By Doug Cunningham

As millions of New Yorkers watched and waited to see if the city's public transit system would be shut down by a strike, Transport Workers Union Local 100 engaged in intense bargaining with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority late into the night Thursday. The union is defending pensions and health care benefits as it seeks a fair share of the $1 billion surplus enjoyed by New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority. A strike would be illegal with the possibility of stiff fines and other sanctions. Late Thursday night it appeared that the union would temporarily stop the strike clock and bargain until Monday in hopes of reaching an agreement. Talks continued past the midnight strike deadline.