A court hearing was held to determine whether the workers were actually striking, and thus subject to fines. īy April 4, the fourth day of the strike, the MTA and the workers were deadlocked, and the agency sought to fine the unions $3 million per day in damages. Because of the strike, the remaining operating transit agencies in the area, Conrail and PATH, had increased ridership, and bridges and tunnels into Manhattan saw more vehicular traffic than usual. This strike also revolved around a lack of pay. This was actually the LIRR's second strike in four months, with the first one having occurred in December 1979. Ĭomplicating the matter, workers for the Long Island Rail Road, another MTA subsidiary, went on strike on April 2. Workers in the manufacturing and health industries were the most affected by the strike, as they were less likely to be able to afford taxis and other alternative modes of transport. Additionally, the City University of New York canceled classes at three of its campuses as a result of the strike. Commuters were seen bringing around jogging or exercise clothing so they could walk, jog, or bike to and from work. These " dollar vans", which charged a dollar per passenger per ride, still operate. Residents of transit-deprived parts of New York City started a share taxi service with minibuses and their own private vehicles. The first day of the strike, April 1, saw 83% of commuters going to work, compared to 94% on an average day. ![]() Mass transit riders "scrambled" to find taxis, while some passengers roller-skated, rowed boats, or flew helicopters to work. Most significant was a mandatory carpool restriction, in which cars were not allowed to enter the Manhattan central business district during rush hour without at least three passengers. In response, the city implemented drastic plans to curb urban traffic. Negotiations failed early the next morning, and 33,000 workers walked off their jobs. The MTA responded on March 31 with a proposal of a 34-month contract with a 3% wage increase each year. The MTA got a court writ prohibiting the workers from striking, but the TWU announced their intention to violate the writ should the negotiations fail. The negotiations were extremely confrontational. Negotiations began on February 4, with the TWU initially demanding a 21-month contract with a 30% wage increase they justified the hike by claiming that the cost of living had gone up 53% since the last contract negotiation, and their contract did not account for changes in the cost of living. The transit workers' contract was up for renewal in April 1980. All subway and bus lines in the five boroughs of New York City were brought to a complete standstill for twelve days. ![]() Around 33,000 members of Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 100 walked off their jobs on April 1, 1980, in a strike with the goal of increasing the wage for contracted workers. A 1980 transit strike in New York City halted service on the New York City Transit Authority (a subsidiary of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority) for the first time since 1966.
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