this mta strike in NYC

[abc]

Originally posted by: Citrix


you know if they do get that i would seriously consider leaving my corporate IT job and go drive a damn bus. think about it, no servers, no pager, no stupid users, plus almost what i am making now and i wont have to pay out 220 a month for health insurance and i can retire with a pesnion at 50.

man that is a cool deal, where can i sign up? and why did i bust my ass in college when i can make an equal living driving bus?

I know, how about no need of working to continue your education to keep your IT skills up to date and competitive to the market as technology advances? That's a lot more time you have to spend with family, friends, life.

 

[totalcommand]

hey does anybody know how bad the cab situation is?

 

[sodcha0s]

Hire a few temp mechanics while the new ones are trained etc. It would be hell for a few days, but honestly, all the MTA would have to do is show their serious about replacing them, and every single one of them will come crying back about how they were just kidding about the whole strike thing, they didnt really mean it. This is like the major league umpires going on strike.

LOL, No way dude. I work as a train mechanic for a metropolitan transit system and you can't just replace mechanics that easily. It takes 6 months of class training and about 2 years of OJT to really master it all. You MIGHT be able to have a decent, workable force in say 6 months if you specialized everyone, and had enough people to train them all. I can't imagine how you'd train bus mechanics that fast.

Operators would be much easier to replace, especially in a subway system. Yes, operating a train is pretty easy, but it's not like you can just throw anybody in one and train them in an hour. Operators must be properly trained and pass exams, it is required by the federal govenment.

It's like anything else really..... it may look simple to do, but once your in the drivers seat (no pun intended) you realize there's much more to it than you thought.

 

[abc]

though i do agree, but wasn't there a retarded guy who had a dream of driving a subway, who snuck into a NYC subway train and drove it down the line till the end of its line, just 2-3yrs ago?

 

[Atomicus]

What I don't understand is the TWU's inability to understand the crippling effect of striking for higher wages.

1) loss of revenue because you aren't providing service for the days on strike
2) loss of wages due to fines (illegal striking, dumb@sses)
3) increase the MTA's overall debt and forcing another fare hike to ensure they can scratch even




You know what would be funny? If us New Yorkers boycotted the MTA. Not practical, but ironic and in their face. :|

 

[T2k]

Originally posted by: diapickle
The cleaners make 50k? No wonder the subways are filthy as hell.

That's BS.

 

[T2k]

Originally posted by: TitanDiddly
'Living wage' is bullcrap. If your services are worth $47k a year, you will get paid $47k a year. Driving a bus, collecting money for tokens, or any other MTA job is not a $47k per year job. Their services are worth no more than $20k, or less considering that you could build a robot for less than that that will operate for free(less electricity, maintenance) for the rest of its life.

Apparently their szervices are priceless... as long as you don't take their job for less it seems they do have the power to ****** your/my/City's life, so they are stronger ergo they worth more.

 

[virtueixi]

This is fvckin ridiculous. I hope they will all be broke for xmas with those hefty fines.

 

[T2k]

Originally posted by: Atomicus
What I don't understand is the TWU's inability to understand the crippling effect of striking for higher wages.

1) loss of revenue because you aren't providing service for the days on strike
2) loss of wages due to fines (illegal striking, dumb@sses)
3) increase the MTA's overall debt and forcing another fare hike to ensure they can scratch even


You know what would be funny? If us New Yorkers boycotted the MTA. Not practical, but ironic and in their face. :|

No, it's you who's missing the point:

1. MTA has a billion in surplus, profit yet they didn't bulge.

2. Loss of revenues easily can be made up from 2x the loss of wages.

3. Loss of wages has nothing to do with MTA - that just precisley shows how determined they are which whows how bad their situation can be.

 

[T2k]

Originally posted by: virtueixi
This is fvckin ridiculous. I hope they will all be broke for xmas with those hefty fines.

No, this is ridiculous. If you see your boss was crying out loud last year that you guys will lose money so he kept your raises back yet it turned out to be a billion surplus, you'd be pissed as hell and walked away if you could do that sort of thing.

 

[virtueixi]

Originally posted by: T2k

Originally posted by: virtueixi
This is fvckin ridiculous. I hope they will all be broke for xmas with those hefty fines.

No, this is ridiculous. If you see your boss was crying out loud last year that you guys will lose money so he kept your raises back yet it turned out to be a billion surplus, you'd be pissed as hell and walked away if you could do that sort of thing.

