New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg holds a news conference at City Hall on the state of the city after day one of a system-wide transit strike Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005, in New York. The Mayor was joined by the police and fire commissioners along with several other city officials.
Members of the Transport Workers Union walk a picket line in front of MTA's Michael J. Quill Bus Depot Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005, in New York. Subway and bus workers went on strike for the first time in more than 25 years, stranding millions of commuters, shoppers and tourists. A judge promptly slapped a $1 million-a-day fine on the union for violating a state law that bars public employees from going on strike.
New York City commuters, including two Santa's, cross a midtown intersection Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005. A judge has imposed a $1 million a-day fine against the city's transit union for striking. Subways and buses ground to a halt Tuesday morning in New York as transit workers walked off the job following days of acrimonious labor talks.
Riders watch from the bow of the Staten Island Ferry as it approaches lower Manhattan Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005, in New York. Ferry service was not affected by the mass transit strike, and the city's Department of Transportation added additional ferries to accommodate rush hour commuters.
Downtown traffic on Second Ave. is at a stand still up to the checkpoint on 96th St., top of frame, where police officers are allowing only cars with at least four passengers to continue into the heart of the city.
Sean F. McShea, forground and Chris Adaio, both of Manhattan, work on their laptop computers inside a taxi while stuck in traffic on second Ave. above 96th St. where police officers are allowing only cars with at least four passengers to continue into the heart of the city, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005, in New York.
Pedestrians crowd a midtown intersection Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005. Subways and buses ground to a halt Tuesday morning in New York as transit workers walked off the job following days of acrimonious labor talks, threatening to plunge the city into chaos by forcing more than 7 million daily riders to find new ways to get around.
Commuters walk across the Brooklyn Bridge early morning Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005 in New York. New York transit workers walked off the job for the first time in 25 years, affecting millions of people who rely on the bus and subway system each day.
New York commuters wait in line to catch a taxi Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005. Subways and buses ground to a halt Tuesday morning in New York as transit workers walked off the job following days of acrimonious labor talks, threatening to plunge the city into chaos by forcing more than 7 million daily riders to find new ways to get around.
Commuters run to catch a Long Island Rail Road train in the Jamaica section of the Queens borough of New York, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005. Subways and buses ground to a halt Tuesday morning as transit workers walked off the job.
New York City police officers direct traffic at a checkpoint on Lexington Ave. and 96th St. Dec. 20, 2005 in New York. In order for a car to enter Manhattan below 96th Street between 5 a.m. and 11 a.m., it must carry four or more passengers due to a system-wide strike by the Transit Workers Union.
Motorists sit in worse than normal traffic near Shea Stadium in the Queens borough of New York Monday Dec. 20, 2005. The union called the strike after a late round of negotiations broke down Monday night. Subways and buses ground to a halt Tuesday morning as transit workers walked off the job at the height of the holiday shopping and tourist season, forcing millions of riders to find new ways to get around.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg, center, and his aides walk across the Brooklyn Bridge with other commuters during the morning rush hour Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005, in New York. Transit workers walked off the job for the first time in 25 years, stranding millions of people who rely on the bus and subway system each day.
Commuters walk across the Brooklyn Bridge during the morning rush hour in New York on Dec. 20, 2005. City transit workers decided to strike for the first time in 25 years, stranding millions of workers who use the bus and subway system each day.
With a transit strike shutting down public transportation, commuters brave the biting cold to make their way across the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan at dawn Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005. After days of failed negotiations with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Transport Workers Union launched a system-side strike, leaving an estimated 7 million riders scrambling to find alternate transportation.
Notices can be seen at the Times Square subway station in New York after the Transit Workers Union announced a strike as they failed to reach a deal with the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005. More than 7 million daily riders will be forced to find new ways to get around because of the strike.
Penn Station stands empty in New York shortly after a transit strike was called on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005. The city's transit union called the strike after failing to reach a deal with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority following days of labor talks.
Subway entrances are closed at the Times Square station in Manhattan after the Transit Workers Union announced a strike as they failed to reach a deal with the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005.
Transit workers protest near the MTA Corona Maintenance shop in the Queens borough of New York on Monday, Dec. 20, 2005. The union called the strike after negotiations broke down Monday night. Union President Roger Toussaint said the union board voted overwhelmingly to call the strike.
Roger Toussaint, president of Local 100 of the Transport Workers Union, center, accompanied by Darlyne Lawson, left, recording secretary, and other union officials, announces a strike after failing to reach a deal with the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005, at the union headquarters in Manhattan.