800-900 MTA Strikers Cross Picket Line....- Page 2

[Liam]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 5:04pm

"But the fact that they'd go out on strike after such short talks is reprehensible"

a deadline is a deadline and working without a contract is unexseptibul.

"But I haven't met too many friendly TWU folks in my life"

WHAT?!

[Gothampc]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 5:13pm

"a deadline is a deadline and working without a contract is unexseptibul."

For them, going on strike is against the law.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 5:26pm

Can I see a show of hands? How many people here really believe that Liam has a transit-worker dad?

Hands?

[Liam]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 5:30pm

i will raise my hand becouse it is SO unbelievable that I would have a dad that works for the TA

PalJoey i dont understand you......

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 5:32pm

He's mentioned it long before this came up, PJ.

Liam, we're being selfish? What about people with chronic health conditions, and/or older people, who have to walk from outer boroughs? Because they don't get paid if they don't show up? Is it selfish to be thinking about them?

They said on the news today that people are missing chemotherapy treatments because they can't get to hospitals. You need to be realistic before yelling at us.

[Liam]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 5:37pm

well that is sad but the news says alot of things they will not stop talking about the strike.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 5:40pm

That's because this strike is the biggest thing going on right now. The city has already lost hundreds of millions of dollars. People can't get to work, to do their holiday shopping, or to support Broadway.

And, it's illegal.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 5:45pm

Toussant is amazing. He talks of Pataki & Bloomberg breaking the law with a straight face. His invoking 9/11 & Rosa Parks was nauseating. His PR people gave him bad advice there. He wants Bloomberg & Pataki out of the talks & the next minute he wants them in. He says pensions should not be discussed but he brings up reducing the age from 55 to 50. Why not have all workers still collect their salaries but hire replacements to do their work since they are overworked & underpaid.

Hey Roger, after you gig is up here you can go & take your show to any comedy club.He is leading his members off a cliff & many ( like lemmings ) are following . Cracks are showing & businesses hurt by the strike should band together & sue the TWU until they bleed. This guy is delusional & much like a little child is throwing a temper tantrum when he does not get his own way. More & more of his members are seeing is the guy is ready for an extended vacation at the Rubber Room Arms

[robbiej]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 5:55pm

'a deadline is a deadline and working without a contract is unexseptibul.'

Teachers, police officers and firefighters have all worked without contracts for weeks, months and, I believe, in at least one case, years while negotiations continued. The judge today noted (not sure if it's true) that transit workers earn more than all those other public servants. Benefits are terrific, pensions are solid and retirment is 55 (and that's not about to change, by the way). As I've said, these people earn a better living than me. I'm also a member of a union. A union whose health care coverage has been gutted. A union whose vast majority is actually unemployed in the field in which they choose to pursue. Just cause I'm union doesn't mean I can't look at a situation critically.

Updated On: 12/21/05 at 05:55 PM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 6:00pm

I agree totally . It needed to be said

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 6:37pm

So convenient that someone who like to annoy people with PHONY misspellings also happens to take an inane contrarian position on this issue ("yew pimples am shellfish!") because his "dad" is a transit worker.

Pardon my already strained credulity.

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 7:35pm

whether other people do it is not the question.

how much other people make is not the question.

the question is where does this surplus money deserve to go? in the bank for the MTA to misuse (as their history ahs proven they will do), or in the pockets of the workers who worked for that money? do they make good money? sometimes (not even the majority of the time). if i was to reward someone, though, i'd reward them first. if you honestly believe it belongs in the pockets of the MTA, then i will continue to wait for an example of the last time the MTA spent wisely.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 7:42pm

$ 450 million went to the TWU pension fund. Some of it, god forbid, actually went back to the people who pay the fare This "surplus" is a one time event. Massive deficits are in the cards for next year & the years after - most of it going to the wages & benefits of the underpaid & underappreciated transit workers

Updated On: 12/21/05 at 07:42 PM

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 8:11pm

Just heard from a friend who works in the school system that it's costing her $76/day to get to work in the outer boroughs.

