NY MTA strike

the transit workers union here in NYC are threatening to go on strike. already two private bus lines are on strike. under state law the TWU is not allowed to strike. here is the main sticking points

the union wants 8% raises each year for 3 years and a lowering of the retirement age to 50 from 55. they will agree to lower the wage increases to 6% per year for 3 years if the MTA agrees to cut disciplinary action by 25%.

the MTA is offering 3% a year for 3 years, wants new workers to contribute 1% into the health plan, raise retirement age to 62.

i think the TWU is being a little ridiculous with trying to get the retirement age lowered to 50 and an 8% raise each year when most of us are lucky if we have 4-5% raises.

i think they should go to arbitration where the arbitrator makes the decision. but the union is refusing to do so. (the MTA offered to go to arbitration) i think a 90 day cooling off period is needed at this time based on some of the rhetoric coming out of both sides. the arbitration should also have a full accounting of the MTA books as there has been a lot of fishy things with their accounting.

n/t

of the need for a full accounting. they claim a 1 billion dollar surplus this year but will have a 1 billion dollar deficit in 2007. a large part of that surplus IMHO should go to paying off the debt that the MTA has. if they do this it wiill help the finances in the future.

peace

david

by the BART union in San Francisco. I am pro-union all the way, but these demands for pay and concessions, that no one in the private sector is getting right now, are unrealistic. Not that the situation in the private sector is right either, but these guys have to look at things realistically. Besides, when unions press for pay and concessions that no one else is getting, it just gives the Norquist Neocons more fuel for the privatization fire. Cool it, MTA. You have it pretty darn good right now by current standards. Work with us to get rid of the Norquist Neocons, then work with us to help ALL workers get treated right.

And I have to say: Screw the MTA and the TWU. The cost of commuting has gone up dramatically in the years since I first started riding the subways, but the frequency of trains has dropped just as quickly. Also, they've cut the number of MTA employees and put card dispensing machines in their place. Then, last year, we found out that the MTA had been cooking its books to make it appear they were in a worse financial position than they really were....

I'm generally very pro-worker and pro-union, but the hell with them and their demands.

The whole NYC transit system is corrupt.

They should strike so all parties can suffer.

they get fined two days pay for each one struck.

what's your thought on this?

If the economic 'impact' of the strike is so large, then the value of the service is equally large. Pay 'em!

binding arbitration. with a full open accounting of the MTA books

I understand them on the raises (for the most part--3% is way too low and 8% is high, but I bet they'll meet in the middle for this one) but retirement at 50? That's just silly. Hell, 55 is a generously low retirement! That said, I agree that the MTA is being shady with their money and that arbitration is needed.

I knew they weren't going to pull a full strike today, tho'--when 12:01am passed last night I knew they'd lost their nerve for it. No one wants to be the one who ruins the last holiday shopping weekend in Manhattan!

to go out and walk on monday.

the private bus lines struck today

For no other reason than my own curiosity, to see what Manhattan will look like with all the people walking/driving/biking. I like unusual situations. :) I come in from NJ so I'll still be able to go about my business, but I'm sure my trains are gonna be packed...

C'mon guys...there are workers out there fighting to KEEP THEIR JOBS and the MTA wants to strike for 8% annual raises and retirement, with benefits, at 50?!?!

And they're citing the fact that they're exposed to years worth of asbestos and chemicals underground (rat poison,etc.) The main sticking point is that they want to have new workers pay into their pensions and health plans. One percent for each can come to $1000 a year per worker if you add it up. Yes, many make 55K, but 55K doesn't go all that far living in NYC. It's a decent middle class wage.

The argument that "things are so bad for private workers, how dare public employees strike" is odd logic. Private employees will usually take working conditions to as low as they'll go, and good jobs in the public sector set an example for what a decent working class life might look like. When public employees begin to suffer, corporate bosses will rationalize, "why should you have it better than public employees."

Good employment conditions aren't a zero sum game. Just because striking MTA workers get a better contract doesn't mean that Walmart employees lose in the end. And furthermore, the MTA raised the fare to $2 a ride and employees got none of it, no new lines were built, and I don't see better trains or subway conditions.

I have recently heard that many conductors and motormen develop lung cancer not only from the asbestos but from the steel dust. NYC subways run on steel rails with steel wheels. They also develop serious hearing problems, even those who do wear the protective gear.

Give them their raises. Let them retire, because many of them evidently aren't around too long afterward, and let's appreciate them for hauling us around all day, all night, every day, year in and year out.

They also have some other issues: when a train worker calls in sick, they are virtually under house arrest. They are not allowed to leave their homes without calling in to their supervisor, reporting, and then reporting again when they get back. If they don't, TA people come to the home to check up on them. That seems a bit extreme, doesn't it? So they have some work rules issues.

Private employers created these two-tier (or more) deals :(if you were hired after such a date, you get much less vacation than people who were hired the day before, for example). I causes resentment. How is that good for business?

I hope they don't strike; I depend on them to get around. But if that's what they need to do, we'll just have to make do.

the current retirement age is 55. the union wants it lowered to 50 while the MTA wants it raised to 62.