REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
Original post by Bride2B_2006
I'm not happy about the strike because my sister works for transit and it is hurting her and she may be subject to ridiculous fines simply because she won't go against her union.
Everyone seems to be blaming the union, but there is more to every story than meets the eye. MTA is also to blame for this strike. It has absolutely no respect for its employees.
A few weeks ago, the MTA announced that it had a billion dollar surplus. MTA KNEW that the union contract would expire around Christmas. But, instead of using that money for its employers, it decided to waste the money on a limited amount of riders. At most, this 'free ride scam' save the people who were actually able to get one of those special 41 day Metro cards about $25.
A measly $25 dollars. It was the biggest waste of 150 - 200 million dollars that I have ever seen.
Do know anyone who actual bought one of these cards?
Wouldn't you rather have no strike at all than save a measly $25?
The MTA could have used that surplus to increase the salaries of its employees.
Or it could have given its employees a bonus.
It chose to do neither.
In 2005, some unions have obtained solid raises. For example, the sanitation workers have gotten a 17 percent raise over 51 months and the police contract includes a 10.25 percent raise over two years.
The MTA is (at least) $30,000,000 per day money making machine. Yet, the most that it can muster is a 12% raise only if new employees contribute 6% of their check to their health insurance. That's almost no raise at all.
Did you know that as an MTA employee you have to request a day off at least 30 days in advance?
How many of us know that we're going to need a day off a month ahead of time?
Did you know that MTA employees have to stand on line to get a holiday like Thanksgiving off the same way we might stand in line for a concert ticket?
Did you know that some of the bathrooms that some of the female employees have to use have no heat and rats running through them?
Again, I'm not happy about the strike, but I understand the reasons behind it.
JennyAl
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Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
Posted by beautyq115
I was speaking with someone today who's husband is a transit worker and she said they expect this to go on until after the holidays Give it up already!
THAT LONG!!! geez!....
JennyAl
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Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
i had to leave early today at 4:30 to grab a ride home from the city to queens....should i feel guilty?...i kinda do....but then again..how else was i supposed to get home?? my bosses live in NJ and upstate...what do you think?
suven
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Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
Posted by JennyAl
i had to leave early today at 4:30 to grab a ride home from the city to queens....should i feel guilty?...i kinda do....but then again..how else was i supposed to get home?? my bosses live in NJ and upstate...what do you think?
I wouldn't worry about it. I'm in Northern NJ, but I work in NYC. My boss was fine with me and my colleagues staying home. It's just too crazy out there now. Plus, we travel from our office to various locations during the day, so there's just no way now...
Swan06
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Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
Why should a token booth clerk get paid more than a teacher who has a Masters degree?
weddingbunny
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Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
Posted by Swan06
Why should a token booth clerk get paid more than a teacher who has a Masters degree?
I think that's an excellent point. I keep wondering the same thing.
I feel a lot of sympathy towards those who are transit workers who are getting screwed over and losing money because of a strike they didn't want - even if it had been voted on by the entire group instead of just the union leaders (which I don't believe it was) there would still have been quite a few people who would have voted against it but ended up having to strike anyway.
This whole thing is ridiculous, and hearing people say that they don't think it will end within a few days honestly just pisses me off. I'm sorry the transit strikers feel that they have complaints that need addressing, and that should happen, but this is just not right - as others have said, the police, etc, work without contracts for years without striking. There was no reason they couldn't try bargaining a little longer and maybe reach a compromise. Or at least wait until after the holidays. This is a tough time for a lot of people.
This is affecting a lot of people and that's just not fair. I know somebody who is NYPD who had to work a double shift today from 3am to 7pm, come home, get maybe 3 hours of sleep, and is now on his back out to report in again at 3am, all because of this. He spent 16 hours today literally just standing out in the cold. If this strike doesn't end within a few days, there's a good chance that he won't be able to see his family for Christmas Eve or Christmas. That's just not right. On the plus side (and slightly unrelated), I was talking to him today and he told me that although there were quite a few people who were pretty rude and nasty to him as he tried to direct traffic, there were also quite a few people who were incredibly kind to him who commented on how cold he looked and offered to get him food and coffee. I suppose there's a silver lining to everything - in stressful times like this, true kindness comes out in a lot of people.
Joyous1995
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Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
Not that I am trying to fire you girls up......BUT
I know a few Mta works and they make way more than $53,000.
ChrissynRicky
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Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
Posted by Joyous1995
Not that I am trying to fire you girls up......BUT
I know a few Mta works and they make way more than $53,000.
Hahahahaha - one of my closest friend is NYPD and doesn't make that with overtime, and he puts his azz on the line every single effing day.