Umm..they can't because they are city employees. The last time I checked they have great benefits that come with the job as well as the bad part about not being able to walk off the job. Take that billion dollars and cut fares because as far as I'm concerned we could get monkeys to do their job and what makes them deserving of a raise? Did they contribute more productivity the past year? Fvck those lazy sh!t for brained dirty retarded losers.

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: glugglug
Which is more difficult, running a train, or making fries at McDonald's?
That's what I thought.

Not that the MTA isn't a bunch of thieves also.

where the hell do you make Mc-Ds fries for 50K/year??? PM me now, because i do reasearch for U of M and get paid 12.50 an hour!

 

[xospec1alk]

Originally posted by: T2k

Originally posted by: Atomicus
What I don't understand is the TWU's inability to understand the crippling effect of striking for higher wages.

1) loss of revenue because you aren't providing service for the days on strike
2) loss of wages due to fines (illegal striking, dumb@sses)
3) increase the MTA's overall debt and forcing another fare hike to ensure they can scratch even


You know what would be funny? If us New Yorkers boycotted the MTA. Not practical, but ironic and in their face. :|

No, it's you who's missing the point:

1. MTA has a billion in surplus, profit yet they didn't bulge.

2. Loss of revenues easily can be made up from 2x the loss of wages.

3. Loss of wages has nothing to do with MTA - that just precisley shows how determined they are which whows how bad their situation can be.

its a one time surplus from real estate, not from increased ridership or anything..they are still predicting a deficit starting in 2007

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: T2k

Originally posted by: TitanDiddly
'Living wage' is bullcrap. If your services are worth $47k a year, you will get paid $47k a year. Driving a bus, collecting money for tokens, or any other MTA job is not a $47k per year job. Their services are worth no more than $20k, or less considering that you could build a robot for less than that that will operate for free(less electricity, maintenance) for the rest of its life.

Apparently their szervices are priceless... as long as you don't take their job for less it seems they do have the power to ****** your/my/City's life, so they are stronger ergo they worth more.

because they have a union which serves no purpose other than to do everything together. How about we just make the union dissolve... are they still worth that much ?

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: DAGTA
"The critical test of the Reagan administration?and, more significantly, the turning point in class relations in the United States?came with the strike of nearly 12,000 members of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) in August 1981. Ironically, PATCO had endorsed the election of Reagan the previous year, after being told privately that a Republican administration would respond favorably to the union?s demands for improved wages and working conditions. However, in accordance with plans that had actually been drawn up during the Carter administration, Reagan announced that he would fire all controllers who did not return to work within 48 hours. There is ample reason to believe that the Reagan administration received assurances from the AFL-CIO that the labor federation would take no action in support of PATCO. There was widespread sentiment among rank-and-file trade unionists for solidarity action to prevent the destruction of PATCO. Had the AFL-CIO ordered industrial action in support of the air traffic controllers, the Reagan administration would have been forced to retreat, thereby suffering a devastating defeat early in its first term.

But demands for solidarity action were rejected by the AFL-CIO. Four leaders of PATCO went to jail, nearly 12,000 air traffic controllers lost their jobs, and the union was destroyed.

This set the pattern that was followed again and again throughout the 1980s. Bitter strikes were fought by coal miners, steel workers, bus drivers, airline workers, copper miners, auto workers and meatpacking workers. In each and every case, the striking workers were isolated by the national trade union organizations, denied any meaningful support, and consigned, deliberately, to defeat. In the meantime, employers throughout the country pursued their strike-breaking tactics with full confidence that they enjoyed the support of the Reagan administration.

By the time Reagan left office in 1989, the American trade union movement, thanks to the betrayals of the AFL-CIO, had ceased to exist as a social movement."


While I don't agree with betraying a word you gave (as happened in that case), I'd be fine with seeing something like this happen again. However, I won't hold my breath on Bush actually doing something useful.

actually Bush seems to follow the republican free-trade mentality farily consistantly, so I wouldn't be shocked if he did something like that.

 

[oboeguy]

Originally posted by: xospec1alk

Originally posted by: T2k

Originally posted by: Atomicus
What I don't understand is the TWU's inability to understand the crippling effect of striking for higher wages.

