1966 Transit Strike

1966 marked the first strike against the New York City Transit Authority, led by the Transport Workers Union and the Amalgamated Transit Union. Michael “Red Mike” Quill, the founder of the TWU, led the twelve-day strike, which effectively ended all subway and bus service throughout the city, before being imprisoned. On New Year’s Day 1966, the last trains left at 8:02 a.m., and Quill arrests of the strike’s leaders were set for January 4 at 1 a.m. Despite his short imprisonment, Quill noted, “The judge can drop dead in his black robes. I don’t care if I rot in jail. I will not call off the strike.”

On January 10, over 15,000 workers picketed City Hall, and the strike ended early in the morning on January 13. Over $60 million was allotted for increased wages, an additional paid holiday, and increased pension benefits. The Taylor Law was passed following the strike, which defined the rights and limitations of public employee unions in New York. Yet after giving a speech to the strikers, Quill died at the end of January due to poor health.