TRANSIT STRIKE HAS BEGUN...UPDATE

NYC transit strike update: The union said that it would begin a partial strike on some private bus lines later today, but would delay a citywide strike until at least 12:01 a.m on Tuesday.

NYC buses and subways are currently running (8:30 a.m. EST). The bus lines where union officials said the strikes will begin are Jamaica Buses Inc. and Triboro Coach Corporation.

Thank God !!

My Ronkonkama commute is hellish enough wihtout having to take the path to Hoboken and back to downtown!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I did not hear this but apparently transit workers were on the radio this morning talking about the sticking points.

One man mentioned that he cleans trains and makes like $42K a year with a high school diploma. And that his medical ***** because his copay is too high although he admitted his medical is free (no money comes out of his check for medical).

Some people have college degrees and do not make that much. In fact, I am almost positive that Manhattan assistant district attorneys make $45K and that is with a law degree and like $100K in student loans!!!! I am positive that in 1999 the ADA salary was $39K with a $1K bonus for passing the bar exam so I know it has not gone up by much in the past few years.

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Posted by akaMrsT

I did not hear this but apparently transit workers were on the radio this morning talking about the sticking points.

One man mentioned that he cleans trains and makes like $42K a year with a high school diploma. And that his medical ***** because his copay is too high although he admitted his medical is free (no money comes out of his check for medical).

Some people have college degrees and do not make that much. In fact, I am almost positive that Manhattan assistant district attorneys make $45K and that is with a law degree and like $100K in student loans!!!! I am positive that in 1999 the ADA salary was $39K with a $1K bonus for passing the bar exam so I know it has not gone up by much in the past few years.

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wow! i see what you're saying... i make a little more than that- and i have a MASTERS degree!! and like $20,000 in loans! granted, i work at a school so i have really good hours, but still!! hes should be more than happy with that pay for only a high school diploma!!

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Posted by akaMrsT

I did not hear this but apparently transit workers were on the radio this morning talking about the sticking points.

One man mentioned that he cleans trains and makes like $42K a year with a high school diploma. And that his medical ***** because his copay is too high although he admitted his medical is free (no money comes out of his check for medical).

Some people have college degrees and do not make that much. In fact, I am almost positive that Manhattan assistant district attorneys make $45K and that is with a law degree and like $100K in student loans!!!! I am positive that in 1999 the ADA salary was $39K with a $1K bonus for passing the bar exam so I know it has not gone up by much in the past few years.

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Not that I necessarily agree with the MTA's request of 8% raises each year for the next 3 years (heck, no one I now gets that much of a raise), but I wanted to add that the ADA makes that much by choice...because everyone knows that the 'big bucks' are not in public service, but rather in private firms.
However, the transit worker with the HS Diploma has fewer options...of course also by choice (he didn't go to college after all), but who knows how long these people have been at their jobs? The starting salary is not $42K. More likely than not they are the sole bread winners, is $42K a year enough to feed an entire family? My DH's cousin in an engineer with the MTA for the PATH trains...he makes a whopping $27K a year and that is WITH a Bachelor's Degree...so not everyone in the MTA is making the 'big bucks'. Not fair to judge them all by the same cloth.

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Posted by SomethingBlu

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Posted by akaMrsT

I did not hear this but apparently transit workers were on the radio this morning talking about the sticking points.

One man mentioned that he cleans trains and makes like $42K a year with a high school diploma. And that his medical ***** because his copay is too high although he admitted his medical is free (no money comes out of his check for medical).

Some people have college degrees and do not make that much. In fact, I am almost positive that Manhattan assistant district attorneys make $45K and that is with a law degree and like $100K in student loans!!!! I am positive that in 1999 the ADA salary was $39K with a $1K bonus for passing the bar exam so I know it has not gone up by much in the past few years.

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Not that I necessarily agree with the MTA's request of 8% raises each year for the next 3 years (heck, no one I now gets that much of a raise), but I wanted to add that the ADA makes that much by choice...because everyone knows that the 'big bucks' are not in public service, but rather in private firms.
However, the transit worker with the HS Diploma has fewer options...of course also by choice (he didn't go to college after all), but who knows how long these people have been at their jobs? The starting salary is not $42K. More likely than not they are the sole bread winners, is $42K a year enough to feed an entire family? My DH's cousin in an engineer with the MTA for the PATH trains...he makes a whopping $27K a year and that is WITH a Bachelor's Degree...so not everyone in the MTA is making the 'big bucks'. Not fair to judge them all by the same cloth.

