Early Strike Casualties- Page 2

[robbiej]

Posted: 12/15/05 at 4:32pm

Ya know what? I would like a 10% raise every year, too, instead of the 3% my company gives. And HEY, I would love the retirement age to be lowered to 50! And I'd like a pony...and a porsche...and a harem of hot Frenchmen who have to satisfy my every whim.

Maybe I should go on strike.

Puh-f*cking-lease.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 12/15/05 at 4:38pm

A circus pony?

And I totally agree. My job in the UK completely sucked on the pay and benefits front and yet the subway staff were forever going on strike after having ludicrous pay rise requests rejected. I remember one night going home as a strike was starting with a friend from work and there was a subway worker in our station rallying support for the strike and she had to be physically restrained.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 12/15/05 at 4:38pm

ooops-y

Updated On: 12/15/05 at 04:38 PM

[moljul]

Posted: 12/15/05 at 4:39pm

RobbieJ, I'm not sure if you were being sarcastic but just so you know, the workers are asking for 8 percent over 3 years - roughly 2.66% per year.

[crazyfangirl]

Posted: 12/15/05 at 5:01pm

Look, I'm not saying that the union is completely wrong, but give me a f*cking break. Nobody in my office gets regular yearly raises (unless deserved) and furthermore, the average MTA employee makes more than half the people in my office do. If we were to say, "oh yeah? Well if you don't give us a raise, we won't go in to work," guess what? We'd be FIRED.

Should the city lose 200 million dollars a DAY because the MTA employees want nice big fun raises every year? Should the entire US economy (and yes, it WILL be affected) suffer, because boo hoo, they're not getting enough money? It's 9 g*ddamned degrees outside. How are the elderly supposed to get around? How are the disabled supposed to get around? How are single parents, or low income families, supposed to get to work? What if they can't, and because they can't, they get fired for Christmas? Won't that be a nice present for their children, and for the increasing unemployment rate? This is not like the musicians' union or the actors equity union threatening to strike. This is the force that allows the city to FUNCTION. And if this city cannot function, because it is the financial hub of this nation, the ENTIRE nation suffers.

There is a REASON it is illegal for public govt. employees to strike. What if hospital workers were to strike for the same reasons? Would THAT be ok? No! Of course not! People would die.

Does the end justify the means here? I don't think so. ESPECIALLY in this weather, and with a war going on in Iraq that is already bleeding this country dry of our financial resources. But no, let's shut down NYC so that these people can get their raises. What a great idea.

[musicalsaregreat]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 3:55am

Wow, there is a lot of anger toward MTA employees on this board. I think most of us have had problems and long waits on the subway, but was everyone this upset over the musician strike on Broadway. Yes, the issue of an 8% raise does seem high, but there are other issues. MTA jobs are getting cut all the time, The MTA wants token sellers all replaced with machines, if that were to happen, subways wouldn't be as safe or secure. Bus drivers sometimes have such a quick turn around that they don't have time and are not allowed to go to the restroom. There are a lot of major problems and as a free country, workers should be allowed to strike if not treated fairly. It is what separates America from many other countries of the world. Yes, a transit strike would suck for most New Yorkers, but understand all of the issues before you get so angry.

[jimmirae]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 5:07am

I must admit I am all for strikes but only for a "real" reason and the MTA situation sounds like those looking for "Luxury", That is so wrong, It's an "I got you by the balls" strike which angers me, This once great country is having enough problems already without this. I'd like to believe this country will be great again one day.