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.
nov04LIbride
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Member since
Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
Posted by JazzyT
Posted by Soon2BeMrsD
this issue is just ridiculous, the transit employees make MORE money then myself and MANY other people...they are complaining about contributing to healthcare?? join the rest of the working class who have to contribute to healthcare, i dont feel sorry for them, i feel sorry for all the people who CANT get to work (like my FH) and who have to walk to work in freezing temperatures, they did it 4 days before the holidays and are ruining everyones week over absurd requests...i have gotten a 3.5% raise ONE in TWO years, im not complaining, because i have a job if i dont like my job i will get a different one, that should be what they do instead of strike, if they quit you know how many people would love to have their position?? geeze get me and application please
It's not only about the money
It's not about money, it's about the law. What they are doing is against the law. What if all the cops decided to strike? Firemen? There are certain professions that are not legally allowed to strike, and when you accept that position you are made aware of that. There are ways of negotiating contracts without strikes--binding arbitration is one way.
I feel for the MTA employees that do not agree with the strike and are forced to comply.
VS11
Posted:
Member since
Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
It is disgusting what they are doing and I am happy they are being fined..and they are azz's for staying out knowing that they are being fined! I say fire all them and see how happy they will be on welfare!
this entire situation pisses me off!
ETA: let me clarify that the Employee's who are all for the strike are azzes...
Saphire.. sorry to have offended you
Soon2BeMrsD
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Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
me too
Sapphire77
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Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
Posted by bella11
It is disgusting what they are doing and I am happy they are being fined..and they are azz's for staying out knowing that they are being fined! I say fire all them and see how happy they will be on welfare!
this entire situation pisses me off!
If you can't go to work because your depot is closed how are you an azz I know I wish my fiancee was at work right now but he can't be. I think you are an azz for making that coment.
VS11
Posted:
Member since
Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
Posted by Sapphire77
Posted by bella11
It is disgusting what they are doing and I am happy they are being fined..and they are azz's for staying out knowing that they are being fined! I say fire all them and see how happy they will be on welfare!
this entire situation pisses me off!
If you can't go to work because your depot is closed how are you an azz I know I wish my fiancee was at work right now but he can't be. I think you are an azz for making that coment.
Thank you sweetie!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy Holidays!
BHW
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Member since
Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
Soon2BMrsA
Posted:
Member since
Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
there are alot of MTA employees that dont want the strike, they arent even really going to benefited much by it, its the future employees that will be. But if you go against the union, you will forever be harassed at your job so noone will dare to do it. At least thats what I was told. And as a union employee you are required to protest at least 4 hours or something, whether you like it or not.
Alot of families and MTA employees are suffering due to this too, theyd LOVE to be at work but they CANT!
As for those that organized this, yes I agree they are idiots!
Sapphire77
Posted:
Member since
Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
Posted by bella11
Posted by Sapphire77
Posted by bella11
It is disgusting what they are doing and I am happy they are being fined..and they are azz's for staying out knowing that they are being fined! I say fire all them and see how happy they will be on welfare!
this entire situation pisses me off!
If you can't go to work because your depot is closed how are you an azz I know I wish my fiancee was at work right now but he can't be. I think you are an azz for making that coment.
Thank you sweetie!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy Holidays!
Happy holidays also
VS11
Posted:
Member since
Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
Posted by Soon2BMrsA
there are alot of MTA employees that dont want the strike, they arent even really going to benefited much by it, its the future employees that will be. But if you go against the union, you will forever be harassed at your job so noone will dare to do it. At least thats what I was told. And as a union employee you are required to protest at least 4 hours or something, whether you like it or not.
Alot of families and MTA employees are suffering due to this too, theyd LOVE to be at work but they CANT!
As for those that organized this, yes I agree they are idiots!
I edited my last post...clairified it was towards the employees who organized it...not for the employees who arent for it..
jms100303
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Member since
Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
Posted by ChristineAEV
Posted by Naunie
Posted by steflily
I feel bad for the workers who want to work, can't afford not to work, but can't because of the union. Now the union must pay all these fees and who will it hurt? The workers since they pay the dues to the union, which will probably go up now because of this.
I agree. I feel bad for the people that didn't want to strike, but had to. Unions are bullies.
800-900 union members crossed the picket-lines and approached the MTA, ready to work, but were told to go home b/c there is still not enough employees to run limited services.
