Contact: Ruth J. Morrison  

(New York - December 19, 2005) Congressman Ed Towns (D-NY 10) called upon New York Governor George E. Pataki to intervene in transit talks to avert a New York City transit strike.  In a letter to the governor, Congressman Towns stated:

 “As the deadline approaches for the Transport Workers Union to execute its strike vote, I urge you to implore the Metropolitan Transit Authority to step up and bargain with the TWU in good faith.  The hard-line negotiating tactics employed by the MTA is unproductive.

Like most New Yorkers, I would not like to see a transit strike.  However, the MTA is forcing the TWU and thus, the riding public, into an untenable situation. 

As a longtime supporter of unions and working people, I must lend my voice in support of the TWU.  Transit workers feel that through the MTA’s actions, it does not respect its employees.  For example, the working conditions and in particular, the facilities that its female employees must use are unconscionable and in some cases, a liability waiting to happen. However, the MTA allows this situation to persist.

 The public does not trust the MTA; primarily because of its management’s ill-advised plans for conductor-less trains and the elimination of clerks in “token booths,”as well as its “here today and gone tomorrow” finances.  The public would have preferred that the MTA use its most recent fiscal surplus to help avert a fare hike and a strike by its workers.

Additionally, New Yorkers are faced with the ever-present threat of terrorism and transit employees are on the front line.  Nonetheless, the MTA has been slow in providing its employees with the necessary tools to prevent and/or to respond to terrorist attacks. 

Again, I am in alliance with the TWU and working people in general. I trust that you will use your influence to strongly encourage the MTA to work with the TWU to reach a fair contract.” 

###