Union Says Members Will Return to Work, Ending NYC Strike

eader of the union representing New York City’s transit workers voted Thursday to return their 33,000 members to work without a new contract, the Associated Press reported.

The crippling three-day strike had the effect of blocking heavy trucks from downtown Manhattan in the busy tourist and shopping days leading to Christmas. (Click here for previous coverage.)

Union leaders voted to end the walkout after facing mounting fines, possible jail terms and the intense public criticism, AP said.

It was unclear when the city's buses and subways would again start running, AP said. Transit officials said it would take a minimum of 12 hours to get everything restarted.

Union board members voted overwhelmingly in favor of returning to work, and resuming negotiations with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, AP said.

The announcement of the vote came outside union headquarters about 3 1/2 hours after state mediators said a deal had been worked out, AP reported.

It puts the nation's largest mass transit system back in operation while negotiations resume on a new three-year contract, AP said.