By Doug Cunningham
The Transport Workers Union (TWU) says its members will return to work immediately following a vote by TWU's Executive Board to end the strike.TWU Presdient Roger Toussaint says the strike is over and members will return to work immediately. Toussaint says TWU will provide details of the strike settlement within a few days.
No contract agreement has been publicly announced yet, but New York City's MTA took pensions temporarily off the table before striking workers agreed to go back to work.
TWU Local 100 says transit workers had to walk out to "stop the MTA’s 11th hour pension ambush. We walked out strong, and we walk back stronger."
TWU's statement went on to say "Thousands of transit workers have been on freezing cold picket lines around the clock for three days. The vote of the TWU Local 100 Executive Board to overwhelmingly accept the recommendation of theNew York State Mediators means we will now start reporting to work.
"In the face of an unprecedented media assault, the average New Yorker supported the TWU and blamed the MTA for the strike. Our riders knew we did not abandon them, and they did not abandon us. Public support from unions, communities, clergy and elected officials helped create the atmosphere for an end to the strike.
The details will be coming to all transit workers very soon.
Every TWU member should be proud that our Union stood up for justice.
Stay United! Stay Strong!"
While mainstream media focused on the illegality of the strike and the inconvenience and economic loss caused by it, the reality is that these workers took a strong stand to defend pensions, which are under assault nationwide. Under New York's Taylor law that made the strike illegal it is also illegal to deal with pension issues in negotiations. Any pension changes for public workers under the law have to be addressed by the New York state legislature.
Both sides have to petition the legislature in order to change the pensions. Faced with a demand to cut pension benefits TWU decided instead to stand up in defense of pensions and walk off the job. It was the first system-wide NYC transit strike in 25 years.
TWU Local 100's international union opposed the strike. Here's what the TWU International had to say about it in a printed statement :
"TWU (International) hereby notifies all members of Local 100 of their obligation under the December 13, 2005 preliminary injunctions and the December 20, 2005 temporary restraining orders issued by the New York Supreme Court to cease any and all strike or strike-related activities and to report to work at their regularly assigned work hours and work locations.
"As has been reported in several media outlets, I personally spoke before the Local 100 Executive Board when it met on the morning of Dec. 20, and told them that I would not approve this strike. I told them that the only road to contract victory for the membership was not by strike but continued negotiation. I continue to believe this. It should not be construed in any way that my refusal to sanction this strike lessens my resolve to secure the best possible contract for this membership."
"I stand ready to assist the Local leadership in returning to the table."
