Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Sunday Morning

NYC Braces for Transit Workers Strike

Aired December 15, 2002 - 08:07   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: By this time tomorrow there could be a commuters' nightmare in New York. The city is bracing for a possible strike by transit workers that could shut down the city's subway and bus system. And what a mess that would be.
CNN's Jason Carroll joins us live from New York with the latest -- good morning once again, Jason.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you again, Carol.

Good morning.

You know, a lot of New Yorkers are keeping their fingers crossed, hoping that there will not be a strike. A strike would literally devastate this city, cripple the city's transportation system.

About seven million people ride the city's subways and buses every day. So you can imagine what will happen if all of a sudden those city, the city's subways and buses stop running.

Let me give you a quick update in terms of what's happening in terms of negotiations. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the MTA, and the transit union are continuing to talk, continuing to negotiate. But at this point we're being told there has been no significant movement at this point.

On Friday, a judge issued an injunction that would impose heavy fines on the union and union workers if they were to go out on strike. But, you know, Carol, if you look at your history, that may not do any good. The last time there was a strike back in 1980, heavy fines were imposed upon the union and union workers. That particular strike lasted 11 days.

New York City's mayor, Michael Bloomberg, says a strike would be economically devastating to the City of New York. Already, the city is facing a $6 billion deficit. If there was to be a strike, Mayor Bloomberg says it would cost the city anywhere between $100 million and $350 million each day. So you can do the numbers there.

In terms of what they're recommending if there is a strike, well, there are a few things. First of all, the obvious one, heavy car pool rules will be imposed upon the city. Taxis will be picking up multiple drivers. In addition to that, certain corporations and businesses within the city are going to be hiring private buses to pick people up and take them to and from work. Of course, in this new day and age of computers and the Internet, people, many people are thinking that perhaps they'll be able to work from home.

But for most people, that's not going to be an option. They're going to be out here trying to get to the city, the city of Manhattan, or trying to get to wherever they have to go. Many people are simply going to have to walk.

A strike deadline is set for midnight tonight. Once again, a lot of New Yorkers at this point crossing their fingers and hoping that somehow, some way, something is going to be worked out -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Boy, you're not kidding, because there's nothing like walking 40 or 50 blocks in the bitter cold of this winter in New York.

Jason Carroll, thanks.

We appreciate it.

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 15, 2002 - 08:07   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: By this time tomorrow there could be a commuters' nightmare in New York. The city is bracing for a possible strike by transit workers that could shut down the city's subway and bus system. And what a mess that would be.
CNN's Jason Carroll joins us live from New York with the latest -- good morning once again, Jason.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you again, Carol.

Good morning.

You know, a lot of New Yorkers are keeping their fingers crossed, hoping that there will not be a strike. A strike would literally devastate this city, cripple the city's transportation system.

About seven million people ride the city's subways and buses every day. So you can imagine what will happen if all of a sudden those city, the city's subways and buses stop running.

Let me give you a quick update in terms of what's happening in terms of negotiations. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the MTA, and the transit union are continuing to talk, continuing to negotiate. But at this point we're being told there has been no significant movement at this point.

On Friday, a judge issued an injunction that would impose heavy fines on the union and union workers if they were to go out on strike. But, you know, Carol, if you look at your history, that may not do any good. The last time there was a strike back in 1980, heavy fines were imposed upon the union and union workers. That particular strike lasted 11 days.

New York City's mayor, Michael Bloomberg, says a strike would be economically devastating to the City of New York. Already, the city is facing a $6 billion deficit. If there was to be a strike, Mayor Bloomberg says it would cost the city anywhere between $100 million and $350 million each day. So you can do the numbers there.

In terms of what they're recommending if there is a strike, well, there are a few things. First of all, the obvious one, heavy car pool rules will be imposed upon the city. Taxis will be picking up multiple drivers. In addition to that, certain corporations and businesses within the city are going to be hiring private buses to pick people up and take them to and from work. Of course, in this new day and age of computers and the Internet, people, many people are thinking that perhaps they'll be able to work from home.

But for most people, that's not going to be an option. They're going to be out here trying to get to the city, the city of Manhattan, or trying to get to wherever they have to go. Many people are simply going to have to walk.

A strike deadline is set for midnight tonight. Once again, a lot of New Yorkers at this point crossing their fingers and hoping that somehow, some way, something is going to be worked out -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Boy, you're not kidding, because there's nothing like walking 40 or 50 blocks in the bitter cold of this winter in New York.

Jason Carroll, thanks.

We appreciate it.

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