New York city transit workers strike (AP) Updated: 2005-12-20 19:08
The city's transit union called a strike Tuesday morning
after failing to reach a deal with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority
following days of bitter labor talks.
Roger Toussaint, president of Local 100 of the
Transport Workers Union, center, accompanied by Darlyne Lawson, left,
recording secretary, and other union officials announces a strike after
failing to reach a deal with the New York Metropolitan Transportation
Authority Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005, at the union headquarters in Manhattan.
More than 7 million daily riders will be forced to find new ways to get
around because of the strike. [AP] |
The decision ensured that New York would be thrown into chaos by the height
of the morning rush hour.
"This contract between the MTA and the Transport Workers Union should have
been a no-brainer," union president Roger Toussaint said at a news conference
announcing the strike. "Sadly that has not been the case."
MTA Chairman Peter Kalikow called the strike "a slap in the face" to all New
Yorkers and said state lawyers will immediately head to court in seeking to
block the walkout.
More than 7 million daily riders will be forced to find new ways to get
around because of the strike, which comes at the height of the holiday shopping
and tourist season.
The Transport Workers Union and the MTA had worked furiously to try and reach
a new contract, hoping to avoid the city's first transit strike in more than 25
years.
It is illegal for mass transit workers to strike in New
York, which means the 33,000 bus and subway employees will incur huge fines.
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