If the Transit Workers Union makes good its threat to walk out next Monday morning, it would be the first subway and bus strike in 22 years. Mayor Bloomberg is taking the threat of a strike very seriously.

Right now both sides are far apart. The union contract expires next Sunday and negotiations aren't set to resume until Wednesday. The union is asking for a 24 percent wage increase spread over three years. But the MTA is offering no raise and instead wants workers to be more productive and pay more for benefits.

Hoping to prevent gridlock, the mayor put together a group of contingency plans that include carpools and ferries.

Mayor Bloomberg says that if the strike lasted more than a day or two, city-wide layoffs could be expected. The deadline is next Sunday.

Contingency Maps