Where does the money come from for the MTA? Is it Federal or is it privately financed?

Comes from city, state, and federal subsedies. Plus the fare.

Do you know this man?



-Franky

Does anyone know if the emergency vehicle streets are open to motorcycles and scoots? I saw one report on TV saying so, but have been unable to verify.

If the strike is still on tomorrow, I'm busting out the scoot.

thanks

I really really didn't want to get in this mess, but, I'm sorry...

<rant> The MTA and the TWU are equally to blame for this mess. Either one could have avoided the strike - the MTA by offering more, and the TWU by accepting less.

Unions in general are the only reason most people in this country make a decent wage. Or have health insurance. Or annuities.

Are their examples of Unions being too harsh? Sure. Are there examples of Union workers who shouldn't be on the job, but are, because they're Union? Absolutely.

Of course, the same can be said of management. Afterall, it's managements job to pay as little as possible and maximise profits.

As someone who is on both sides of the coin (I hire Union labor, and I am a Union memeber [IATSE Locals #311 & #USA829]), I have to say the situation, as usual, is more complex than you may think.

Now, admittedly, when my Union strikes, all it means it you don't get to see a show on Broadway. But saying the TWU should accept less than they want because a strike is too disruptive is BS.

How many of you would do your job for less money than you wanted? That's what this is about. If the rank & file was that out of touch with the board, they would make that known. A couple of workers on NY1 saying they don't suport the strike means nothing in a Unino of 36k.

Anyways, I scooted around today and had no problems. I even gave some beeps of encouragement to those striking and walking picket lines.

I wonder where the Rat is this week...

Okay, rant off...</rant>

The only relief I have is knowing that after Thursday my company is closed until January 3rd and I'm outta here on vacation. No subways, no buses, just ski slopes and the good old country for me. I must say walking home tonight wasn't that bad, mainly because I got to catch up with a couple of friends on the way home. However, had the wind been kicking up like it usually is, it would have been awful.

dgilman wrote:<rant> The MTA and the TWU are equally to blame for this mess. Either one could have avoided the strike - the MTA by offering more, and the TWU by accepting less.

The union WAS offered more. In fact, the union's national parent advised it NOT to strike, stated that the local WAs making headway. They struck anyway. At today's trial the national union got up and told the judge that they advised the local not to strike. The judge excused them from any fines/repercussions and thanked them for their input.

No sir, you will get not one single word of support from me for this union. It is as if they went out of their way to make every single mistake they could.

Have you guys noticed that this issue has the most post to date then any other topic on this boad! and I just added to madness

Just throwing in my 2 cents...

Having moved to the city from out of state [insert burning river joke here], where we had a transit system that's a sliver of what we have here in New York, I really appreciate the service the MTA and its workers provide, although I choose to use their service as a backup to my primary mode of transportation. Could it be better, absofrigginlutely! Do the workers deserve more? Some of them probably do, most assuredly do not.

I'm grateful I have a decent job with good benefits. I wish the same for everyone who wants it. From what I can tell the MTA offers competitive if not generous wages for the skills required, as well as some pretty good benefits.

It bothers me when people get greedy, and I feel like I've seen that in both sides this past week, but in particular with the union. I appreciate the role of unions in sticking up for the little guy, unfortunately this particular union seems to have completely lost its mind.

A complete shut down was just a dick thing to do, especially at this time of year.

I think the Mayor said it best when he said "Cooler heads need to prevail."

Thankfully I'm done commuting until January 2, it took me about an hour to get across the Triboro this morning.

Brad, Astoria
LX150

phil_rizzuto wrote:Does anyone know if the emergency vehicle streets are open to motorcycles and scoots? I saw one report on TV saying so, but have been unable to verify.

Some are (e.g. Madison and 5th), but not all. See:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/transitinfo/htm ... l#reserved

The cops aren't all clued in though. I was turned away from 5th a couple of times in midtown. Finally found one who let me on at 27th Street.

A few things...

NY Times is reporting that to do what the TWU wants with the pensions would cost the MTA $20M over 3 years. That's nothing. The Union was not offered enough.

What mistakes did they make? Wanting to get paid what they think is fair? Or is the mistake that didn't do waht other people think they should do? Those other people being those not affected by whatever the CBA turns out to be.

Secondly, it was the MTA in the last contract negotiations that made it this time of year for when the contract had to be renewed. Probably hoping that they could get a better deal because public sentiment would be against a strike and the TWU.

