Strike? Or Not?

“Good luck with that.”

“New deadline tonight (sigh)...

This is getting old fast!”

“And they are on strike. Good luck all New Yorkers.”

“1. "The state's Taylor Law bars strikes by public employees and carries penalties of two days' pay for each day on strike,"

2. "Michael T. O'Brien, the president of the Transport Workers Union of America, Local 100's parent union, warned the board that he could not support a strike because he believed the authority's most recent offer represented real progress."”

“How is it there weren't arrangements made (or were there?) for replacement workers to immediately step in?”

“Replacing 34,000 workers is not easy....



...and a rather expensive back-up plan!



Well, after examining my options this morning, I opted for my last day off of 2005 (I had one left). I spoke to my boss and she said "no problem-o" there. I also spoke to another employee who managed to get 4 people together to ride in with her uncle and got dropped off. So, she said, that if tomorrow brings more of this, then I should be good for a ride. They got into Manhattan in under an hour, which ain't bad! The traffic wasn't too heavy, they said. I gotta give the city credit for enforcing that 4 person per vehicle rule. It has probably made traffic that much more bearable.

Twinks! Where ya at?”

“As far as I've heard they are striking against 2 - PRIVATE companies.”

“Catskhiker that was last friday they walked out on two private companies that were in transition to become owned by the MTA. It is now a full strike.

Some reactions of local New Yorkers posted on MSNNEWS.

Angry commuters
Commuter frustration was evident both before the strike and after it was called.

Darryl Padilla, a 20-year-old club promoter, was trying to get on the train at Penn Station when he found out that the strike had begun. He didn’t have enough cash to take a cab to his home on the northern tip of Manhattan.

“I didn’t think they were going to shut down. I can’t take a cab,” he said.

“Enough is enough,” said Craig DeRosa, who relies on the subway to get to work. “Their benefits are as rich as you see anywhere in this country and they are still complaining. I don’t get it.”

In Queens, Brunilda Ayala said she had no sympathy for the union after the bus strike began in her neighborhood.

“How can you give a raise to a bus driver who would make three old ladies walk home in the cold?” asked Ayala, 57.

The strike is New York’s citywide mass transit walkout first since an 11-day strike in 1980.”

“Don't get me wrong, Flasher. I'm quite a bit pissed off about this. But, my anger goes out to more than just the workers. Yes, they were offered enough to, at least, keep on bargaining and not screw us (Yes, us, without whom these muthaphuckas would not get paid). And, to the MTA (yes, the MTA, who wouldn't be pulling down these HUGE salaries and have the capital for their HUGE deals, if it weren't for us). Let's throw brain-dead guv George Pataki in there, too. He said (and kept saying as of a few mninutes ago) that the "professionals" (yes, you heard right!!), the professionals are handling the situuation! Handling, hmmmm! Frankly, i'd say these "professionals" couldn't find their asses with both hands, judging from the results!
last edited: 12/20/05 8:10:31 AM”

“Treebeard, I'm done trying to argue about this situation anymore as we all know my stance. With that being said both sides are acting like children. The situation needs to be resolved for the sake of the city of New York.

Hopefully you can get a ride down to work tomorrow. After its all said and done lets go backpacking. :)”

“Sounds good, my friend! I think you and I are pretty much on the same page, though. I think everyone should have their fair share. But, like we have been saying, we're the ones getting screwed. These guys make significantly more than I do. They have better bennies, too. You know what would happen if I told my employer I was going to launch a strike? They'd laugh at me as they put an ad for my job in the Times!”

“LOL same here...same here. What good places are there out east to backpack (I'm sure there are alot of them) Filtergyrl and I are looking for a couple of weekend trips this spring/summer and I'd like to add some more people to my list.”

“Well, as you may know, Mapleleaf is my wife and we like to BP together. That said, to the north of us is Harriman (about an hour out of the city), the Catskills (a bit further up) and then, there's Lumberzac country, the beautiful Adirondacks! The different options within them are too numerous to mention. Let us know as time gets closer and we will put several options out for all of us to examine and come up with something that is suitable for all involved. Twinks is here in the city, too. Then you have the eastern Pennsylvania contingent and Zac up to the north. Some of other upstaters and the New England folks may be able to be part of it if they wish, too...

