TRANSIT STRIKE HAS BEGUN...UPDATE

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Posted by Happybride2005

bklyn girls.....how will u get to work if there's a strike

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my coworker is pickup DH and I, if there is a strike.

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Posted by Happybride2005

bklyn girls.....how will u get to work if there's a strike

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not sure yet, UGH

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Posted by Happybride2005

bklyn girls.....how will u get to work if there's a strike

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My company has a contingency plan in place - charter buses that will take us home.

Otherwise, I'm walking my butt down from here to the Seaport and taking the Ferry to the Brooklyn Army Terminal.

Semi good news:

TWU calls for partial strike


BY RAY SANCHEZ, JENNIFER SMITH and wire reports
STAFF WRITERS

December 16, 2005, 9:35 AM EST

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 appear to immediately affect the subways that shuttle millions of people each day.

The union delayed a decision on a citywide strike until at least 12:01 a.m Tuesday, saying it was prepared to continue MTA negotiations.

The bus lines affected by the strike -- the Triboro Coach lines and Jamaica buses -- serve areas mainly in Queens that have limited public transit options. About 50,000 riders are served by the lines daily. The action covers 217 employees at Jamaica Buses and 490 at Triboro Coaches.

Toussaint said these two bus lines were chosen first for a strike because their workers have been without a contract for three years. Another reason is that they may not be affected by the state Taylor law making a strike illegal, as they will be considered private lines until an MTA takeover is completed in late January to early February 2006.

Jarrod Bernstein, an Office of Emergency Management spokesman, said the city is implementing part of its contingency plan in the areas affected by the strike. That means licensed commuter vans and other vehicles will pick up people who are losing bus service.

Copyright 2005 Newsday Inc.

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Posted by Sweetpea130000

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Posted by Happybride2005

bklyn girls.....how will u get to work if there's a strike

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not sure yet, UGH

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i know

oh my goodness. I hope they settle this soon. I live in VA but I can't even imagine NYC without public transportation.

I am sur this will affects businesses dramatically.

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Posted by dgtlsunshine

oh my goodness. I hope they settle this soon. I live in VA but I can't even imagine NYC without public transportation.

I am sur this will affects businesses dramatically.

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especially the holiday season

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Posted by akaMrsT

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.

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It's not the 'country' it's a matter of private industry vs. public service. Howard Stern is getting paid by a private company, bnot by tax dollars. Teachers, police officers, fire men and others that are paid by municipalities are paid from tax dollars and the budgets are much different that those of privately owned and operated companies. It has nothing to do with 'rewards' it's a matter of industry. No one goes into teaching or public service hoping to be rich. Corrupt government officials, now that's another story.

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Posted by akaMrsT

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.

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I'm sorry, but but I disagree with this statement completely.

This country offers great opportunity, and it is the choice of people whether or not they should take advantage of it.

I also do not understand what the 'rules' are and those following them are rewarded.

I agree with a few points the MTA is fighting for, but disagree with a lot more.

As far as Howard Stern goes, he is being paid not as a SALARY but as an allowance for the entire show, which includes paying employees. To top it off, if you listened to him more than the few times, you would come to realize that his show is not about 'naked chicks' all the time and does include a lot of great things. However, that is our choice to listen or not.

There's a big difference between the private sector and the public sector. You must compare apples to apples, and not apples to oranges. Howard Stern vs. the MTA - apples to oranges.

my 2 cents....

I wish I could go on strike when I get my crappy raise every year. I wish I could strike when I get no holiday bonus every year.

I know unions were formed back in the day so that employers couldn't take advantage of employees. But sometimes (like NOW), it is out of control!

and who is the freakn' genius that chose 12/15 as the contract end date?

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Posted by BHW

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Posted by LaurenluvsTJ

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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The union does not expect to get everything it demanded. It's a bargaining process where both the union and MTA gradually give up some of their offers/demands in order to reach an agreement. The more each side gives up during the negotiation, the more it appears as if they are bargainingin good faith and willing to reach an agreement. The union can't start off with its bottom line b/c the MTA will offer less. The MTA also has $1 billion surplus so it can at least afford to meet some demands without raising the price of tickets.

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I agree w/everything stated here, except for the statement about the $1 billion surplus...

Who's the one that decides where that surplus is from? I'm not saying the employees shouldn't get raises, but honestly, what about the passengers who had suffered from two fare increases in the last couple of years? What about the stations are deamed filthy and very unsafe - should money go there?

There are many sides to this argument...employees feeling that they're obligated to that surplus, is a little pretentious IMHO.

I know for certain that when my company announces a rise in revenues, I do not even think that I am in any way entitled to it.

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Posted by JanuaryBride06

I really wish that through all of these talks, SOMEONE would be there to represent the people who USE the system everyday.

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Well said!

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Posted by JanuaryBride06

I really wish that through all of these talks, SOMEONE would be there to represent the people who USE the system everyday.

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I think that would be Mayor Bloomberg and City Hall's influence.

And with all this talk of contracts, does anyone else think it's crazy that thye're only doing them 3 years at a time? So even if this is worked out we'll have to face this again in 2008! This is madness!

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Posted by SomethingBlu

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Posted by JanuaryBride06

I really wish that through all of these talks, SOMEONE would be there to represent the people who USE the system everyday.

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I think that would be Mayor Bloomberg and City Hall's influence.

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You are right. But a billionaire wasn't who I had in mind to represent the riders

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Posted by JanuaryBride06

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Posted by SomethingBlu

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Posted by JanuaryBride06

I really wish that through all of these talks, SOMEONE would be there to represent the people who USE the system everyday.

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I think that would be Mayor Bloomberg and City Hall's influence.

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You are right. But a billionaire wasn't who I had in mind to represent the riders

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He's the mayor who happens to be a billionaire...not the other way around.

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Posted by SomethingBlu

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Posted by JanuaryBride06

I really wish that through all of these talks, SOMEONE would be there to represent the people who USE the system everyday.

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I think that would be Mayor Bloomberg and City Hall's influence.

And with all this talk of contracts, does anyone else think it's crazy that thye're only doing them 3 years at a time? So even if this is worked out we'll have to face this again in 2008! This is madness!

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i totally agree! but can they change the date to say 'summer'? not in the holiday season? i still haven't done my xmas shopping