Well the strike is making it harder for the fire department to get to their jobs.

Ive been soooo sick for like a month and a half So Ive been spending more time on the computer and TV

At least Im up to date on current events

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Posted by MJDoc12

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Posted by Sapphire77

Well my Fh works for transit and by you saying you hope they get fined big time will be hurting my family. As of now he loses 2 days pay for every 1 day they're on strike not to mention the actual day that they strike which adss up to 3days pay everyday.

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i don't know if this has been said--but i just wanted to respond to this post--rather than read every one else's posts.

does it stink that you will be hurt financially by the strike? yes. but will the strike hurt millions more new yorkers? ABSOLUTELY i understand that TWU workers want certain concessions, but this is not the way. this strike is selfish and holds NYC hostage. NYPD, FDNY, and the Teacher's unions have all negotiated contracts for YEARS...and they don't strike. The TWU's contract expires, and 3 days later they are off the job?!?!??! You know why the cops, firefighters, and teachers don't strike? Because they know that it would create such a huge hardship for the people of NYC, and they would lose all the respect and sympathy of every taxpayer.

Not for nothing, but do you really think that the TWU president Toussaint is gonna have to worry about his paycheck during this strike? Or his bills being paid? NO...he'll be fine...but what about the people he represents?

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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.

Like I said, I do think that the transit workers make decent money. I was a federal government employee and cost of living raises were most often about 2.5 percent. The real way to get a raise was to keep getitng promoted.

Working conditions at MTA are another story, though and I hope there can be a new contract addressing that!!!!

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Posted by N.Y.bride

Ive been soooo sick for like a month and a half So Ive been spending more time on the computer and TV

At least Im up to date on current events

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Sorry to hear that. Aren't you pregnant? I hope there aren't complications!

Yes, Ive had TERRIBLE morning sickness etc and then the FLU!!! I took off of work today :( I just had to..


Editing to say morning, afternoon and night sickness

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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.

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i believe the TWU has a right to negotiate many different terms...there is no doubt about that...but a strike is not the way to go. an illegal one is even worse. other city unions have had the ability to negotiate their contracts WITHOUT STRIKING. now they will be fined 1 million a day for this strike, and will most likely blast the city and mayor for it, instead of trying to head back to the bargaining table. all day long no one has even bothered to try and negotiate...Toussaint refuses to answer any questions or set up any talks.

btw--the last NYPD pay increase, came at the cost of new recruits who will now be receiving only $25K a year to start off in the academy, (at present it was about $35-40K)

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Posted by MJDoc12

btw--the last NYPD pay increase, came at the cost of new recruits who will now be receiving only $25K a year to start off in the academy, (at present it was about $35-40K)

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I was going to say that! Who the heck is going to be a city cop anymore???

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Posted by lilacwine

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Posted by MJDoc12

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Posted by Sapphire77

Well my Fh works for transit and by you saying you hope they get fined big time will be hurting my family. As of now he loses 2 days pay for every 1 day they're on strike not to mention the actual day that they strike which adss up to 3days pay everyday.

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i don't know if this has been said--but i just wanted to respond to this post--rather than read every one else's posts.

does it stink that you will be hurt financially by the strike? yes. but will the strike hurt millions more new yorkers? ABSOLUTELY i understand that TWU workers want certain concessions, but this is not the way. this strike is selfish and holds NYC hostage. NYPD, FDNY, and the Teacher's unions have all negotiated contracts for YEARS...and they don't strike. The TWU's contract expires, and 3 days later they are off the job?!?!??! You know why the cops, firefighters, and teachers don't strike? Because they know that it would create such a huge hardship for the people of NYC, and they would lose all the respect and sympathy of every taxpayer.

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well said! When you choose to take a job supporting a vital part of the community (cops, fire, emt, etc.), not going on strike is part of what you sign up for. It's no different for the mta workers. Don't like it? Find another job.

What they're doing is illegal and each individual striker who is breaking the law should be punished. I have no sympathy for the strikers; they are greedy and they voted to allow this to happen.

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To answer you both 38 people voted for the strike not the 33,000 workers. So for you to say you have no sympathy for the peolple that strike, they can't go to work. It wasn't up to them. Do you honestly believe that all the workers voted to strike

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Posted by N.Y.bride

Yes, Ive had TERRIBLE morning sickness etc and then the FLU!!! I took off of work today :( I just had to..


Editing to say morning, afternoon and night sickness

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Oh, sorry! I know I didn't always agree with you when I first started on LIW, but now I've kinda gotten to know you from your posts and we have much more in common than I first thought! I certainly don't want you to have to go through feeling sick!!

Anyway, I am probably on LIW MORE than I am keeping up with the news, so keep me posted on Al Sharpton and his twin!!!!

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Posted by BHW

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Posted by Mayflower

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Posted by jms100303

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Posted by Sapphire77

Well my Fh works for transit and by you saying you hope they get fined big time will be hurting my family. As of now he loses 2 days pay for every 1 day they're on strike not to mention the actual day that they strike which adss up to 3days pay everyday.

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I am sorry for the financial hardship this is causing your family, but they shouldn't have striked. It is illegal and they knew the consequences when they chose to walk.

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i wouldn't blame the individual workers. they don't choose to strike, the union voted on that.

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The workers voted to authorize the strike. It wasn't just the handful of union leaders who decided to strike.

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My fiancee works for transit and he didn't vote. If you listened to the news it was the union president and the executive board that voted. I really wish people would get their facts straight before posting about something they obviously know nothing about.

I do feel for the workers, and I understand that without the possibility of striking, they really don't have much bargaining power.

BUT, the strikes are illegal for a reason. I hope and pray that no one will be injured by the strike. There are people who have to get to the doctor who can't. Ambulences will be stuck in traffic. people who are paid by the hour will lose their salary, and may not be able to feed their families.

I just hope it ends SOON for all involved...

When a union takes a vote to strike it is the delegates for each local group that votes on taking a strike vote. The delegate makes his/her decision based upon what the people he represents feels. So, in an indirect way, each MTA employee does vote to strike.

Anyone who doesn't support the strike could go to work for a private bus company. The MTA offered the workers a better contract then that of the NYPD, FDNY, and the UFT.

Personally, their 'leader' is a jerk and should be removed from the post.