This is the reason why the MTA heads should be NOMINATED by the people, rather than APPOINTED by the governor.
ETA: So keep that last tidbit in mind when the Elections for Governor come up soon!
Can you clarify here? I am confused -what does the strike have to do with appointed versus nominated people in the MTA?
800-900 couldn't safely run the subways and buses. Those people should go to their union and demand the strike end.
nov04LIbride
Posted:
Member since
Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
Posted by BHW
Posted by nov04LIbride
Posted by JazzyT
Posted by Soon2BeMrsD
this issue is just ridiculous, the transit employees make MORE money then myself and MANY other people...they are complaining about contributing to healthcare?? join the rest of the working class who have to contribute to healthcare, i dont feel sorry for them, i feel sorry for all the people who CANT get to work (like my FH) and who have to walk to work in freezing temperatures, they did it 4 days before the holidays and are ruining everyones week over absurd requests...i have gotten a 3.5% raise ONE in TWO years, im not complaining, because i have a job if i dont like my job i will get a different one, that should be what they do instead of strike, if they quit you know how many people would love to have their position?? geeze get me and application please
It's not only about the money
It's not about money, it's about the law. What they are doing is against the law. What if all the cops decided to strike? Firemen? There are certain professions that are not legally allowed to strike, and when you accept that position you are made aware of that. There are ways of negotiating contracts without strikes--binding arbitration is one way.
I feel for the MTA employees that do not agree with the strike and are forced to comply.
I understand why the union doesn't want to go to binding arbitration, especially if the arbitators tend to side with the organizations, not the workers. It's not really a form of negotiation. Both sides present their deamnds, and the arbitrator choose what he or she wants and both sides are stuck with it (since it's very difficult to overturn an arbitrator's decision). What I don't understand is why the union has refused to go to mediation. Mediation is non-binding. The worst that could come out of mediation is the sides don't reach an agreement.
Well, you can do party-appointed artbitrators, where each party chooses an arbitrator to work on a tripartite panel. Toussaint wouldn't agree to mediation. Through all of his statements he comes off sounding like an unwilling egomaniac.
lauren721
Posted:
Member since
Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
I can't sympathize with the TWU-- they are being inconsiderate and heartless-- as everyone else has said-- many other civil service jobs put up w/ bs-- they knew that and chose to take those jobs-- Now they want to complain about it? Millions of peoples' holidays are messed up because they chose to strike Christmas week. How many children will not see their Police Officer parents for Christmas? My FI is a cop and he has been staying in a Hlioday Inn in the city because they ahve them working 17 hour tours in the freezing cold with only 5-6 hours between shifts. If this continues, he won't be home for Christmas. It *****, but what are they going to do about it, go on strike?
BHW
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Member since
Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
lanabean
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Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
Posted by bella11
It is disgusting what they are doing and I am happy they are being fined..and they are azz's for staying out knowing that they are being fined! I say fire all them and see how happy they will be on welfare!
this entire situation pisses me off!
ETA: let me clarify that the Employee's who are all for the strike are azzes...
Saphire.. sorry to have offended you
Actually, to your point, when the Air Traffic Controllers Union went on stike, President Reagan fired them all. I'm not saying it's right...just to note that at that time, that was the end result.
roxyspark
Posted:
Member since
Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
I used to live in NYC, but now I am in Los Angeles. I can't even imagine what it must be like there.
$53,000 in NYC is not bad... I lived there on less. If you have a roommate or a partner working, you'll be okay. Not rich but okay -- which is more than a lot of people can say. Plus: free training [how many people making $40,000+ don't have student loans to pay off for the years of college they went to for said job?], free insurance [which most people pay for or don't have at all], a pension [same deal -- not so common] ... their demands are unreasonable. 8% a year raise?
WHO GETS A RAISE LIKE THAT? Seriously. As a given, as an expectation, not even promotion- or merit-based?
If they were all below the poverty level, lacked benefits, etc etc... I'd almost see it, but they're not. I'm not saying there is NO skill involved in say, being a motorman, but the token booth clerks are not skilled labor, the guys hosing down the urine smell on the tracks are not skilled labor, etc etc.
Good luck Ladies.