1) loss of revenue because you aren't providing service for the days on strike
2) loss of wages due to fines (illegal striking, dumb@sses)
3) increase the MTA's overall debt and forcing another fare hike to ensure they can scratch even


You know what would be funny? If us New Yorkers boycotted the MTA. Not practical, but ironic and in their face. :|

No, it's you who's missing the point:

1. MTA has a billion in surplus, profit yet they didn't bulge.

2. Loss of revenues easily can be made up from 2x the loss of wages.

3. Loss of wages has nothing to do with MTA - that just precisley shows how determined they are which whows how bad their situation can be.

its a one time surplus from real estate, not from increased ridership or anything..they are still predicting a deficit starting in 2007

Yes. The failure to look at things past face value is disturbing. Oooh eleventy billion suprplus, gimme "my share". First, this is a public entity not a private company so there should be no such thing as profit sharing (which is exactly what the rhetoric is demanding). Furthermore, it IS a one-time surplus so asking for recurring costs to be supported by it is ludicrous.

 

[sniperruff]

whatever. these jokers better take their 3% and suck it up so i can get to work.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: sniperruff
whatever. these jokers better take their 3% and suck it up so i can get to work.

Well due to the TWU's strike, my final today was postponed till next tuesday! I don't need the MTA till then!

 

[sniperruff]

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Originally posted by: sniperruff
whatever. these jokers better take their 3% and suck it up so i can get to work.

Well due to the TWU's strike, my final today was postponed till next tuesday! I don't need the MTA till then!

i get to take today off but on the expense of my vacation time =/

 

[scarpent]

?

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: sniperruff

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Originally posted by: sniperruff
whatever. these jokers better take their 3% and suck it up so i can get to work.

Well due to the TWU's strike, my final today was postponed till next tuesday! I don't need the MTA till then!

i get to take today off but on the expense of my vacation time =/

That sucks! I don't have to work till later in the week, but I can make it there on rollerblades faster that I can using the MTA busses or subway.

 

[sniperruff]

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Originally posted by: sniperruff

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Originally posted by: sniperruff
whatever. these jokers better take their 3% and suck it up so i can get to work.

Well due to the TWU's strike, my final today was postponed till next tuesday! I don't need the MTA till then!

i get to take today off but on the expense of my vacation time =/

That sucks! I don't have to work till later in the week, but I can make it there on rollerblades faster that I can using the MTA busses or subway.

Impossible for me... I'd have to blade from Fresh Pond Road to Marcy, then go over Williamsburg, then onto West 168th.

If I walk, it'd probably take me 6,7 hours.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: sniperruff

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Originally posted by: sniperruff

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Originally posted by: sniperruff
whatever. these jokers better take their 3% and suck it up so i can get to work.

Well due to the TWU's strike, my final today was postponed till next tuesday! I don't need the MTA till then!

i get to take today off but on the expense of my vacation time =/

That sucks! I don't have to work till later in the week, but I can make it there on rollerblades faster that I can using the MTA busses or subway.

Impossible for me... I'd have to blade from Fresh Pond Road to Marcy, then go over Williamsburg, then onto West 168th.

If I walk, it'd probably take me 6,7 hours.

:Q

For your sake and others here affected, I hope the strike ends soon!

 

[IronWing]

Just think NYC will shed a collective 2 million pounds of fat per day as long as the strike continues. Walking is good for you.

 

[Mday]

1. it's not an operational surplus, the billion dollars is from monies raised specifically for future capital improvements. companies specifically do this so they have the funds for capital expenditures. it's like you putting money away for future use in a savings account. that money will go away fast once you consider how expensive it is to maintain, let alone improve NYC subway and bus service, and get new equipment. i mean, if you even think the MTA made 1 billion dollars this year you are wrong. They were forced to re-release some numbers, taking the billion out of certain coffers.

2. the pension issue is pretty big. I contribute 10%, EE matches up to 5% for retirement benefits (401k) I am eligible for, outside of social security. civil service EEs do not typically suffer benefit cuts due to unions, and the fat wallets of municpalities since they can just simply raise taxes for more income. if the issue is really the EE contribution of 2% vs 6% for new EEs, BAH.

3. consider that GM spent some 2 billion in post retirement benefits for their former EEs, and reported a loss of 500 million. (accounting doesnt work 2 billion - 500 million btw, so forget about saying they would have made 1.5 billion).

4. we nyc'ers will invariably be paying for this. I see the rates being raised to $3 within the next 5 years.

5. you cant blame the unions either, the MTA is mismanaged to the extent of amtrak, in my opinion. but at this point, the TWU demands will force fair hikes.