New York City Transit Strike Grinds Traffic to Halt

ransit workers in New York City went on strike Tuesday, halting subways and buses and effectively bringing traffic to a grinding halt in the city, news services reported.

City officials warned the strike could cost New York $1.6 billion if it lasts a week, the Associated Press reported.

Workers were striking over wage and pension benefits, AP reported. Transit and city officials declared the strike illegal and a court fined the union leading it $1 million a day for every day they are off the job.

“Retail, especially in Lower Manhattan, has been hit the hardest,” Mayor Bloomberg said. “Hundreds of stores haven't been able to open and some that did have had practically no business. Along one stretch of 8th Avenue, 40% of the stores weren't open.”