December 20, 2005
2005 Transit Strike's Boffo Debut
Okay, take a deep breath in...and exhale. It's been a doozy of a day. To recap: Millions of New Yorkers managed to (1) figure out how to get to where they needed to without buses or subways, (2) learn how to share cabs, (3) swarm Penn Station like it's Macy's on Black Friday, and (4) complain in new and interesting ways. The MTA and Transport Workers Union are still bickering over things, with various injunctions and lawsuits against the union pending from the city and state. In fact, as we mentioned earlier, Justice Theodore Jones of State Supreme Court in Brooklyn levied a $1 million per day fine on the union for striking, calling it a "sad day" for labor relations. Mayor Bloomberg got angry during his afternoon press conference, saying, "There are no winners in a strike. Everybody is a loser here." Tell us about it! Gothamist was just watching WNBC 4's "special" broadcast, and while Penn Station really did look terrible - apparently 45,000 extra riders took the LIRR today - there was some oaf who yelled (with understandable frustration), "FIRE ALL THE MTA WORKERS - NOW!" If they were all fired, then Penn Station would probably be a mess all the time, mister. We think this AP quote from Brooklynite Kenny Herbert says it better, "It's two arrogant groups not caring that 7 million people are inconvenienced." Word. MTA and TWU - can you just kiss and make up?
The only thing we want to know is how much longer there will be a strike and how long it'll take for the subways to be up and running again. And we're still a little stunned the Transport Workers Union actually striked. Of course, the MTA should have been negotiating much earlier than they started, but still. Also, former Senator Alphonse D'Amato? You're kind of an idiot - he was just on NY1's Road to City Hall, and said the TWU was "militant": "I don't want to be ethnic..." Okay, this is the problem with multitasking - TV, posting, IMing, our head is a little muddled. D'Amato did not use "ethnic" to refer to the union. We would, however, love for him to shut up. [Thanks, Dan]
Gothamist hopes you were able to get home safe tonight... get your rest, 'cause there's more of the same tomorrow!
Photograph from citycrab on Flickr
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http://www.twu.org/
int'l twu head orders locals back to work
my guess is they'll strike for four days to eat up that bonus time the MTA spent the $1b on
I find it interesting that the local 100 went on strike despite the objections of the int'l twu. I heard someone say that this also happened in '80. It could be that this is simply a way to insulate the int'l twu from fines, but privately they approved. Just a theory. If the local 100 was really renegade, seems like the int'l twu would be more vocal and could easily shut down the local 100 leadership. And pataki and bloomberg would also jump at the chance to decertify the union.
I will not mince words:
Roger Toussant is a terrorist.
If I was mayor he would have had cuffs slapped on him the second he announced the illegal strike. I don't think he would last long on Riker's Island.
If he sees himself as a latter day Mike Quill (who was in fact a member of a terrorist group known as the Irish Republican Army) Toussant would want to go to jail, have a heart attack and die three days after the strike was settled, as Quill did in 1966.
(I find it interesting that the local 100 went on strike despite the objections of the int'l twu.)
There are factions within the TWU, and one contols the local, the other the national. The faction that controls the national was demanding a 30 percent pay raise or else they would strike a few days ago.
The key is this -- if it goes on long enough, the TWU has an incentive to hold out until the city and state agree to waive the fines. Then there is no penalty for the strike, which means they can strike all the time. Which means the MTA has an incentive to hold out until the fines are collected, and they get bigger every day. That's why the prior strikes went on so long.
In 1966, the strikes were waived, the pensions greatly enhanced, all the money diverted to pay them, and the system went down the tubes. In 1980 the fines were not waived, and there were no further strikes for 25 years -- until just about eveyone who had the experience of having to pay had retired.
One fair response to the strike is posters on the subways and flyers in the buses detailing the pay, health plan, pension plan, and working conditions of TWU members. If everyone is better off, they'll feel bad for them. If most people are worse off, they'll feel angry. Either way, it's justice.