This is ridiculous now.

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 8:30pm

Roxy, if you take some time to look at the MTA's explaination of how the surplus turns into a defecit (a highly suspect concept), you'll find that the problem is the weird math the MTA uses to arrive at their numbers.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 8:37pm

Despite the sarcasm, I do know what I am talking about. I know it is all the MTA's fault & the beyond extravagant benefits paid to their workers has nothing to do with the problem (not )

I am aware that the MTA is the gang that could not shoot straight & that it needs to be disbanded. Having said that, don't you think the TWU has the teensiest bit of blame in this & that their benefits are beyond too much? Do they have the right to break the law & ruin a city in the process? Does the TWU have the right to inconvenience millions ? Do they have the right to put peoples life at risk ?. My answers are no but if you disagree that is up to you. Why should I pay for their lifetime benefits when I have to pay for my own medical insurance ? The city should be responsible for the subway & the MTA needs to go the way of the dinosaur & the 5 cent cigar

If the workers want part of the "surplus" , it is only fair they give part of their salary back when the MTA starts running deficits. I think part of the gubenitorial race should touch on the subject: Has the MTA outlived its usefullness & should it be broken up?

We do not need to go thru this bad greek tragedy every 2 or 3 years. New Yorkers deserve better

Updated On: 12/21/05 at 08:37 PM

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 8:53pm

Roxy, how would you propose the MTA breakup? Also, what "beyond extravagant benefits" are you referring to? Health care and pension? A retirement age that resembles retirement ages around the rest of the globe? Vacation time? The ability to move into the middle class (a la "the American Dream")? I think the American Dream is worth fighting for.

The other thing people should understand is that the TWU is not only the union for the transit workers, but they have always been a very symbolic union. When they lose fights, unions lose fights left and right. When they win, unions win. The TWU always has that pressure on their shoulders.

(side note, my last post (or this one) wasn't intended to be sarcastic...but, yet again, I find that posting on the internet often impies tones that I didn't feel...sorry I was not more careful)

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 9:00pm

No problem . On this board after awhile you learn to be defensive

Paying for medical benefits for someone who no longer works for you is a but much. Why should people who are struggling or have no health insurance pay for someone elses ? Why should the TWU be exempt from what is going on in the marketplace today - people being asked to pay for part of their medical insurance ?
You mention Europe. They pay exorbitent taxes for their cradle to grave coverage of its citizens . These people have been in the middle class for awhile. Toussant bringing up 9/11 & Rosa Parks made me gag. He has no shame. I have no respect for the union. Dealing with their workers on a daily basis leads me to believe they are underworked, over paid & many are downright lazy. If your opinion is different, I respect it. I totally disagree but I respect your right to it & I hope you do likewise

No matter what a strike, especially at this time , is indefensible & they need to be hit with every penalty on the books

Updated On: 12/21/05 at 09:00 PM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 9:04pm

Don't forget that not all MTA money is from fares. Some of it is from tax money. Why should the public tax money go for 100% retirement at 55 and non-contribution health benefits? This is unheard of in the private sector.

Whether the MTA has surplus or not is not the concern of the union. They are certainly not asked to give back when the MTA has a deficit.

The union decided to strike too soon. Even their international parent union agrees with that.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 9:12pm

The TWU made a mistake due to some hotheads in the union ( worse than Toussant if you can believe that) & struck now. Had they said we are giving a Christmas gift to the people of the city & will hold off until after the holidays, many citizens might be on their side ( not me ). Now most of the riding public hate them & it should be interesting what the reaction will be when they return

If people knew exactly what it costs yearly ( salary & benefits)to pay these people, they would be aghast

[Liam]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 1:44pm

it looks like a end is near

[Adoannie925]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 1:50pm

Rath: I'm in Yonkers, too! Bronxville/Fleetwood area. It is convenient that the metro north is running.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 1:54pm

Ado, my friend who lives on the UWS and had to walk 55 blocks each way to a job on Tuesday is a little jealous of me right now.