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CNN Live At Daybreak

New York City Transit Trouble: No Strike For Now

Aired December 16, 2002 - 06:34   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The Big Apple averted a big mess this morning. You're looking at live pictures, or you will be -- there it is -- pictures of downtown New York City. The city's subways and buses are moving. Traffic is kind of flowing.
The strike by transit workers has been called off, at least for now, while the union and management hold marathon talks.

Now, of course, we're staying on top of this story for you this morning. Let's go back to our Jason Carroll.

Jason -- where are you now?

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I am standing right in front of the city hall subway station. Imagine, if you will, Carol, if there had been a strike this morning, right now, it is cold, it is starting to rain, I am telling you, you would have had a lot of unhappy New Yorkers had there been a strike this morning.

But fortunately, last night just before the midnight strike deadline, representatives from the union came out and said that enough progress had been made, at least in some areas, to keep talking.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ED WATT, TWU SECRETARY-TREASURER: We have made sufficient progress to stop the clock. This progress has been made primarily in the non-economic areas of dignity and respect for our members.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: A major sticking point in the negotiations has to deal with money. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority says it doesn't have the money to pay the union any raises, at least at this point.

Also, I want to point out, in the state of New York, it is illegal for public workers to go out on strike, and if there is to be a strike, the union and the workers would face heavy fines.

Carol -- back to you.

COSTELLO: All right, Jason Carroll, many thanks to you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.






Aired December 16, 2002 - 06:34   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The Big Apple averted a big mess this morning. You're looking at live pictures, or you will be -- there it is -- pictures of downtown New York City. The city's subways and buses are moving. Traffic is kind of flowing.
The strike by transit workers has been called off, at least for now, while the union and management hold marathon talks.

Now, of course, we're staying on top of this story for you this morning. Let's go back to our Jason Carroll.

Jason -- where are you now?

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I am standing right in front of the city hall subway station. Imagine, if you will, Carol, if there had been a strike this morning, right now, it is cold, it is starting to rain, I am telling you, you would have had a lot of unhappy New Yorkers had there been a strike this morning.

But fortunately, last night just before the midnight strike deadline, representatives from the union came out and said that enough progress had been made, at least in some areas, to keep talking.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ED WATT, TWU SECRETARY-TREASURER: We have made sufficient progress to stop the clock. This progress has been made primarily in the non-economic areas of dignity and respect for our members.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: A major sticking point in the negotiations has to deal with money. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority says it doesn't have the money to pay the union any raises, at least at this point.

Also, I want to point out, in the state of New York, it is illegal for public workers to go out on strike, and if there is to be a strike, the union and the workers would face heavy fines.

Carol -- back to you.

COSTELLO: All right, Jason Carroll, many thanks to you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.