JazzyT
Posted:
Member since
Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
Posted by nov04LIbride
Posted by JazzyT
Posted by Soon2BeMrsD
this issue is just ridiculous, the transit employees make MORE money then myself and MANY other people...they are complaining about contributing to healthcare?? join the rest of the working class who have to contribute to healthcare, i dont feel sorry for them, i feel sorry for all the people who CANT get to work (like my FH) and who have to walk to work in freezing temperatures, they did it 4 days before the holidays and are ruining everyones week over absurd requests...i have gotten a 3.5% raise ONE in TWO years, im not complaining, because i have a job if i dont like my job i will get a different one, that should be what they do instead of strike, if they quit you know how many people would love to have their position?? geeze get me and application please
It's not only about the money
It's not about money, it's about the law. What they are doing is against the law. What if all the cops decided to strike? Firemen? There are certain professions that are not legally allowed to strike, and when you accept that position you are made aware of that. There are ways of negotiating contracts without strikes--binding arbitration is one way.
I feel for the MTA employees that do not agree with the strike and are forced to comply.
I am not disputing the fact that its against the law, what i am diputing is the fact that people think its only for the money they are striking and that not the issue, its pensions, cleaner bathrooms, amongst other things. We can all sit here and speculate because we are being inconveinienced but intruth and infact we are not in the situation. Howvever, noone is talking aboutthe fact that the strike was postponed after the head of the MTA showed up 1 hr before the stike deadline and they still debated to 4am way past the deadline.
Lindachancy
Posted:
Member since
Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
Posted by bella11
It is disgusting what they are doing and I am happy they are being fined..and they are azz's for staying out knowing that they are being fined! I say fire all them and see how happy they will be on welfare!
this entire situation pisses me off!
ETA: let me clarify that the Employee's who are all for the strike are azzes...
Saphire.. sorry to have offended you
That is such a mean thing to say, I live in long Island where we get paid $50,000.00 just to sit on our fat excuse my french. I cant even imagine doing what they do in NYC. They are not getting paid while ther on strike. And if they are willing to loose ther job even though they make 50 a year something may really be wrong
smurray
Posted:
Member since
Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
Posted by JazzyT
Posted by nov04LIbride
Posted by JazzyT
Posted by Soon2BeMrsD
I am not disputing the fact that its against the law, what i am diputing is the fact that people think its only for the money they are striking and that not the issue, its pensions, cleaner bathrooms, amongst other things. We can all sit here and speculate because we are being inconveinienced but intruth and infact we are not in the situation. Howvever, noone is talking aboutthe fact that the strike was postponed after the head of the MTA showed up 1 hr before the stike deadline and they still debated to 4am way past the deadline.
OMG Jazzy can we post this all over the boards atleast like four more time, b/c you hit it on the dot
JazzyT
Posted:
Member since
Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
Posted by Sapphire77
Posted by bella11
Posted by Sapphire77
Posted by bella11
It is disgusting what they are doing and I am happy they are being fined..and they are azz's for staying out knowing that they are being fined! I say fire all them and see how happy they will be on welfare!
this entire situation pisses me off!
If you can't go to work because your depot is closed how are you an azz I know I wish my fiancee was at work right now but he can't be. I think you are an azz for making that coment.
Thank you sweetie!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy Holidays!
Happy holidays also
Sapphire, so sorry for all this I sympathize with you through all this, we can never understand but we just make one-sided media informed opinions that does not show both sides of the fence.
Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Mrs. Powell
Posted:
Member since
Re: REPOST: To all of you who blame only TWU for this strike
Posted by JazzyT
Posted by Sapphire77
Posted by bella11
Posted by Sapphire77
Posted by bella11
It is disgusting what they are doing and I am happy they are being fined..and they are azz's for staying out knowing that they are being fined! I say fire all them and see how happy they will be on welfare!
this entire situation pisses me off!
If you can't go to work because your depot is closed how are you an azz I know I wish my fiancee was at work right now but he can't be. I think you are an azz for making that coment.
Thank you sweetie!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy Holidays!
Happy holidays also
Sapphire, so sorry for all this I sympathize with you through all this, we can never understand but we just make one-sided media informed opinions that does not show both sides of the fence.
Happy Holidays to you and your family.
I am so sorry that you and your family are going through this. Some people also need to be very mindful of their inconsiderate remarks and comments. Sometimes people will only understand when they are in the situation. Never mind sweetie just keep your head up.