NYPD & FDNY now take on responsibilities they never 'signed' up for with all the terrorism that goes on today.
Should we pay them more so that my azz doesn't get blown up by some sicko who doesn't like America - eff yeah!
Should it go to someone who sits in a booth with a nasty attitude b/c the effing MTA machine doesn't work, oh, and lucky if that booth operator is AWAKE....eff NO!
WWWWWWHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAA is all I have to say to the MTA UNION.
I don't get a raise, I pay for my benefits, and I have a 4-Year & Professional degree and started out making HALF of what they start out at!
If you don't like your job and want to sit there and think you're entitled to a surplus - QUIT...I WILL GLADLY TAKE YOUR JOB!
This is addressed to the UNION of course, I'm sure the individual UNION workers did not want these demands, considering it's not even for them - it's for those ENTERING IN THE FUTURE....
I've never seen current employees give such a $hit about people who don't even work there yet!
kissy27
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Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
I cannot feel sorry for any of the MTA workers! Like others have said, they have it pretty good compared to others! This strike is illegal, plain & simple!!! Not to mention, you put an entire city in mayhem 5 days before the holidays! Not to mention, there are people such as NYPD & FDNY that put their lives on the line 24/7 365 days out of the year & you don't hear them striking!!! Teachers are another set of people that do everything & anything & get paid nothing compared to MTA workers!! Come on!
Not to mention, there are many work fields that you need to put in 30 days in advance unless it is an emergency & then you take a sick day!!! My brother who is a Police Officer OOT had to put in for my wedding back in December! So don't tell me it is so horrible that you need to put in 30 days in advance!
I am sorry that there are people out there that can't afford to be on strike, but then again you need a union that will look out for all of your needs! Striking was not the answer here!!!
soon2bmrsdunn
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Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
Posted by Bride2B_2006
the police contract includes a 10.25 percent raise over two years.
Did the TWU ask for an 8% raise for the next 3 years? A total of 24%. If I'm wrong then this reply will not make sense. But if I am right they are asking for more than double what the men and women who protect us have received in their contract. Firefighters, cops and teachers all have to negotiate their contracts and yes the have picket lines but they do it when they are not on duty. How would you feel if cops went on strike because of not being able to negotiate the contract they want? You wouldn't be to happy knowing that your city is was not being protected. There are a lot of people who use mass transit everyday to get to work and who cannot because of this ILLEGAL strike. What about them. They are losing money also!!!
Rachel1013
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Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
Wow, it's funny how all of the MTA supporters shut up real quick, lol. IMO this whole transit strike is ridiculous. First off my cousin works for the MTA and makes PLENTY of money. He also doesn't work very hard. (Unless you consider sleeping on the job work!). On top of that he has a RIDICULOUS amount of vacation and can call in at the drop of a hat. So I don't know who's talking about a month in advance. Secondly, I find it ridiculous that the MTA workers think they deserve 8% raises every year for 3 years. What will give them incentive to work hard if they're guaranteed raises every year regardless? Also, there are thousands of people working for the MTA and few in the union. Don't you think they have a say in striking or not. If they all came together and decided against it I'm sure they can overturn the ruling of a few. Such crap! I feel NO sympathy for them whatsoever. And I have family in the MTA.
ChrissynRicky
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Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
CJStein
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Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
As the daughter of a union member, I do understand the plight of the TWU. I know what it's like for the workers when they do strike. Sometimes it's just something that has to be done.
However, this is an ILLEGAL strike. ILLEGAL. The TWU needs to get back to work and accept a compromise. Because of this strike, it is harder for the rest of the city agencies (NYPD, NYFD, etc) to do their jobs and may lead to injuries and even deaths.
No amount of money is worth that IMO.
natinwpb
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Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
I concur with suven as I am also in HR. We have only gotten 3% raises for the last 2 years and only a 2% raise the year before. I would love a 12% increase for the next 2 yrs. I'm not saying they don't have some legitimate concerns, but working in HR I do know that the average increase for most companies the last few years has only been about 3% and what the ee's contribute to health insurance continues to go up due to the outrageous increases the insurance companies keep pushing through. Unfortunately our ee's have to contribute well over 6% to their insurance. Working in HR I've come to see that ee's don't realize how much $ companies actually spend on their employees.
ali120206
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Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
There are other options to striking. The main one is working without a contract and continuing negotiations until some sort of agreement is reached. That's what the NYPD and FDNY do. For example, the FDNY is close to approving their contract that covers from June 1, 2002 through July 31, 2006. So basically, after working approximately 4 years without a contract, come August 1, 2006 they will be working once again without a contract until the next one is negotiated.