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You know, this country is just very strange regarding who is rewarded for following the 'rules'. It is absolutely not a meritocracy.

I just heard that Howard Stern will earn $500 million over the next 3 years. I never heard his show but I saw it on t.v. a few times and all he ever has on there is half naked women - on his RADIO show But teachers make what $35K. It's really ridiculous.

I did not know that some MTA workers made under $30K. Thanks for that info.

The sticking points for them seem to be pensions and insurance.... I don't really know the details of the pension, but the MTA wants the (new) workers to start paying for some of their medical insurance. I have ALWAYS had to pay for part of my insurance, I have never gotten it for free. I think that the union is asking for way too much. If they get everything they want, then the prices for our tickets to commute are going to skyrocket.

I read that the private buses are going to go on strike later today.

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Posted by LaurenluvsTJ

I read that the private buses are going to go on strike later today.

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They just did.........MTA is next...

PARTIAL STRIKE

Dec 16, 2005 7:39 am US/Eastern
(1010 WINS) (NEW YORK) Transport Workers Union President Roger Toussaint announced at a Friday morning press conference that a series of strikes will begin over the next couple of days.

1010 WINS has learned that the initial strike will affect the Jamaica and Triboro bus lines in Queens.

The companies have about 750 workers, and carry about 50,000 riders each day.

Toussaint says the strike could eventually extend to the public bus and subway system, but the possible timing of such a move is unclear.

The New York City transit union called for a strike Friday against two private bus lines after a night of intense bargaining failed to produce a deal -- a development that does not immediately affect the subways that shuttle millions of people each day.

The move escalates pressure on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority by starting with two private bus lines that are in the process of being taken over by the transit agency. The strike could eventually extend to the subway system, but the possible timing of such a move was unclear.

The bus lines affected by the strike serve areas mainly in Queens that have limited public transit options. About 50,000 riders are served by the lines; the action covers about 750 workers.

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Posted by soon2bmrsdunn

I just heard that a partial strike has taken place.

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It has...my bus driver skipped all the stops and went to the last stop and let us off.

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Posted by ChristineAEV

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Posted by soon2bmrsdunn

I just heard that a partial strike has taken place.

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It has...my bus driver skipped all the stops and went to the last stop and let us off.

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what bus line was that

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Posted by Happybride2005

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Posted by ChristineAEV

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Posted by soon2bmrsdunn

I just heard that a partial strike has taken place.

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It has...my bus driver skipped all the stops and went to the last stop and let us off.

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what bus line was that

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Express Bus from BK to Manhattan...they confirmed that it's started in Queens, and the rest are slowly following...

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Posted by ChristineAEV

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Posted by Happybride2005

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Posted by ChristineAEV

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Posted by soon2bmrsdunn

I just heard that a partial strike has taken place.

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It has...my bus driver skipped all the stops and went to the last stop and let us off.

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what bus line was that

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Express Bus from BK to Manhattan...they confirmed that it's started in Queens, and the rest are slowly following...

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yikes. i would take the command bus. i hope they don't go out

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Posted by Mayflower

Argh! So I made it into work but might have trouble getting home???

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Looks like it might be that way.

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Posted by Happybride2005

yikes. i would take the command bus. i hope they don't go out

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Command Bus is owned and operated by the MTA...I called them Tuesday thinking I had some form of hope...and the operator confirmed that if MTA buses/subway went on strike, so would they.

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Posted by ChristineAEV

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Posted by Happybride2005

yikes. i would take the command bus. i hope they don't go out

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Command Bus is owned and operated by the MTA...I called them Tuesday thinking I had some form of hope...and the operator confirmed that if MTA buses/subway went on strike, so would they.

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that's weird. dh said the bus driver told him they would be running

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Posted by Happybride2005

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Posted by ChristineAEV

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Posted by Happybride2005

yikes. i would take the command bus. i hope they don't go out

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Command Bus is owned and operated by the MTA...I called them Tuesday thinking I had some form of hope...and the operator confirmed that if MTA buses/subway went on strike, so would they.

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that's weird. dh said the bus driver told him they would be running

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As of right now they are, but if there's a full blown strike - no way.