Transit workers are going to return to work immediately and resume subways and buses service throughout the five boroughs of New York City.[Xinhua / Reuters]

Transit workers are going to return to work immediately and resume subways and buses service throughout the five boroughs of New York City.[Xinhua / Reuters]

Transit workers are going to return to work immediately and resume subways and buses service throughout the five boroughs of New York City.[Xinhua / Reuters]

     NEW YORK, Dec. 23 (Xinhuanet) -- New York transport workers went back to work early Friday, ending their three-day strike to protest the stalemate between the transport union and the transportation authority over pension benefits.

    "NYC Transit has resumed full overnight subway and bus service," the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said on its website. 
    

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    "During the morning rush, service on NYCT subways and buses and on MTA bus lines will ramp up incrementally," the service added.

    The end of strike came amid mounting fines and the rising wrath of millions of commuters, with some 7 million New Yorkers having to walk, drive, or ride bicycles to work. New York State Justice Theodore Jones has fined the union 1 million US dollars a day for striking.

    Local commuters feel relieved after hearing the news, as they don't have to walk in the freezing coldness to do the Christmas shopping. The New York government also expressed rejoice toward the news.

    "In the end, cooler heads prevailed," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said. "We passed the test with flying colors. We did what we had to do to keep the city running, and running safely."

    New York state governor George Pataki said the end of strike was "very positive for all New Yorkers," saying the stoppage had caused "an enormous inconvenience and hardship."

    However, the end of strike didn't solve the disputes between the Transit Workers Union (TWU) and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) as both sides agreed to further negotiate. It was reported that the MTA had improved its wage offer but insisted on reducing pension and health care benefits for transport workers. Enditem