The International of any Union is MUCH MUCH more conservative than the locals. Simply, the International doesn't directly represent any workers. I saw this hapen with the IATSE and NYCO. The local wanted to strike (depriving hundreds of people of...opera), and the International wouldn't support it. Every single worker who was part of the CBA wanted to strike, and the International said no. So F the TWU International. Who are they for anyways?

Speaking of which, are any of you folks directly related to any union activity, either as managers of Union workers or union workers yourselves?

The only union I've been a part of is the Teachers union here in NYC. I don't always agree with what they do, especially since I'm an Art teacher, and get shafted on certain stuff, unlike "regular" classroom teachers.

I'm all for people getting fair wages, hours, benefits, etc. But when you've got a job that;

1 - Has a starting salary that is higher than other, more hazerdous jobs (Firefighters, Cops, TEACHERS - I've been stabbed by a 9 year old) and provides pretty damn good benefits when zillions of people have none,
2 - When people decide to strike, it cripples a huge city, endangering hospital patients and causes taxi & livery price gouging,
3 - Can potentially turn off/away tourists, causes lost wages for restaurants, bars, Broadway shows, small businesses, hurting the economy...

I can't feel that bad for you.

I'd be more upset if I had a "regular" job that depended on me getting somewhere during "regular" hours. I feel for those who do and hope that some cab driver doesn't try to fuck me over when I want to go home at 3:00 am.

The question is, when is "enough, enough" It seems to me that the wages they are getting paid is VERY fair. Iv ridden along side a train operator, and its not that hard. Some one mentioned a 50k salary?! trust me, thats fair for sitting on your ass and turning a dial for throttle and mumbling into a mic every stop, And a pension to boot! If they want the salary of a rocket scientist, then they should go back to school for a higher paying profession. Im all for workers rights. but you need to draw a line somewhere I know some workers have a dirtier job, like the tunnel cleaners, I would deff give them a higher wage. Would you want to walk down those tunnels and clean them!

Over 1,000 workers crossed the picket lines yesterday and reported to work in protest to their unions decision to strike. THe MTA being a stand up company has reinstated their pay. If you look at the WTU local 100 vote 15 associates voted either against the strike or wouldn't participate in the vote at all. This only proves that this is the agenda of the higher managment at the WTU and Roger Toussaint is the person directly to blame for this mess.

Why was Pataki mucking about in New Hampshire when the shit hit the fan? Apparently Presidential "exploratory trips" are more important than the needs of our city. From what I understand he has more pull in this issue than Bloomberg.

The Meatpacking District was a ghost town yesterday morning. Eerily peaceful.

I was watching a live web cast of ch 2 news and they acknowledge that motorcycles are allowed into Manhattan. It’s good to see that the news is informing the people that we are allowed in.

This is from TWU International.

"TWU (International) hereby notifies all members of Local 100 of their obligation under the December 13, 2005 preliminary injunctions and the December 20, 2005 temporary restraining orders issued by the New York Supreme Court to cease any and all strike or strike-related activities and to report to work at their regularly assigned work hours and work locations."

TWU international is so pissed.

syntax73 wrote:Over 1,000 workers crossed the picket lines yesterday and reported to work in protest to their unions decision to strike. THe MTA being a stand up company has reinstated their pay. If you look at the WTU local 100 vote 15 associates voted either against the strike or wouldn't participate in the vote at all. This only proves that this is the agenda of the higher managment at the WTU and Roger Toussaint is the person directly to blame for this mess.

What is it about the MTA leads you to believe they are a "stand up" company?
The MTA like any company is responsible for that which goes on under their watch.

If one goes to a restaurant and the food is bad one asks to speak to the manager. The waiter carries no wieght. The chef is partially to blame but he/she may be following the recipe given to them.

Both the Union and the MTA are to blame for the strike but I ultimately hold the MTA responsible for their shit service that they provide at $2 per ride. With this type of quality they should be paying us.

dgilman wrote:Speaking of which, are any of you folks directly related to any union activity, either as managers of Union workers or union workers yourselves?

I am a member of SAG (Screen Actors Guild) and AFTRA (American Federation of Television & Radio Artists). They both have their problems but as an actor I am offered more protection with them than without them. They provide my wife and I with health insurance and a pension (when the time comes).

I just saw Bloombergs press conference and he said that 5th ave and Madison ave is open for all traffic. Only one lane will be used for emergencies. and 2 of the 4 parking lots in Staten Island do not need the HOV 4 restrictions (don't know which two). Little by little things will work out.