Home! Not so bad. Took about an hour and a half. As far as the surplus. People have to understand that that's pretty much earmarked for the new 2nd ave line and the new hubs for the world trade center/bullet train to JFK. It's not like they're wasting it. Just a thought. But I'm done!! NO more work until Jan. 2nd!
I thought the state transportation bond act that the voters approved on in november covered the 2nd Avenue Line, East Side Access, etc... I was told that the surplus is a different animal altogether... also regarding retirement age... they(the TWU) want to lower the age from 62 to 55, not from 55 to 50,at least thats what I was told and what I have read... of course, even the transit workers themselves dont know whats at stake and they strike cause their leader says to strike... btw, they are getting docked two days of pay for every day they strike, and the TWU gets fined a whopping million a day...
Not true. Here is the latest article I can find in yahoo http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051222/ap_on_re_us/nyc_transit_strike According to the union president, the sticking point is a proposed change in pensions. The Metropolitan Transit Authority's last contract proposed maintaining a retirement age of 55 but increasing what new hires contribute to the pension plan. New employees would pay 6 percent of their wages during their first 10 years, rather than the current 2 percent.
I see. So the solution is right in front of us. The NYPD Officer can shoot the TWU workers and take over their jobs! Everybody wins!
I've only skimmed part of this thread so pardon me if this has been brought up. I believe in a capitalist society unions have the right to exist as organizations to maximize negotiating power of individual workers to get the maximum benefit out of their labor. That said management should have the right to fire workers for the nonperformance of their jobs and replace them if they can. In this particular situation I think the union is wrong because for one there is a law against them striking. I don't agree with this law because I think they should have the right to strike but its the law and should be respected. The next is that unions should consider carefully the longterm implications of their actions. I don't know how skilled of a position being a subway operator is or a bus driver but I'm presuming its not something that takes a lot of training. If the union's demands become too burdensome on the city then I think the city should fire them and hire replacements or look to automation. Just because there is a union doesn't free the business from economic conditions and unions should consider the longterm success of the business and also what options are open to the business in the face of a strike. For instance the Northwest Airlines mechanics went on strike when the Airline was facing record losses and near bankruptcy. This move was profoundly stupid on their part as Northwest has gone bankrupt brought on partly by the strike which has freed them of any obligation to the mechanics union and other unions and they have gone ahead and brought in replacement unions. Now the mechanics union is talking about ending the strike in the hope of allowing their members to collect unemployment. A far far far cry from the last offer that Northwest made to them and if they had accepted would've at least let most of them keep their jobs and many benefits.
I don't know the specifics of issues involved in this strike, but it appears that a majority of New Yorkers support the union over the MTA. That says a lot given the burden the average New Yorker is having to bear due to the strike. Here Are The Results of SurveyUSA News Poll #7868 Geography Surveyed: New York DMA Data Collected: 12/20/2005 Release Date: 12/20/2005 8:45 PM ET Sponsoring News Organization: WABC-TV New York 1 Asked of 800 Adults Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 3.5% In the transit strike ... whose side are you on? Union? Or Management? 52% Union 40% Management 8% Not Sure x Complete Interactive Crosstabs i Statement of Methodology ! © 2005 SurveyUSA / Contractual Obligations http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReportEmail.aspx?g=abcc845d-0a16-45c1-bf17-e0ee50a29b0e
ivannyy200, once again misinformed, did not answer my question because they are not arguing over a retirement age of 50, they are arguing between 62 and 55... DAY THREE, STRIKE STILL ON!! get me out of this town.... cabs and car services are price gouging, charging $40 to go to the airport when the flat fare has been set at $20 during the strike...
I meant it was not accurate to say that TWU tried to lower the age from 62 to 55 because right now they are all going to retire at 55. The proposed new retirement age applies to new hires only. But does it really matter? I am not a fan of MTA, I think the heads of MTA are as incompetent as it gets. But like the international TWU says, the only way to solve the problem is to continue negotiating. It is stupid, selfish and wrong to walk out and halt the whole city during holiday season, especially it is against law!
i apologize for being reactionary, I am on edge because I dont know how to get to the airport and I cant afford cab fares...
Couldn't you have a friend or family take you there and drop you off? By the time you come back the transit should be running again.
you assume everyone in New York has a car... 7 million NewYorkers ride the transit system daily... my friends and family are in the same situation everyone else is in...
I'm also of the opinion that unions are crap these days. Several people have mentioned that driving subway trains is difficult. Now I'm no rocket scientist but how freaking hard can it be? I greatly doubt you need a secondary education to drive a subway train.
In response to your question about driving a subway. about 8 or 9 years ago, a mentally disturbed 16 year old kid hijacked the A train and made normal stops to the end of the line. he did such a good job, passengers had no clue what was going on.
try calling Hertz or Avis and see if any rental cars are available... believe me, I already tried, no cars in Manhattan at all
its going to take 12 hours to get the system running again... there wont be any trains or buses running until tonight or tomorrow.. as of right now, no one has reported to work
