Snow Threatens Chaos In N.Y.

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30954, 10 January 1966, Page 11

Snow Threatens Chaos In N.Y.

'N.Z.P.A. Reuter —Copyright)

NEW YORK, January 9

Falling snow threatened new traffic chaos as mediators renewed their uphill battle for a settlement of the New York transport strike today.

Only a few inches of snow brings New York to a standstill at normal times.

Haggard traffic police feared that it could paralyse the metropolis at a time when the underground and city-opprated buses are idle.

But for most tired and footsore New Yorkers the weekend brought blessed relief. They stayed at home after a week of twice-daily turmoil getting to and from work.

With most offices and businesses closed, there were no traffic jams yesterday and commuter trains ran normally. Even with an immediate end to the walk-out it would take an estimated eight to 12 hours to get all the buses and trains rolling again. Big Loss

The walk-out is costing an estimated 100 million dollars a day, according to business organisations. The exact state of the labour negotiations remains a close secret because the Mayor and the mediators believe publicity on the bargaining would hinder progress. The 35.000-strong Transport Union began with demands

costing an estimated 680 million dollars over two years, including a four-day, 32-hour week.

The Transit Authority countered with a 25 raillion-dollar offer. Both sides are known to have narrowed the gap since then but the latest word from the mediators —a three-man panel led by Professor Nathan Feinsinger, a lawyer —is that eight or 10 points of difference are still unresolved.