NY Transit Strike?
 

Does anyone have any insight into the NY Transit situation? I understand that there may be a strike starting Friday. Should I get those walking shoes out? :-)

Get the walking shoes anyway. ;)

And maybe get in training! ;-) I see a five mile walk in my future.

Everybody seems very adamant this time- and there are some new issues in the mix - since the city took over some of the private bus lines.

My guess is there will be strike - but probably not a very long one.

Definitely have your walking shoes rready for NYC - strike or not - you will be walking MILES every day.

I agree with NYTraveler. There will probably be a strike, but it will be short (1 or 2 days).

New York State has something called the "Taylor Law" that makes it very, very expensive for certain public employees to strike (cops, firefighters, teachers, transit workers). If they strike they get fined two days pay for every day they strike (plus fines against the Union, etc.). Right now the two sides are very far apart, but it seems like a lot of it is posturing (there is no way the Union actually expects to get 8% raises every year for the next 3 years). However, there are some very angry people on both sides.

If you are planning of coming to visit this weekend, check the local news websites for updates and for details on the traffic restrictions that will be in place if there really is a strike - and be prepared to walk. The New York Times website is <www.nytimes.com>

Like I said, most people I know are expecting a one or two day strike. Long enough to make some political points and cost the City a lot of money, but not so long as to cause the union members to lose their homes.

Anyone listen to Bloomberg's contingency plan? If so, what did he have to say?

If I had to lay money, I'd say it isn't going to happen. Both sides will continue posturing until the 11th hour, possibly they will extend the contract, then they will craft a deal. If there is a strike, I'm betting it will be over by Monday morning's rush hour.

I do remember oh so well when the last contract expired 3 years ago on Friday night. That's because I had a scheduled induction for my first baby! We live in CT, but I was delivering at a hospital in Manhattan. We were panicked at what we would do to get into the city. So, the day before, we drove the car into the city and parked it at a parking garage. We left our bags with a friend who lives near the hospital. We rented hubby a hotel room near the hospital. We planned to take the Metro-North train into the city and I'd walk (if possible) to the hospital or impose upon the kindness of some police officer to let us make our way there. In the end, nothing happened and my daughter was born on time, safe and sound. She'll be 3 on Saturday!

Bloomberg's plan is sleep near (or in) your office if you can; schools opening 2 hours late; between 5 and 11 am all cars going below 96th St need to have four passengers; taxis can pick up more than 1 fare at a time and 5th and Madison (maybe) will be closed to all but emergency vehicles. Not much, huh.

Fifth and Madison will be closed!!?? Haha... sleep in my office -- funny. I feel like I'm here 95% of the day already. sheesh....