MTA 2, TWU -2

+1 MTA, +1 TWU.  The strike is over!  Let’s hope that the contract talks come to a quick and fair resolution.

TWU to vote on ending strike and to resume talks

Trains and buses won’t start running for another 12-18 hours even if the TWU approves this.

Story [www.newsday.com]

MTA 1, TWU -3

-1, TWU. Another day, another 2 additional hours wasted on a commute.

What the TWU turned away

For anybody who thinks the TWU is being disrespected, here’s a good look at what they got at the negotiations. It summarizes everything they got and leaves me wondering again why we have this strike. Oh yeah, because the TWU is greedy and selfish and thinks they can fool us into sympathizing with them.

“Throw Roger from the train!” [nydailynews.com]

I wonder if they even know what they want. They seem to sit there at the bargaining table waiting for offers without making any counter-offers. If anything, that is negotiating in bad faith.

The MTA should open up their books and governance

I’ve been ranting and raving about the TWU but to be clear, I have to say the MTA isn’t a hero in this fight either. Check out the following link.

MTA cooking the books [NY State Comptroller]

This strike is political – for Roger Toussaint

Why are the “unborn” workers important? Because they give the union President more power. It keeps his unionized workers together and makes them easier to manage. This way, it’s easier for him to retain their support and to build his political base. He had run for TWU national presidency before but lost. Now if his political gamble pays off, and he gets some more concessions from the MTA, he puts himself in a better position to win the next time he runs. But, if things start to get worse, he will end the strike to preserve his leadership position in the local TWU.

My prediction – the strike will end in a week.

“unborn” workers

Here’s a question to union workers – will you really be benefitting from this strike?

I still can’t understand why you’re striking over pensions for people who don’t exist. Your union President and executive board decided to strike for their future constituents, not for you. You will gain nothing from this and are already losing money in fines. Solidarity for your future brothers? If you want more support, you might as well insist on pensions for every New Yorker while you’re at it.

Pensions are the issue — NYT

According to this NY Times article, the union got everything it wanted except for pensions. It’s not benefits that they’re fighting over as I mistakenly posted earlier, but pensions. So they got closer to their wage increase as well as securing their health benefits and retirement age for future workers. So what are they striking over? Pension plans for their “unborn” workers. New workers – who are being unaffected by this whole strike because, well, they don’t exist yet – are being asked to contribute 6% towards their pension plan as opposed to the 2% that current workers contribute. From my earlier post I already expressed how unreasonable I feel the union is being by striking over health benefits – a problem that is afflicting everyone in the United States. So what about striking over pensions? It’s something that deserves even less support. Public pensions will be bankrupting cities and states in the next decade if nothing is done about them. The MTA is trying to do something about them now, to prevent problems in the near future. And the union is failing to see that. Maybe they should read this [www.businessweek.com] first before doing something moronic. Like striking.

MTA 1, TWU -2

-1, TWU. Another cold day walking over the 59th St. bridge. Thanks again to my favorite union! I hope your holidays are happy because you’ve ruined it for everyone else.

MTA 1, TWU -1

+1, MTA. MTA honors unlimited metrocards that otherwise would’ve expired during this strike. Thanks!