MTA Strike

On December 20^th 2005 the MTA strike started, inconveniencing over 50,000 New Yorkers.  The MTA employees who were on strike who shared their concerns by picketing chanted the followed slogans, “no contract no work,” “A deadline is a deadline,” and “no givebacks.”  The strikers had widespread support from the public.  A striker was quoted as saying:  “at our picket the local pizza parlor operator gave us free food and drinks throughout the strike".  Passersby on foot shared their support and vehicles that passed honked their horns.  Some non-MTA members even joined our picket lines.  In the past when the MTA workers wanted raises the Metropolitan Transportation Authority lied about its finances – claiming they didn’t have the money to give people raises.  In actuality the MTA had hundreds of millions of dollars in surplus.  When the workers found out about this they decided to strike.  When the strike was finally over the MTA members found themselves receiving very little.  The members will receive a 3 percent raise the first year, a 4 percent raise the second year, and a 3.5 percent raise the third year.  The MTA will provide disability insurance up to 170 dollars a week for 26 weeks if an injury is obtained while on the job.  The employee will only incur a 1.5 percent increase in current medical premiums.   Lifetime medical has also been given to MTA employees.

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