the matter, workers for the Long Island Rail Road, another MTA subsidiary, went on strike on April 2. This was actually the LIRR's second strike in four months, with the first one having occurred in December 1979. This strike also revolved around a lack of pay. Because of the strike, the remaining operating transit agencies in the area, Conrail and PATH, had increased ridership, and bridges and tunnels into Manhattan saw more vehicular traffic than usual. By April 4, the fourth day of the strike, the MTA and the workers were deadlocked, and the agency sought to fine the unions $3 million per day in damages. A court hearing was held to determine whether the workers were actually striking, and thus subject to fines. Three days later, the MTA and the workers were preparing for another round of negotiations. The unions softened their demand for a wage raise. On April 9, a New York State Supreme Court justice fined the unions a total of $1 million for striking during the past eight days. The MTA reached separate agreements with the LIRR and the NYCTA unions on April 11. The next day, the workers went back to work. The TWU won a 9% raise in the first year and 8% in the second year, along with a cost-of-living adjustment. Mayor Ed Koch became a very popular and visible figure to the commuting public. He was widely seen crossing the Brooklyn Bridge, near New York City Hall, with the masses of people commuting on foot, famously asking people "How'm I doing?" He took a hard line against the strike, saying, "I think what the public is saying is, 'Don't give in to strikes and threats.'" This was contrasted with the actions of Mayor John Lindsay during the 1966 strike. While Lindsay had asked most workers to stay home, Koch actively cheered on commuters who walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. Effects The population of Manhattan is said to have increased by 500,000 people during the strike, primarily corporate employees staying in hotel rooms. Bicycle commutes were popular; they were estimated to have increased by 200,000 people. This was attributed to the warm spring weather that was present when the strike occurred. During the strike, the city lost approximately $2 million a day in taxes and another $1 million a day in overtime expenses for city employees. Companies in the private sector lost approximately