Westchester's Bee-Line Strike Drags On (Westchester - NYC)

Mar 17, 2005 10:30 am US/Eastern

(1010 WINS) (YONKERS, N.Y.) The Bee-Line bus strike is in its 15th day. The Transit Workers Union Local 100 is striking Liberty Lines, which runs the buses from Westchester to New York City.

The union held a rally Wednesday in Yonkers, where members voted overwhelmingly to continue the strike.

Management at the Yonkers-based Liberty Lines said the company was waiting for a response or a counterproposal to what officials said was their final offer Tuesday night. <snip>

http://1010wins.com/topstories/local_story_076121130.html

in which I would eat Brand X peaches or even pears for the duration. For me, it is the bus, or nothing.

When this happened in Honolulu a year and a half ago, my life was basically put on hold for a month. My ride back and forth to work got laid off right at the end. Had the strike dragged on for a few more weeks, I could have lost my job.

We heard of one college student who walked to campus rather than flunk out -- twelve miles each way, every day. I certainly hope no one in Westchester is walking twelve miles in thirty-degree temperatures!

And, like Westchester, we had partially privatized the bus system, which meant the city had to sit by helplessly because it was not even party to the negotiations. Finally a Teamsters official from New Jersey flew out, and the situation was resolved that weekend.

The point is not to union-bash, but to establish that transit is an essential public service, right behind police and fire, and should also be covered by arbitration or whatever so that this does not happen again -- because in the Bush**co fiscal climate, it'll be your town next month...

Original publication: March 19, 2005)

The union representing Westchester's striking Bee-Line workers offered to restore service for bus-dependent school children who live in a New Rochelle apartment complex. With the school district not comfortable with one group of affected students being singled out, it was uncertain if a deal could be arranged.

But the union is on the right track. Getting students out of expensive taxis and off the streets is not only a humane gesture but a smart bid for at least some support from a public that is, we suspect, having as much trouble as bus company officials in swallowing union demands. Smarter still would be addressing all stranded students in New Rochelle and in Yonkers and Mount Vernon, as well. <snip>

http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050319/OPINION01/503190316/1015