Transit strike is unofficially on

New York 1 is reporting ';unofficial'; word that the union executive board has voted to strike. Reporters are waiting for official news conference at this hour.

I%26#39;m sure all the websites will be slow or impossible to access right now, but try anyway:

www.ny1.com (local cable news TV station)

www.nyc.gov

www.mta.info

www.wnyc.org

www.1010wins.com (radio station)

Transit strike is unofficially on

OK, full strike is officially on, and I have insomnia.

Websites listed are working well. Plenty of info available.

I tested out bicycling over the weekend - too cold. Time to get upclose and personal with folks on the LIRR, and break out the sneakers/tennis shoes/';trainers';.

Transit strike is unofficially on

Sounds fun QB! Can%26#39;t believe you%26#39;re still up at this hour - try lavender on your pillow helps me sleep (either that or a few large drinks!) :)

Here is an article on what the union demands are: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10466982/

I find it such a shame the unions chose to create such mass confusion for NYC during one of their busiest times, not to mention that striking is illegal. I know many people from the Detroit area who work in auto industry related jobs that just got laid off. I%26#39;d bet they%26#39;d be happy with the package the transit workers were offered. Such a shame.

I can%26#39;t judge whether the union demands are reasonable or not, but it does seem crazy that there%26#39;s a $1 billion surplus. The MTA%26#39;s recent ';gift'; of letting people ride for half price on weekends seems crazy and may have inflamed workers.

Does anybody know how long the strike is expected to be? Are there much talks to resolve it? It must be hard for all you guys to work and Xmas shopping without subway or bus. I%26#39;ll pray for strike to be over soon.

Does this strike affect buses from JFK into Manhattan, I was planning to use the airport express bus from JFK to Port Authority. If so does this mean only transit available will be taxis.

Thanks for any info.

The coach buses from JFK to Manhattan will still be running. Only the city buses won%26#39;t be. The fare is $15.

The cops just agreed to a contract that lowers the starting salary for newbies to ridiculous levels for an NYPD new recruit - something like $28,000. Most new contracts for Municpial govt workers include such cuts in salary for new employees that, from what I hear, it is difficult to recruit people. Great way to save on payroll costs!

By the way, Bloomberg keeps saying that ';every city worker'; pays for health insurance. Not true. The basic HIP plan is free. If you want something above the basic HIP plan, THEN you have to pay.

Here%26#39;s a good map from nytimes about other ways to get around. I%26#39;m printing it to take along on our trip Dec. 31 to Jan 4!

nytimes.com/packages/鈥?0051215_TRANSIT.pdf

Regards,

Barry

How long?

Just heard an interview with an NYU labor studies prof.

He suggested that historically (last two times)transit strikes take about elevne days to resolve.

Such a shame.

Joe in NYC