As for the vacation point, 30 days is definitely not unreasonable. The FDNY is assigned their technical vacation and if they want other time off, they have to arrange it amongst themselves.
cjik
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Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
Yeah, I have to agree, this is pretty irresponsible of the union. My contract with the city expired, and we kept working also, for nearly two years before a new contract was agreed upon the last time around. So do the teachers. And the police officers.
While ideally all workers, union or not, should have health care and retirement plans, the reality is, very few do. And dealing with obnoxious people? Please, anyone who works with the public in any capacity has to do this. And while many transit workers are perfectly nice, I have dealt with more than a normal share of snarly transit workers, who refuse to answer the simplest of questions.
Sorry, but I think the union is doing the wrong thing in this case. Unfortunately, the individual employees are the ones who will bear the burden, along with numerous other individuals in NYC who could not get to work, who could not get the health care they need, and whose retail sales are down due to this strike.
lanabean
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Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
I just have to say I feel very bad for people with disabilities who rely on the transit system. My sister has a disability and if she worked in the city, she could not walk over the bridge or take a bike to work...my heart goes out to people who can't get rides and truly need to stay home because there is no other way. The city is hard enough to get around in when you're able bodied. Just a thought......
LFitzy79
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Member since
Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
I couldn't disagree more. The contract that was put on the table would scr*w over the new employees...someone had to go on strike for the current workers to have the salaries and benefits that they have now...they shouldn't sell out the new workers....
MCDO15
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Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
regarding new employees, in the private sector..this is a growing trend...
just like they won't be SS for some of us (depending on age) if things remain the same as they are now, companies don't want to pay healthcare for retirement, etc...
its about profit margin and if they pay x, y and z, they will not profit.
both parties are wrong with there own respect. while i'm not effect by this.. it should be resolved.
dgtlsunshine
Posted:
Member since
Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
Posted by Bride2B_2006
I'm not happy about the strike because my sister works for transit and it is hurting her and she may be subject to ridiculous fines simply because she won't go against her union.
Everyone seems to be blaming the union, but there is more to every story than meets the eye. MTA is also to blame for this strike. It has absolutely no respect for its employees.
A few weeks ago, the MTA announced that it had a billion dollar surplus. MTA KNEW that the union contract would expire around Christmas. But, instead of using that money for its employers, it decided to waste the money on a limited amount of riders. At most, this 'free ride scam' save the people who were actually able to get one of those special 41 day Metro cards about $25.
A measly $25 dollars. It was the biggest waste of 150 - 200 million dollars that I have ever seen.
Do know anyone who actual bought one of these cards?
Wouldn't you rather have no strike at all than save a measly $25?
The MTA could have used that surplus to increase the salaries of its employees.
Or it could have given its employees a bonus.
It chose to do neither.
In 2005, some unions have obtained solid raises. For example, the sanitation workers have gotten a 17 percent raise over 51 months and the police contract includes a 10.25 percent raise over two years.
The MTA is (at least) $30,000,000 per day money making machine. Yet, the most that it can muster is a 12% raise only if new employees contribute 6% of their check to their health insurance. That's almost no raise at all.
Did you know that as an MTA employee you have to request a day off at least 30 days in advance?
How many of us know that we're going to need a day off a month ahead of time?
Did you know that MTA employees have to stand on line to get a holiday like Thanksgiving off the same way we might stand in line for a concert ticket?
Did you know that some of the bathrooms that some of the female employees have to use have no heat and rats running through them?
Again, I'm not happy about the strike, but I understand the reasons behind it.
Tell me you are not serious. Oh yeah they have it so bad NOT
AmyMarie
Posted:
Member since
Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
Posted by LFitzy79
I couldn't disagree more. The contract that was put on the table would scr*w over the new employees...someone had to go on strike for the current workers to have the salaries and benefits that they have now...they shouldn't sell out the new workers....
My brother is a cop in the MTA and he has not had a day off in almost 2 weeks because this strike is making such a mess of all the stations. He works at Grand Central. His wedding is in 3 weeks and I hope that he is able to enjoy it and not fall alseep walking down the aisle and then have to go back to work that night (he works 9pm- 9am). Also, he said that the hardest part for him is watching the elderly and the disabled try to get around..can you imagine your grandfather having to walk more then 5 blocks everyday in this weather. It's an atrocity. No offense, but every union sells out the newer workers...the raises are adequate and everyone pays for some health benefits. There is NO excuse for this strike. It is greed 100% from the head of the union to every worker who supports it.