I'd also like to see some forensic accounting. What share of the MTA's pension hole was created by the 2000 pension enhancement, and what share by not paying enough in -- offset by the city and state cutting subsidies to the MTA? And what share of the debt load could be attributed to the huge decline in the fare, relative to inflation, from 1995 to 2002? Pay now or pay later. American values are to pay later. It is later, and getting later all the time.
mrd: I didn't think of that. You're probably right. The international TWU is probably just posturing so they can argue that the one million dollar a day fines shouldn't apply to them. Local 100 is showing assets of a little over 8 million and disbursements around 5 million with Toussaint making roughly 100k a year - see department of labor filing for TWU local 100 here -
http://erds.dol-esa.gov/query/getOrgQryResult.do
Looks like most assets are funnelled to the international.
http://www.strikeblog.com
Am I the only person in New York concerned about some of the long term issues and financial fallout? Given the grim predicted deficit of $4.6 Billion in 2007 and an estimated $4.2 Billion thereafter prior to the current city wide transit shutdown…Shouldn’t there be audible bells, whistles and strobe lights flashing within multiple city agencies. Will anyone be held accountable for the losses incurred? Even with fines levied to the tune of 1 Million dollars per day (TWU has ~3 Million in liquid assets) where do business owners, citizens or the city find retribution? There is little recourse for economic or financial restitution from an organization operating in clear violation of state law, one which lacks the assets to cover a fraction of a single days expenses let alone accrued fines.
We don't have this shit in LA. That and snow, but can't complain about the balmy 70 degree weather.
D'Amato has wanted to be Howard Stern so bad that he probably sliced the foreskin off his braciole with a meat cleaver.
Roger Touissant may have redoubled his efforts when he has forgotten his aim.
But to my knowledge, he has not cut off anyone's head before a video camera, nor has he blown a hole in an American battleship, nor has he carbombed embassies.
Calling someone a terrorist because he makes life a little rougher is a bit of a stretch.
Mike Quill was Irish, but was not in the IRA. I know it's easy to think of someone who's Irish as being in the IRA, if you're not familiar with the Irish, or just used to putting dumb labels on people, but shocker here, not all Irish are in the IRA. Some are not even drinkers.
I know we're all ticked and our nerves are rubbed raw, but let's keep the racism and the hyperbole to a minimum, shall we?
Here's a question: What happens with 30-day (or 34-day) Metrocards? Will the MTA extend their expiration to compensate for the strike, or will they expire on schedule?
In regards to the metrocards question, the MTA will extend all unlimited and unlimited bonus cards for every day that there is a strike. So as you can see, the MTA somewhat cares for its riders.
In fact we, the riders have more at stake than you think. The MTA simply cannot give in to the unreasonable 24% raise the union wants. Yes they have a billion dollar surplus, but they have other things to pay for other than transportation workers. Any further increase in the current offer will legitimately put the MTA in deficit in the coming years and force a fare raise.
So if youre still supporting the union so they get their 24% instead of a reasonable 10.5%, the next time your unlimited metrocard increases to $120/month and one way fares become $4, blame the TWU and not the MTA. The union says they are doing it for the people? Ye right
The MTA is extending any 'Happy Holidays' bonuses for each day of the strike, so you do not lose any value on the cards.
Just bought new insoles for my five mile hike from downtown Manhattan to Red Hook. Thanks to the "selfish thugs" at the TWU, I will probably be let go and not make a dime and have to walk back again. Merry Whatever.
Some strike pix here!
So, um... what happens to my special 40-day unlimited MTA card? Will I get those days back? Curse you MTATWU, curse you...
Aw come on!!!
The fault of this thing is entirely the governments and the MTA. I am SURE the MTA workers wouldn't risk the millions upon millions in fines that they face if it weren't really worth it...
This idea that somehow this are two side of the same coin simply doesn't have any logic to me...
And yes am pissed off at my 6 hour round trip commute from Brooklyn.
But am pissed off at the MTA and the Mayor who by their sheer greed and "bring it on" bravado have brought this to us. If I where an MTA employee, I would have gone on strike too!
Have you seen the TV commercials the TWU has been running on NY1 since a few short hours after the strike began? Interesting that the TWU said it didn't want a strike, yet decided to go to the trouble and expense of making commercials (there are 2) and purchasing commercial airtime. Both of these acts would need to have been done in advance. Both also would have been a complete waste of funds had there been no strike.
So the TWU didn't want a strike, huh? Ticket to the clue train: they're lying to us about that. Start throwing them in jail NOW.
Have you seen the TV commercials the TWU has been running on NY1 since a few short hours after the strike began? Interesting that the TWU said it didn't want a strike, yet decided to go to the trouble and expense of making commercials (there are 2) and purchasing commercial airtime. Both of these acts would need to have been done in advance. Both also would have been a complete waste of funds had there been no strike.
