Subways and buses operated on normal schedules, taxis used their meters instead of charging by zones, and the morning rush returned to normal today as striking transit workers returned to work for the first morning commute in four days. þþWhile buses on some routes seemed to be operating less frequently than usual this morning, the nation's largest transit system - which carries more than 7 million riders each day - was back up, much to the relief of riders.þþÿI feel very happy; it went on too long and it cost me too much of a hassle, and a lot of money,ÿ said Madhad Abbas, 49, who manages a restaurant in lower Manhattan and had to take $16 ferry rides to get to work during the strike. ÿI don't get an increase in salary every three years like they do.ÿ þþOther commuters were pleased to return to their normal commuting routines as well.ÿIt's about time,ÿ said Crystal Gomez, 21, waiting for a train at a subway station in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan. Ms. Gomez, who works in a restaurant, said that after walking 40 blocks to work on the first day of the strike, she resorted to taking cabs, at $10 a trip. ÿI felt mad at them for striking, but seeing the train coming right now after all these days - I feel happy they're back.ÿ The return of public transit meant the end of shared cab rides, in which taxis charged a flat fee of $10 or $20 per passenger; schools starting on time instead of two hours late; the demise of 3:30 a.m. traffic jams as commuters rushed into Manhattan before 5 a.m. carpool rules took effect; and the resumption of alternative side parking rules. þþThe abrupt return of workers on Thursday - many strikers simply laid down their placards and walked into the buildings they had been picketing - capped a day of fast-moving developments in a labor showdown that just a day before seemed headed for an intractable and ugly stalemate.þþDespite the end of the strike, a final settlement of the dispute remains to be reached. But officials hinted that in exchange for the union's ending the strike, the authority would significantly scale back or even abandon its insistence on less-generous pensions for future workers. In return, the union would consider having its members pay more for health insurance. The negotiations will now resume under an agreement among all parties not to speak with reporters.þþMayor Michael R. Bloomberg hailed the union's decision, a state judge postponed a hearing that could have seen union leaders jailed, and many workers expressed relief that the strike was over.þþÿIn 21 years as a transit worker, this has probably been one of the best days of my life,ÿ said Dennis H. Boyd, a train operator and member of the union's executive board, who voted to end the strike. ÿThe membership wanted to make a statement, they wanted to go to battle with the M.T.A., and we fulfilled that.ÿþþThe strike - the city's first transit walkout in a quarter-century - paralyzed New York's mass transit system at the height of the holiday season, devastating sales for retailers, enraging the mayor and governor and making it hellishly difficult for New Yorkers to get to jobs, schools and doctors' appointments.þþOn Thursday, Mayor Bloomberg took a more conciliatory tone toward union leaders than he had in previous days, but reserved his most voluble praise for the residents who had had to contend with major disruptions. ÿThis was really a very big test of our city,ÿ Mr. Bloomberg said. ÿIt's fair to say we passed with flying colors. It wasn't easy and certainly serious economic harm was inflicted and we did what we had to do to make the city run.ÿþþAs buses began to warm up last night and workers went about the complex task of bringing the subway system back to life - inspecting tracks, testing brakes, restoring power - the mood could not have been more different than it was 24 hours earlier, when many signs suggested the strike could be a long one.þþOn Wednesday, Roger Toussaint, the president of Local 100 of the Transport Workers Union, had traded barbs with Mayor Bloomberg and Gov. George E. Pataki from afar as all three drew what seemed to be deeper lines in the sand. Mr. Toussaint said he would agree to talk only if the Metropolitan Transportation Authority would remove the nettlesome issue of pensions from the negotiations; Governor Pataki said no talks could take place until the strike ended.þþ
Source: NY Times
