NEW YORK - Thousands of Queens commuters faced a Monday morning rush hour with no bus service after workers for two private bus lines went on strike, offering a preview of what could become a citywide shutdown if contract negotiators fail to reach a deal before the end of the day.
After making little progress over the weekend, negotiators for the Transport Workers Union and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority planned to return to the bargaining table Monday - but the head of the union warned that plans were firm for a large-scale strike beginning at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.
“We will not delay this deadline,” Roger Toussaint said.
The walkout would shutter the city's subway system and take all MTA buses out of service -- affecting millions of commuters.
Cabs and commuter vans headed for Queens bus stops to pick up stranded travelers, but some residents were reluctant to pay the extra fare.
“They're like sharks who smell blood,” Bobby Chen said of the taxi and livery cabs circling a Jackson Heights transit hub shortly after the strike on the Jamaica Buses Inc. and Triboro Coach Corp. bus lines began at 12:01 a.m. Monday.
“If I pay them $10 every night to go home, then there's no money left for Christmas for my children,” said the chef, who was trying to get to his home more than 25 blocks away in the Corona section.
Vans were charging $5 for trips, while livery cabs fares were capped at double that within the borough. The striking companies serve as many as 50,000 commuters.
Both sides briefly negotiated Sunday afternoon in a midtown Manhattan hotel, but the talks were “not in the final analysis fruitful,” the MTA's chief negotiator said.
“The MTA is quite concerned that we are now down to the last day before the union-imposed deadline,” MTA negotiator Gary Dellaverson said..
More than 100 workers from both striking companies were picketing Monday morning. One protester in front of the Triboro Coach Corp. bus depot held a sign reading, “We move New York. Respect us!”
Brunilda Ayala, commiserating with two strangers who were also stuck at the Jackson Heights hub, said she had no sympathy for the union's position.
“How can you give a raise to a bus driver who would make three old ladies walk home in the cold?” asked the 57-year-old.
,was worried the hike would be unsafe.
"We would not strike if there was any alternative, but there is none," the union said in a message on its Web site. "The sooner the MTA, the Governor and the Mayor do the right thing and negotiate a fair deal, the sooner all of us get back to work."
The 33,000-member union announced plans for Monday's strike at the end of last week. The two private bus lines, which employ about 750 union members, are being taken over by the MTA but aren't yet covered by the state's Taylor Law, which forbids strikes by public employees.
"It is a little unsettling to be the first wave," said union officer George Jennings, representing bus maintenance workers. "It's going to be a rough deal. Nobody wants to go on a strike on Christmas."
“We will not delay this deadline,” Roger Toussaint said.
The walkout would shutter the city's subway system and take all MTA buses out of service -- affecting millions of commuters.
Cabs and commuter vans headed for Queens bus stops to pick up stranded travelers, but some residents were reluctant to pay the extra fare.
“They're like sharks who smell blood,” Bobby Chen said of the taxi and livery cabs circling a Jackson Heights transit hub shortly after the strike on the Jamaica Buses Inc. and Triboro Coach Corp. bus lines began at 12:01 a.m. Monday.
“If I pay them $10 every night to go home, then there's no money left for Christmas for my children,” said the chef, who was trying to get to his home more than 25 blocks away in the Corona section.
Vans were charging $5 for trips, while livery cabs fares were capped at double that within the borough. The striking companies serve as many as 50,000 commuters.
Both sides briefly negotiated Sunday afternoon in a midtown Manhattan hotel, but the talks were “not in the final analysis fruitful,” the MTA's chief negotiator said.
“The MTA is quite concerned that we are now down to the last day before the union-imposed deadline,” MTA negotiator Gary Dellaverson said..
More than 100 workers from both striking companies were picketing Monday morning. One protester in front of the Triboro Coach Corp. bus depot held a sign reading, “We move New York. Respect us!”
Brunilda Ayala, commiserating with two strangers who were also stuck at the Jackson Heights hub, said she had no sympathy for the union's position.
“How can you give a raise to a bus driver who would make three old ladies walk home in the cold?” asked the 57-year-old.
,was worried the hike would be unsafe.
"We would not strike if there was any alternative, but there is none," the union said in a message on its Web site. "The sooner the MTA, the Governor and the Mayor do the right thing and negotiate a fair deal, the sooner all of us get back to work."
The 33,000-member union announced plans for Monday's strike at the end of last week. The two private bus lines, which employ about 750 union members, are being taken over by the MTA but aren't yet covered by the state's Taylor Law, which forbids strikes by public employees.
"It is a little unsettling to be the first wave," said union officer George Jennings, representing bus maintenance workers. "It's going to be a rough deal. Nobody wants to go on a strike on Christmas."
The Citizens' Say
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