More than 33,000 transit workers in the New York city went on strike on Tuesday for the first time in 25 years, bringing to halt all local bus and train services and stranding over four million people who use the system everyday.
City officials said the strike, coming just days ahead of Christmas and at the height of shopping season, could cost the city between $400 million (about Rs 1,800 crore) and $700 million (about Rs 3,100 crore) each day in lost revenue and business.
The talks over service conditions and wages failed late Monday night after union representatives walked out of the negotiations, describing the last offer made by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority as inadequate.
"Transit workers are tired of being under-appreciated and disrespected," said Transit Workers' Union President Roger Toussaint.
"The executive board has voted overwhelmingly to extend strike action to all MTA properties immediately," he said.
MTA President Peter Kalikow responded quickly, threatening the union with legal action under the Taylor Law, which forbids public employees from walking off the job.
"The TWU's action is illegal and irresponsible," he said, adding, "This blatant violation of the Taylor Law and the judge's injunction is a slap on the face of all MTA customers and all New Yorkers."
A New York judge had last week issued a preliminary injunction barring the transit union from staging a strike.
The Taylor Law allows for a fine of two days pay' for each day of an illegal strike.