Then, there's always my personal favorite, Ithaca! Ah, the gorges and waterfalls are mahhh-velous! I am looking towards another trip up there when the weather breaks also...
last edited: 12/20/05 8:33:17 AM”

“

So how'd you get to work this morning, treebeard?

Oh wait, I see. You didn't!
last edited: 12/20/05 8:38:38 AM”

“Sweet I love waterfalls. We'd be coming from the Quad Cities. We'd probably have to do a leave Thursday night, hike friday saturday, and depart on Sunday. I'd love to go longer but I have vacation restraints this year with wedding and all.

Hey look we just turned this thread into backpacking.”

“Ha! Yes, we did! Keep in touch. We'll talk about it..”

“Why didn't they go on strike before my Geophysics final??????

I wish I knew all the details of the MTA's last offer but the last I heard the TWU was not happy about the portion regarding new hires having to pay 1% to their health care/retirement and raising retirement from 55 to 62 years old.

This is the problem? We are being held hostage by 6th grade educated people who have a problem with having to pay a little in for benefits and have to retirement closer to when the rest of us do? It's not even them...it's the future "them"! What a bunch of wankers.

Too bad they can't be fired.


You've been waiting for it folks....

F8CK THE TWU

F@CK THE MTA

F@CK BEING HELD HOSTAGE BY A BUNCH OF LOWBROW GOONS!”

“Preach, baby, preach! Now, that's the feisty Twinks we've grown to know and love!!!! :)

I wish I could have been a fly on the wall in that hotel room where the talks were taking place. I would love to have heard the exchanges!”

“Here's a crazy idea...maybe the MTA and TWU should let the people of NYC and surrounding areas (those with a high % of city commuters) to vote on all the sections of the overall contract. We get punished by this bull-#&%!$. We should have a say in this.

Not sure how it would work but I'm sure an idea could be hatched.”

“hat's cool. Or, how about this. Put Kalikow and Toussaint in the room (and whoever else they might need) and lock the damned hotel room door. Don't let them out until they have a settlement!
last edited: 12/20/05 9:13:26 AM”

“The union -- This is bull crap we think the future employees should be able to retire at age 55 and be millionaires.

The MTA -- This is bull crap we think the future employees should retire at age 62 and have a decent retirement.

The Union -- Well your a poo-poo head
The MTA -- Well your a poo-poo head too.
The Union -- Fine!!
The MTA -- Fine!1
The Union -- We are going on strike!!
The MTA -- Go ahead we'll fine you!!
The Union -- Fine!!
The MTA -- Fine!!


Sounds like a 6th grade fight to me.
last edited: 12/20/05 9:25:51 AM”

“Even better idea...except the problem also lies in the executive board...”

“If these guys are allowed to strike just wait until the next contract comes up for the NYPD. That should be some fun.”

“Dang...do we have to put up with this crap every 3 years?”

“How much they gonna pay scabs and can I stay at the treehouse?”

“You know what's really irritating about this? I had to pay $200 more for a flight out on Thursday...instead of today...because I have an exam to give....and now, the exam will most likely not be given because my school will postpone exams until January for everyday screwed up by the strike.
last edited: 12/20/05 9:34:23 AM”

“do i get a refund for my subway card?”

“No but you have earned the right to hop turnstyles for two months.”

“Don't discard your MetroCard. It will retain its value after a strike as follows:

Unlimited Ride MetroCard (including Reduced-Fare Unlimited Ride MetroCard) — 30-Day and 7-Day Unlimited Ride (as well as Express Bus Plus, Holiday Bonus, and Holiday Unlimited) cards will be extended for as many days as the strike lasts. In other words, you will not lose any time on your Unlimited Ride MetroCard as a result of the strike.
Pay-Per-Ride MetroCard—your card is not affected.
LIRR and Metro-North Mail&Ride MetroCard—customers holding monthly tickets with Unlimited Ride MetroCard will automatically receive credit for any unused portion of the MetroCard in the next statement.”

“Apparently the head union does not support the strike.”

“Rules TWU in contempt of court. The TWU has been ordered to pay 1 million dollars per day for striking in violation of the Taylor Law. No reaction from union officials yet...”

“Ay-yi-yi! I heard news of this on the radio this morning and immediately thought about you NYCers. I hope you all can cope with this. Even the short yellow bus would be welcome these days, huh? Be well, my friends!”

“So did Treebeard rollerblade to work or not? I missed it.”

“$1,000,000 / day is not enough.”

