More Profile Than Courage

The New York City Transit Strike of 1966

By Michael Marmo

Series: SUNY series in American Labor History
Paperback : 9780791402627, 333 pages, July 1990
Hardcover : 9780791402610, 333 pages, July 1990

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Description

The New York City Transit Strike of 1966 occurred during the formative period of labor relations between government and municipal employees, and served as an impetus to convince legislators in many jurisdictions that legislation was needed to regulate public sector bargaining.

Marmo analyzes the role of the media in public sector bargaining, and demonstrates how heavy reliance and manipulation of the media by interested parties affected the outcome of political decision making during one of the most significant strikes ever to take place in the history of public sector negotiations in the United States. The book also tells the dramatic story of a confrontation between urbane, Yale-educated John Lindsay and the crusty, acid-tongued union antagonist Michael Quill.

Michael Marmo is Professor of Industrial Relations at Xavier University. He also serves as a mediator, fact-finder, and arbitrator for the Ohio State Employment Relations Board.

Reviews

"This is an important study. Marmo has used interviews, archival material, and good, old-fashioned common sense to give us the best account available of this intriguing episode in New York City's history. " — Robert Asher, University of Connecticut

"Marmo is adept at characterizing the challenge presented by the delicate transit negotiations to Lindsay. He uses contemporary accounts — primarily newspapers and some interviews — to help the reader see the political landscape and the pressures on the chief actors. " — Robert Wechsler, President, New York State Labor History Association