New York transit strike comes to an end, workers report back

The mass transit strike, which brought New York to a halt has ended with state mediators providing face saving for both sides and workers reporting back for duty.

Sixty hours after they had walked out bringing to halt the United States' largest bus and train system used by seven million commuters every day, workers started coming back starting Thursday afternoon.

However, officials said it could take anywhere from 18 to 24 hours for services to become normal.

• New York walks to work

The union leaders voted to end the strike, first in 25 years, after mediators brokered a preliminary deal during separate discussions with the union and management representatives throughout the night Wednesday.

The union's executive board voted 38 to five with two abstentions to accept the deal, which has already been accepted by Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

The details of the deal were not released and as at the suggestion of mediators, both sides had agreed to a "press blackout" saying that negotiation could not be conducted in an openly surcharged atmosphere.

For the first time since the strike, Mayor Michael Bloomberg was being criticised by analysts on television for some of his harsh remarks against the union and the transit workers with some seeing in them as "lack of political sagacity".

Union president Roger Toussaint said they would provide details over next several days.

Interestingly, each side claimed that the New Yorkers supported it. 

As of now, no issue had been taken off the table, but the negotiations are expected to start over next few day to sort out the issues, including increased contribution to pension fund and healthcare by the new entrants into the service.

State Supreme Court Justice Theodore T Jones, who was to hold a hearing on imposing fines and possible prison terms for union leaders, adjourned the hearing until January 20 to give time to both sides to come some agreement.

Under the New York State law, public employees are prohibited from striking and workers had walked out despite specific injunction issued by the court against it.