New York’s Transit Strike Stretches Into Second Day
ew York City’s transit strike stretched to a second day, with commuters walking and carpooling as best they could, retailers hurting at the busiest shopping time of the year and delivery drivers struggling to make their rounds, news services reported.
With contract talks stalled, a judge fined the Transport Workers Union $1 million for each day of the strike, and lawyers were due back in court Wednesday, the Associated Press reported.
The fines were levied against workers for violating a state law that bars public employees from striking. The union said it would immediately appeal, calling the penalty excessive, AP reported.
Bloomberg told a press conference that the strike was having a big impact on retailers in the city, and urged the union to end the strike, AP reported.
The strike over wages and pensions began Tuesday morning, during the height of the Christmas shopping and tourist season.
Aside from a police officer being accidentally bumped by a truck at a traffic checkpoint in Queens, there were no reports of strike-related injuries, accidents or crimes, AP said. Police were checking cars to ensure that each held at least four passengers, or they were being turned away from the city.
The city's two big tabloid newspapers had the following headlines Wednesday: The New York Daily News read “Mad as Hell,” while the New York Post read “You Rats,” referring to the striking transit workers.
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