Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
BREAKING: Strike Nearing End?
By
Jacob Dobkin
Published Dec 22, 2005
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jacob Dobkin
Published Dec 22, 2005
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The strike mediator Richard Curreri is on television right now, saying that the parties have come back to the table and the union is commiting to do what it needs to do to end the strike. The TWU is taking it to the executive board; looks like they are thinking about going back to work.
Some reporters in the audience are asking if its political suicide for the union to return to work without a contract, but the mediator isn't commenting (obviously.) If it turns out that the union goes back to work pending mediation, then it's pretty clear that the TWU blinked first, and caved in to the massive pressure brought by the MTA and government.
Mediator is announcing a media blackout until things are resolved. He's saying that negotiations will begin shortly. Wow!
Pataki just came on television with his own press conference. He's saying that it's good news: "I'm pleased that the Taylor Law... has moved things forward in a positive way." Now he's talking about some other legislation.
Executive board for the TWU is meeting at 1pm... could trains and buses be running by evening rush hour? Please God, please! Actually, now sounds unlikely-- they are saying 12 to 24 hours for a restart of service. That sounds a little long-- at least for the buses-- couldn't they be gassed up and put out on the streets in like 3 hours?
Judge has adjourned the hearing on the jailing of the TWU leadership until 4pm-- seems to presume that the strike will be over by then.
DEVELOPING...
The mainstream media catches up on the coverage:
New York Times
CNN
NY1 Breaking News
Latest: NY1 reports the TWU board is assembled, but waiting on the Staten Island members. Have they ever heard of a conference call? And we hope they have four people in the car coming to the TWU headquarters, or else they'll be turned away.
Even more latest: The TWU's board voted to end the strike, based on what the arbitrators laid out. It's over! But there's no word on when service will be back and running. We'll update later! is getting ready to vote on the arbitrator's plans.
Tagged
breaking
breaking news
cnn
good news
government
law
legislation
media
MTA
new york
new york times
news
ny1
people
running
staten island
strike
suicide
Taylor Law
television
The TWU
Transit Strike 2005
us
Jacob Dobkin
Jake Dobkin co-founded Gothamist with Jen Chung. In 2019, Jake released Ask a Native New Yorker, a book based on his Gothamist advice column.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
22 NYC food pantries to start offering pet food
Pantries cite growing demand for pet food as owners struggle to feed themselves and their pets.
By
Karen Yi
Published Oct 13, 2026 at 2:01 p.m. ET
Woman whose body was found in Brooklyn garbage can was strangled, medical examiner says
Police hadn't previously ruled the woman's death a homicide, pending the medical examiner ruling.
By
Charles Lane
News
Woman whose body was found in Brooklyn garbage can was strangled, medical examiner says
Police hadn't previously ruled the woman's death a homicide, pending the medical examiner ruling.
By
Charles Lane
New York Public Radio CEO steps down after 8 months on job
By
Liam Quigley
Early Addition: Can't stop the sticker bombers
By
James Ramsay
Cyclist dies in wrong-way crash with an ambulance on Staten Island
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .