our passengers and security."
London Mayor Ken Livingstone said Mr Crow hailed the deal last year as "ground breaking" and said there was no question of renegotiating.
Mr Livingstone said: "There can be no justification for the RMT now reneging on its agreement and trying to ruin New Year's Eve for thousands of Londoners. "
The 4,000 Members of the Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) voted five to one for the industrial action over staffing levels and will walk out at midday.
The RMT fears plans by London Underground (LU), including closing ticket offices, could lead to job losses and compromise safety.
LU and RMT officials are to meet on Friday morning at conciliation service Acas to try to resolve the dispute.
Tube bosses said they were redeploying staff to more "visible positions" and there would be no cuts.
Another 24-hour strike has also been called for 8 January which will begin at 1830 GMT.
Safety-critical staff
BBC London's transport correspondent Andrew Winstanley said the strikes would severely disrupt services.
The New Year's Eve stoppage could prevent the Tube running all night on 31 December.
Transport for London had already announced the continuous running with the Tube being free from 2345 GMT on New Year's Eve until 0430 GMT on New Year's Day.
Last December the RMT agreed a deal which would effectively create a 35-hour week for Tube station staff.
The RMT will not accept any dilution of safety standards either for our members, or Tube users
RMT's Bob Crow
But RMT general secretary Bob Crow said the strike vote had been taken because of Tube bosses "back-door attempts to displace hundreds of safety-critical station staff under spurious cover" of the deal.
Mr Crow added: "The RMT will not accept any dilution of safety standards either for our members, or Tube users and we hope that the travelling public will join us in calling on London Underground to step back from the brink and start talking to us seriously."
He said the RMT headquarters would shut down for Christmas at 1700 on Friday and not reopen until 1 January, so management had "better get a move on".
A London Underground spokesman said: "There are no staff cuts across the Tube network.
"London Underground and the RMT agreed to implement a shorter working week, as long as it came at no extra cost to the Tube fare payers.
"This means some staff being redeployed from ticket offices to station platforms and ticket halls, which can also boost reassurance for our passengers and security."
London Mayor Ken Livingstone said Mr Crow hailed the deal last year as "ground breaking" and said there was no question of renegotiating.
Mr Livingstone said: "There can be no justification for the RMT now reneging on its agreement and trying to ruin New Year's Eve for thousands of Londoners. "
Naturally I speak as a former member of the Finsbury Park branch, during my time at LUL-Hell, but this "ground breaking" arrangement took many years, and several strikes (including one when I was taking industrial action) to reach!!! RMT may seem like an increadibily militant union, but just look what is happening to other people in other professions...
posted by Suzy Scott @ 22:15
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