The city’s transit workers union executive board voted in favour of sending bus and subway employees to their jobs while talks continue over disputed healthcare and pension provisions, a proposed increase in retirement age and a pay rise.
“I’m pleased to announce that the local 100 executive board just voted overwhelmingly to direct transit workers to return to work immediately and to resume bus and subway service throughout the five boroughs in New York City,” strike leader Roger Toussaint said.
“We thank all riders for their patience and forbearance and we will be providing various details regarding the outcome of this strike in the next several days.”
The city’s mayor, Michael Bloomberg, said he anticipated there would be some delay before New York’s public transport system was fully up and running again.
“Keep in mind that we have an enormous mass transit system that serves the millions of riders in this city and it can’t be turned on or off with a flip of the switch,” Mr Bloomberg said.
“We would expect buses to be running later this evening, and hopefully most subways in the morning.”
About seven million commuters use the network of buses and trains, which is America’s largest.
The strike has placed a massive strain on New York’s notoriously busy streets, forcing many to brave below-zero temperatures on foot, bicycles, skateboards and other novel means of transport to get around.
“I’m glad that it’s over. I didn’t think I’d be able to leave the city to go home to Virginia for Christmas with all the hassles,” New Yorker Christina Turner said.
The three day-long strike is estimated to have cost businesses in the city almost US$1 million (A$1.36m), hitting retailers during the traditionally busy Christmas holiday period.
Mayor Bloomberg said that restaurants had experienced a 40 percent fall in patronage, while attendance at some museums slid by as much as 80 percent.
He said that difficulties in maintaining food supplies had also affected restaurants and grocery stores.
The city’s blood bank was also affected, issuing a warning that blood supplies had slumped dangerously during the industrial action.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has reportedly dropped its demand to increase the retirement age from 55 and offered an increase wage rise, but is said to have insisted workers contribute more to their pensions.
Mediator Richard Curreri said that despite continued disagreement over pensions, talks at the Manhattan hotel where both sides have met were described as ‘fruitful’.
Mr Curreri said it was clear “that both parties have a genuine desire to resolve their differences.”
However, details about the negotiations are under wraps following the imposition of a news blackout by both sides.
The return to mediation interrupted a court hearing in which Mr Toussaint and two of his union deputies were ordered to appear before Judge Theodore Jones.
The judge had earlier ruled that the strike was illegal and fined the TWU one million dollars for each day of the action – the first to halt New York’s buses and subways since 1980.
Judge Jones warned that the men risked a prison sentence if they did not end the work stoppage.
With just a few days remaining before Christmas, New Yorkers will be in a hurry to finish off last minute purchases that businesses hope will bring a much-needed boost to their bottom lines.