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CNN Sunday Morning
NYC Braces for Possible Transit Workers Strike
Aired December 15, 2002 - 07:28 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: And, Charles, you mentioned that transit strike. We have more on that right now. New Yorkers are bracing for that possible strike that could shut down the city's subway and bus system, creating -- oh, creating a commuter nightmare. CNN's Jason Carroll joins us live from New York with the latest.
How possible is a strike, Jason?
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I have to tell you that New York City has the nation's largest transit system. A strike would be economically devastating for this city.
Let me just give you a quick sense of where we are, right now, in terms of negotiations. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the MTA, and the transit workers union are continuing negotiations right now, but the latest word that we have at this point is that there has been no significant movement.
Definitely something that the people here in New York City did not want to hear. On Friday, a judge signed an injunction that would impose heavy fines on the union and union workers if they were to go out on strike, but I have to tell you that fines were imposed the last time there was a strike in the city, way back in 1980. That did not prevent a strike. There were some workers who went on strike that time for 11 days.
Mayors -- the New York City mayor, Michael Bloomberg, says a strike would be economically devastating, costing the city anywhere between $100 million and $350 million per day. So you can do the calculations on that in terms of the economic impact.
New York City is a city that relies heavily on the tourism industry, especially this time of year, the holiday season. Thousands of people here in the city that will be depending upon subways and buses. If there is a strike, though, the subways and buses would not be running. The city is recommending that people share taxis, carpool and walk.
So at this point, we're just sitting and waiting to see what will happen with those contract negotiations. The strike deadline is set for just after midnight tonight. Back to you.
COSTELLO: OK, Jason, if you were a betting man, and I know you are, would you say the workers will walk out despite the judge's order to stay on the job? CARROLL: Who told you I was a betting man? I am not a betting man! You know, it's really tense right now. I mean, the head of the transit union just earlier this week told New York City's Mayor Michael Bloomberg to shut up during a press conference, so it's a little tense right now, but I think given the situation, people really want to try and make this whole situation work out.
But who knows? I think people on both sides do not want to see a strike, but we're just going to wait and see.
COSTELLO: All right, Jason Carroll, thanks so much.
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 - 07:28 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And, Charles, you mentioned that transit strike. We have more on that right now. New Yorkers are bracing for that possible strike that could shut down the city's subway and bus system, creating -- oh, creating a commuter nightmare. CNN's Jason Carroll joins us live from New York with the latest.
How possible is a strike, Jason?
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I have to tell you that New York City has the nation's largest transit system. A strike would be economically devastating for this city.
Let me just give you a quick sense of where we are, right now, in terms of negotiations. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the MTA, and the transit workers union are continuing negotiations right now, but the latest word that we have at this point is that there has been no significant movement.
Definitely something that the people here in New York City did not want to hear. On Friday, a judge signed an injunction that would impose heavy fines on the union and union workers if they were to go out on strike, but I have to tell you that fines were imposed the last time there was a strike in the city, way back in 1980. That did not prevent a strike. There were some workers who went on strike that time for 11 days.
Mayors -- the New York City mayor, Michael Bloomberg, says a strike would be economically devastating, costing the city anywhere between $100 million and $350 million per day. So you can do the calculations on that in terms of the economic impact.
New York City is a city that relies heavily on the tourism industry, especially this time of year, the holiday season. Thousands of people here in the city that will be depending upon subways and buses. If there is a strike, though, the subways and buses would not be running. The city is recommending that people share taxis, carpool and walk.
So at this point, we're just sitting and waiting to see what will happen with those contract negotiations. The strike deadline is set for just after midnight tonight. Back to you.
COSTELLO: OK, Jason, if you were a betting man, and I know you are, would you say the workers will walk out despite the judge's order to stay on the job? CARROLL: Who told you I was a betting man? I am not a betting man! You know, it's really tense right now. I mean, the head of the transit union just earlier this week told New York City's Mayor Michael Bloomberg to shut up during a press conference, so it's a little tense right now, but I think given the situation, people really want to try and make this whole situation work out.
But who knows? I think people on both sides do not want to see a strike, but we're just going to wait and see.
COSTELLO: All right, Jason Carroll, thanks so much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
