Bus Strike Vote Likely
The 1,500 members of Transport Workers Union Local 100 on strike at Jamaica Buses, the Queens Surface Corporation and Triboro Coach Corporation, are expected to vote this week on whether to return to work following the adoption of a resolution supporting job security by forty-two of the New York City Council?s fifty-one members. Although the resolution is non-binding, the strong majority support ensures that Mayor Michael Bloomberg would be unable to turn the routes over to the Metropolitan Transport Authority---a long stated political goal---or put them out to bid with other private contractors, without providing job security for Local 100 members. Local 100?s contract with the three city-subsidized companies expired at the end of 2001, and members have been on strike for a month-and-a-half over health benefits and job security (see WIT?s for June 17 and 18, and July 10 and 16, 2002).
See "Bus Strike Vote Likely", BOBBY CUZA, Newsday, July 28, 2002