TWA (MTA Workers, NYC) On Strike!

[Pemolis]

Its official, The TWA (union that controls the workers for the MTA) authorized the strike.. and its going on. Announced at 3 am this morning.

Either or, last Strike was 25 years ago in NYC, shutdown for nearly a month. Union disputes that they should have a share of the over 1 BILLION dollars the MTA took in extra (its expected the MTA took in Well over 1 Billion, TWA's guess is they underreported by over 100 million). Also qoutes wanting better healthcare, and stable pension plans.

Its not the first time the MTA cooked the books and hid cash. (hid about 500 million a year or 2 ago, this was done in order for the MTA to get a fair hike) http://www.nydailynews.com/news/local/story/78004p-71918c.html
http://www.transalt.org/press/magazine/032Spring/08mta.html

Actual strike:
http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/ (news is in the scrolly).

[Merlin]

As I read it the $1billion in profits was a one off event. If they raised wages because of that they would be in the red very quickly.

[Lolita]

Sigh, I can only hope it's a one day strike. I can't make it to work today because of this...

[Grimm]

A public transit system is not a vehical for getting transit workers more pay. It is supposed to get people where they are going.

Why should the workers get all the profits from the transit system? Those monies could be used for other projects and imporvements. Why isn't there anything on how much the transit workers already get paid and how much they want. TWA is trying to mug the city.

[kimchicowboy]

A public transit system is not a vehical for getting transit workers more pay. It is supposed to get people where they are going.

Why should the workers get all the profits from the transit system? Those monies could be used for other projects and imporvements. Why isn't there anything on how much the transit workers already get paid and how much they want. TWA is trying to mug the city.
:stupid:
i think they be greedy.

[gaemul]

i agree with kimchicowboy. what's with everyone going on strike nowadays?

[mcs328]

I wonder if the taxi cabs are raking in money or are they part of the strike too?

[zenbooty]

This won't last long. The National board voted not to back the local 100 that's striking, believing it best to return to bargaining after the city made concessions. Without national support, they can't hold up long in the face of the major fines they are accumulating.

[smeakim]

I would love a 3% raise, but asking for 9% give me a break. Unions think that can get away with everything. With the grocery strike over here not that long ago people were complaining that they did not get paid enough to stock shelves. This one guy called and complained that he only got $13 an hour to stock shelves. They started asking questions and he said Oh I don't have to pay for medical, I have a pension, I have a 401k, and etc. Cry me a river! I think the unions are crooks!!!! JMHO

[gaemul]

I wonder if the taxi cabs are raking in money or are they part of the strike too?

My sister lives in NYC and she said that the city changed the base fair for cabs during the strike to discourage people from using taxis unless they really need to or can afford to. The base fare during the strike is $10 within a zone. The city is broken up into 4 zones. If you go into another zone, ie brooklyn to manhattan you have to pay an additional $10 to transfer to a new zone. Sounds like price gouging to me.

$20 cab rides (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/20/nyregion/nyregionspecial3/20cnd-checkpoint.html)

[kimchicowboy]

they still get paid pretty well. heck, even with my college degree, they probably get more than me. and they probably won't hire me since i'm probably "over-qualified." bah.

[Butch]

****in' TWU can kiss my ass . . . whiney bastards . . .

Of course, I don't have it too badly, since I'm just visiting for the holidays, and whatnot . . . but I still have rather strong feelings on the subject.

I stopped by my old office today in midtown (walked down there, of course), and some co-workers were saying they walked nearly 3 hours to get there. ****ing ridiculous.

Greedy little transit workers are over-paid to begin with given the level of skill required to perform their jobs . . . of course, the MTA is not without fault . . . they're a bunch of greedy bastard ****ups, as well. Nonetheless, two wrongs don't make a right . . . and it's not illegal to be a ****up. It is, however, illegal for public workers to go on-strike.

[Pemolis]

:stupid:
i think they be greedy.


I'm going to note something, outside of San Francisco (and 1 or 2 other places), NY is probably the most costly place to live. We pay ALOT for a little (80+ bucks to and fro on trains that take 1 to 2 hours each way, 300 bucks if you are on the Long Island, 2.50 to 3 bucks for gas, when everybody else pays 2 dollars. Pay 4.50 to go over a bridge... to visit your friend.. in queens. Thats not another state, thats about .5 miles away, and 4.50 just to go see them.

The city is expensive, and recently, apartments/housing has probably doubled/tripled in price.

They wanting more money... I can understand that. They do get alot now (so I assume), but hell I wouldn't want to work for the MTA or in a Subway, Driving a Bus, etc.

We need them, like we need Garbage Men, and they know it.

