So the strike continues and the TWU is still trying to convince us that they are fighting for their rights becayse they have been, oh, so unfaily treated.
Let's look at the facts:
They were asking for 24% salary raise (ridiculous if you ask me).
They were offered 10.5%, their retirement age would remain 55 years old and all their benefits and health would remain the same. The one point the MTA asked for was that NEW hires would have to contribute 6% to their retirement. Current workers would not be affected.
The salaries of NYC transit workers:
The starting salary for a NYC Transit train operator is $52,644 a year, before overtime. In the new contracts that the city’s municipal unions negotiated this year, the starting salary for a New York Police Department officer will be $25,100 a year.
The average subway or bus operator earns nearly $63,000 per year. The average subway conductor earns about $54,000. The average station agent earns about $51,000. A subway cleaner earns about $40,000
The people most affected happen to be those who need the money the most:
People who live in the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, especially those who couldn't afford homes closer to the city and who have been walking 3-4 hours in the middle of the winter to get to work in Manhattan because they will lode their jobs if they don;t show up.
Those who have lost their jobs right before Christmas because they couldn't get to work and whose families will suffer right before the holidays.
The people who sell food and magazines by subway stations, flowers inside the trains, musicians who play underground, plays and concerts who can't sell tickets.
Small restaurants and the waiters and busboys who depend on the tips to make a living.
All freelancers who can't get to work, therefore don't get paid, delivery people who can't make deliveries.
People who live in NJ and are riding their bikes to Manhattan.
Students who can't get to school and parents who can't go to work because their kids would be home alone.
And so many more people who are losing their livelihoods, who can't get to doctors and hospitals even for emergency treatments (like chemotherapy and dialysis) and small stores and business who will go bankrupt without the Christmas sales, all because the TWU decided they want a fuller pocket no matter what.
NYers are strong people. We survived 9/11and a blackout in the past few years. We are used to walking and have been biking, roller skating, or scootering (like me) hundreds of blocks to get where we need to go. People have been offering rides to complete strangers and have been going out of their way to pick up stranded co-workers in the morning.
It's just harder when the problems have been caused by other NYer who are just too selfish to care about their fellow citizens and who believe their own pockets are worth more than the safety and well being of 7 million other people.
Even the TWU international is against the strike. I hope they pay even heftier fines until they stop listening to manipulators like TWU President Roger Toussaint.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
NYC Subway, Transit, TWU Strike in NYC
NYC Transit Strike
So just heard news that the transit workers (TWU) in NYC decided to go on strike like they have been threatening to do for several weeks now.
My thoughts:
As much as I believe that they have been treated less than fairly in general by the MTA, they have lost all of my sympathy by appealing to a strike that more than inconveniences, but also seriously affects the lives of over 7 million people who use the subways everyday.
The Transit Workers Union has a history of making excessive demands and of being uncompromising. By having the strike so close to major holidays they seem to have absolutely no concern for the small stores that need the business so much, the people who need to work now to buy gifts for their kids and for the people of the city in general.
As always the people most affected will be those who are the poorest, who need to live far away and who usually have to commute for an hour or longer just to get to work. Those people can't afford the suggested cab shares or van services and are also the ones who will suffer the most if they lose money from missed days of work.
The strike is also illegal and the transit workers will be fined 2 pay days for each day of strike. Somehow I don't feel bad for them this time around.....
Suggested (though ridiculous) options and suggestions by the MTA and the Mayor's office:
Driving Alternatives:
Residents and commuters are encouraged to walk or bike, especially during rush hours. Bicyclists are encouraged to keep to car-free greenway paths and on-street bike lanes (some of which will have orange cones along them for added protection from car traffic). Bikers should review the 2005 New York City Cycling Map, available on the Department of City Planning’s Web site: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/bike/bm.shtml.
Ferries will run more frequently.
Public School Information:
Beginning with the first day of a strike, all regular school start times will be delayed for two hours. School bus times will be delayed two hours as well, to accomodate for the new start time. The end of the school day will not be changed.
Car Pooling and Parking:
Cars crossing the main bridges to Manhattan must have at least 4 passengers. For help finding other people to pool with:
http://www.commuterlink.com/
Alternate side of the street parking rules will be suspended Citywide for the duration of the transit strike.
Keep safe and let's hope for a short strike.
So just heard news that the transit workers (TWU) in NYC decided to go on strike like they have been threatening to do for several weeks now.
My thoughts:
As much as I believe that they have been treated less than fairly in general by the MTA, they have lost all of my sympathy by appealing to a strike that more than inconveniences, but also seriously affects the lives of over 7 million people who use the subways everyday.
The Transit Workers Union has a history of making excessive demands and of being uncompromising. By having the strike so close to major holidays they seem to have absolutely no concern for the small stores that need the business so much, the people who need to work now to buy gifts for their kids and for the people of the city in general.
As always the people most affected will be those who are the poorest, who need to live far away and who usually have to commute for an hour or longer just to get to work. Those people can't afford the suggested cab shares or van services and are also the ones who will suffer the most if they lose money from missed days of work.
The strike is also illegal and the transit workers will be fined 2 pay days for each day of strike. Somehow I don't feel bad for them this time around.....
Suggested (though ridiculous) options and suggestions by the MTA and the Mayor's office:
Driving Alternatives:
Residents and commuters are encouraged to walk or bike, especially during rush hours. Bicyclists are encouraged to keep to car-free greenway paths and on-street bike lanes (some of which will have orange cones along them for added protection from car traffic). Bikers should review the 2005 New York City Cycling Map, available on the Department of City Planning’s Web site: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/bike/bm.shtml.
Ferries will run more frequently.
Public School Information:
Beginning with the first day of a strike, all regular school start times will be delayed for two hours. School bus times will be delayed two hours as well, to accomodate for the new start time. The end of the school day will not be changed.
Car Pooling and Parking:
Cars crossing the main bridges to Manhattan must have at least 4 passengers. For help finding other people to pool with:
http://www.commuterlink.com/
Alternate side of the street parking rules will be suspended Citywide for the duration of the transit strike.
Keep safe and let's hope for a short strike.
Problems with Internet Explorer? Steve Jobs and the Ipod on Saturday Night Live. Need more traffic for your site?
So for another tech section, I decided to help new webmasters who just need to get some hits so their site gets ranked in search engines.
There are several traffic exchange sites and below are some I suggest:
Brastart
321 hits
Another important thing is to always have a back-up browser in case you have problems with Internet Explorer or Safari if you have a Mac. A very good alternative is Firefox:
<--See White Square Button on left for direct link
It's reliable, has hundreds if not thousands of add ons you can download to make your browsing experience richer and it's free.
And a great Saturday Night Live sketch about Steve Jobs and the Ipod. (thank you Dale for sending it to me).
Here (Quicktime, 3.4mb, so it might take a little while to appear)
There are several traffic exchange sites and below are some I suggest:
Brastart
321 hits
Another important thing is to always have a back-up browser in case you have problems with Internet Explorer or Safari if you have a Mac. A very good alternative is Firefox:
<--See White Square Button on left for direct link
It's reliable, has hundreds if not thousands of add ons you can download to make your browsing experience richer and it's free.
And a great Saturday Night Live sketch about Steve Jobs and the Ipod. (thank you Dale for sending it to me).
Here (Quicktime, 3.4mb, so it might take a little while to appear)
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