“I stayed home today. Used my last vacation day. Now, tomorrow is a different story. Back's against the wall now, with no more days left in '05!

I did get an almost definite offer for a ride tomorrow. I will find out for sure tonight...”

“well day two and it is getting worse

got up to take twignut to work at 5:00 AM
came home and bundled up treebeard (he has a very long morning and walk ahead of him) and drove him to the ferry.

tommorow will be even worse. twignut has to be at work at 4:00 AM :(

I feel so bad for all the people that have to work in NYC. yesterday I was looking for elderly people walking and asking if they needed a ride. no takers yet!

on a funny note, three guys in a car got busted for putting a coat in the back seat and putting a baseball cap on it. LMAO hey they tried!!

traffic is soooooo bad. a 15 min ride has turned into an hour in half long parking lot. and im in Staten Island!! they are keeping me in SI because they are giving our drivers a hard time trying to get over the bridges. HELLO WE ARE RESCUE!!!!

oh well back to bed for an hour sleep!”

“And you wonder why I live in Upstate NY. Hang in there. Hopefully the buttheads will reach a compromise.”

“WELL, I'M #&%!$ING HERE! CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT A GREAT #&%!$ING MOOD I'M IN!!!!
last edited: 12/21/05 7:46:36 AM”

“Dude! Just skip work! It's not like you don't have a good excuse.”

“I'm here already. I don't have any days left. HR at our home office in Philadelphia can be "funny", at times...

I'll be ok. Over all, it wasn't THAT bad! I'm sure some have it worse. I'm going to eat something and have a nice hot cup of Earl Grey!”

“I'm going to Philadelphia tomorrow morning. Let me know who is giving you trouble and I'll take care of them. :)”

“I heard an interview with the nion president yesterday about how they're striking because they get no respect. Respect is not a reason to strike and they'll definately not earn any this way.

You guys in NYC are in my thoughts. Hang in there.”

“I look at it this way, if the bus drivers in Israel can show up for work and possibly get blown up why can't these Ralf Cramdions show up? LOL!”

“To be truthful, if I felt these people were getting a "true-to life" raw deal, then I would be behind them 100%, despite what they are doing to us (those that pay for all this)! However, their wages and bennies are not all that bad. I didn't realize until this morning the details of the last MTA offer. I might add here, that I am hardly a supporter of those greedy, deceitful pigs that make up the MTA. However, this is what was offered. 10.5% wage increase over three years (upped from original offer of 3% per year). Retirement age remains at 55, even for new hires (originally, new hires were going to be required to work until 62). New hires contribute 6% of wages to pension fund. No health benefit changes (originally wanted to intitiate employee contributions). This is not perfect, but hardly something to scoff at. If nothing else, it's enough, IMO, to keep them on the job while they still bargain...
last edited: 12/21/05 8:29:48 AM”

“It's corprate blackmail. Plain and simple.”

“It's a matter of give and take. The union isn't budging an inch here. That's what I find wrong. There area few other matters that the MTA can budge on themselves, to. Who gets screwed, though? US!

Down the short road, we'll also have to listen to the MTA bellyache about soaring deficits, resulting in yet another fare hike.”

“I'm glad this problem doesn't affect me but as a liberial Republican here is how I feel. The Republican in me says that they should ask for the maximum amount of money they can get regardleess of what is considered fair. I personally am never paid "enough" there is no definition of "enough" money for a service provided. If you were a company you would never consider yourself to be making enough money. There are always new profits to be seeked. I consider myself to be my own private company and I am a for profit business. I also realize that if I am outbid by another I may lose the job. It is simple free enterprise.

The liberial in me says that the right to strike is something every worker private and public worker has. As a liberial I also fell the timing of this strike is bad. A strike before Christmas is not hurting the MTA as much as it is hurting the citizens. People are trying to visit family and celebrate the season. They could have made their demands in January and would have affected less people who their strike is not directed against.

Maybe the MTA shouldn't have a monopoly on public transit. At the end of the 20th century oil companys were merging left and right. In the 21st century we are paying for it. Get the picture.”

“I'm with you, Treebeard. I too would be supportive of the TWU if they were getting "screwed' but these folks have great benefits, a comfy retirement age, a decent salary, etc.

Now the teachers? They have every reason to strike. If they ever went on strike, I'dtotally support their cause. But the TWU goons? No. Not this time.”