[zenbooty]

I'm going to note something, outside of San Francisco (and 1 or 2 other places), NY is probably the most costly place to live.Depends. Manhattan is more expensive. The decent areas in the outer boroughs are probably about the same.

[Butch]

I'm going to note something, outside of San Francisco (and 1 or 2 other places), NY is probably the most costly place to live. We pay ALOT for a little (80+ bucks to and fro on trains that take 1 to 2 hours each way, 300 bucks if you are on the Long Island, 2.50 to 3 bucks for gas, when everybody else pays 2 dollars. Pay 4.50 to go over a bridge... to visit your friend.. in queens. Thats not another state, thats about .5 miles away, and 4.50 just to go see them.

The city is expensive, and recently, apartments/housing has probably doubled/tripled in price.

They wanting more money... I can understand that. They do get alot now (so I assume), but hell I wouldn't want to work for the MTA or in a Subway, Driving a Bus, etc.

We need them, like we need Garbage Men, and they know it.

:shrug: They knew what they were getting into when they accepted the job. Compare them to asian manicurists who live 5-10 to an apartment and have no benefits, and they have it GREAT!!

Nobody is saying that life is fair, but these people accepted a low-skill position that pays VERY well for what it is . . . they also accepted a position which is known to be illegal to strike from . . . they accepted their contracts with this information . . . they are breaking the law by striking . . . and I have no sympathy for them whatsoever.

[Nija]

:shrug: They knew what they were getting into when they accepted the job. Compare them to asian manicurists who live 5-10 to an apartment and have no benefits, and they have it GREAT!!

Nobody is saying that life is fair, but these people accepted a low-skill position that pays VERY well for what it is . . . they also accepted a position which is known to be illegal to strike from . . . they accepted their contracts with this information . . . they are breaking the law by striking . . . and I have no sympathy for them whatsoever.

I've heard 'the Taylor Act' is what makes it illegal. From what I know, you can't force someone to work (it's slavery if you do). I can't understand how it can still be legally enforceable (I heard they want to fine the union $1M/day).

[Grimm]

I've heard 'the Taylor Act' is what makes it illegal. From what I know, you can't force someone to work (it's slavery if you do). I can't understand how it can still be legally enforceable (I heard they want to fine the union $1M/day).
Oh, the individual workers can't be forced to work, but it's illegal for the union to strike. Due to the type of work they do, they don't have the right to strike. They are not protected by the law. It's too harmfull to society for them to strike, so the bar is set much higher. Just like yelling "Fire" in a crowded theatre isn't protected as Free Speech.
After a few days the city can claim they all quit because they did not show up to work.

[Lolita]

I'm stranded in Manhattan :(

[Pemolis]

I'm sorry to hear that Lolita.

People have 3 outs.

1) Metro North/Long Island Railroad (4 bucks one way)
2) Cab (10 bucks around area). To cross manhattan, can be from 10 to 40.
3) Walk. (Free but hard to do in 10 degree weather).

I've been taking my car to the metro north, then taking that down, then walking about 15 blocks (from 44th to 59, then across to 10th ave). The only reason I'm dealing with it is because I'm used to walking from madison to 10th ave. This strike adds on only 5 blocks or so.

Though I can say, I hate waiting for that Train.

I may drive down, long as I wait till after 11 am.

[ShawnLee]

Yay for the workers fighting for rights against the oppression of their fellow man!

Hmm, too bad there are no sarcasm tags, someone might think I'm serious.

[cheapie]

I'm sorry to hear that Lolita.

People have 3 outs.

1) Metro North/Long Island Railroad (4 bucks one way)
2) Cab (10 bucks around area). To cross manhattan, can be from 10 to 40.
3) Walk. (Free but hard to do in 10 degree weather).

I've been taking my car to the metro north, then taking that down, then walking about 15 blocks (from 44th to 59, then across to 10th ave). The only reason I'm dealing with it is because I'm used to walking from madison to 10th ave. This strike adds on only 5 blocks or so.

Though I can say, I hate waiting for that Train.

I may drive down, long as I wait till after 11 am.



you can bike!

[JackHammer]

I'm going to drive into the city so I can hit the Met with my cousin. She's visitng from LA. I don't think parking will be too bad up in the 90's.

[Yossarian]

you can bike!

in NYC? you must have a death wish. sheet, i wouldn't do it in pittsburgh

[zenbooty]

News Alert that the union just voted to end the strike...

[Lolita]

Yep, it's over

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051222/ap_on_re_us/nyc_transit_strike;_ylt=AqECrtmoif5cl0IIFXbV72Cs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--

[Burzhui]

hehe i drove lolita and my mom into the city, it took me 2 and a half hours to get them there, and 12 minutes to get back home... it was ****ing ridiculous

[Sirrich3]

It should be a better day on Friday!