So the TWU didn't want a strike, huh? Ticket to the clue train: they're lying to us about that. Start throwing them in jail NOW.
the YANKEES JUST GOT JOHNNY DAMON. FINALLY WE get a leadoff hitter.
Have you seen the TV commercials the TWU has been running on NY1 since a few short hours after the strike began? Interesting that the TWU said it didn't want a strike, yet decided to go to the trouble and expense of making commercials (there are 2) and purchasing commercial airtime. Both of these acts would need to have been done well in advance. Both also would have been a complete waste of funds had there been no strike. These people are nothing but lying thugs.
yes all of TWU, especially Toussant who's clearly on some selfish power trip, should be thrown into jail PRONTO. NYC DOES NOT NEED THEM. everyone got along just fine today and we New Yorkers will find a way to get ourselves where we need one way or another, WITHOUT these thugs. I personally would rather walk everywhere and carpool forever then pay those already well-fed (55k per year, 55 retirement...hello!??!?) selfish bastards ONE MORE CENT. I say fire them all, fine them till they're broke and crawl back to MTA, and rehire better workers who (a) have better attitudes than 90% of the cranky workers (b) won't put 7m people and the city's economy at stake so they can demand some ridiculous benefits (c) they're totally replaceable anyways. I'm sure now that everyone knows how damn high their salary is and how damn good the benefits are there're TONS of better educated people who'd love to work at the MTA instead. We don't need these selfish fools!
How the fuck do you expect to hire 33,000 replacement workers? Are you gonna quit your job and work around deadly electricity? Are you? Then stop COMPLAINING. Put up or shut up, buddy, and try to imagine a job where you don't sit around all day and stare out the window. And then, what makes you think the replacement workers aren't going to want enough money to live on? Do you want to go hire "Mexicans" or "Chinese" or something? Working people aren't as stupid as you think they are - they know when they're getting screwed.
"But am pissed off at the MTA and the Mayor who by their sheer greed and "bring it on" bravado have brought this to us."
By their "sheer greed"? Do you really think the Mayor and the MTA Board get to keep whatever money they "save" in these contract negotiations? The MTA budget is paid from (a) transit fares and bridge/tunnel tolls, (b) sales tax, (c) property tax, and (d) income tax (city, state, and federal). All this money ultimately comes from us, the riders and taxpayers.
Here's some food for thought: Openings/exams for these TWU jobs don't come about very often, lots of people apply, and a fairly small percentage of applicants are offered positions. If the jobs/pay/benefits/security of these jobs was so poor, would this be the case?
About the $55k figure people keep tossing around:
This is an *average* rate of pay across the *entire* union. The person who drives your bus every morning starts at about $16/hr, escalating to a whoppping $20/hr as the driver is only job for longer, and even that job requires a CDL and relevant experience. Bus maintenance workers get paid more, but you also need experience working as a mechanic, as you do for many of the other higher-paid jobs in the MTA. For those of you complaining that your job as wait-staff or graphic designer doesn't pay that much: your relevant skills are nil w/rt the MTA's high-value jobs, so discussion of how much they make comparatively is a non-starter.
Given the amount of job security TWU members have, It's not a bad job by any means, but to imagine the MTA workers as living off the fat of the land is just a farce. Further, imagining that people come with no skills to a job that pays $55k/yr just demonstrates a woeful misunderstanding of the situation.
Way to contradict yourself, Anonymous. You're so busy being argumentative, you seem to have forgotten what side you're supposed to be on. We're not the ones saying the pay, benefits and security of those jobs is poor. We're saying they have too much pay, benefits and job security thanks to collective bargaining. Maybe that's why "lots of people apply" and why openings for TWU jobs don't appear often.
Jen,
D'Amato said "I don't want to be ethnic" after he hesitated to use the phrase "young turks" to describe the faction of the TWU that was pro-strike. Carl McCall threw out the word militant as an alternative.
He might still be kind of an idiot, but at least you now have an accurate quote on which to base your opinion.
get a bike and ride to work.
The MTA and the City of NY are the ones that are screwing everyone!
Eyes wide open
David, the misquote is my fault; I was transcribing as best as I can and there was so much cross-talk on Road to City Hall that I must've mistyped. My apologies.
I'm going to die when i get into Penn today. Hooray for two mile walks with hardcase luggage! Marathon!
hey if they're not satisfied with their existing high wages and benefits, feel free to go try and find an equivalent job somewhere else - and good luck with that. so what if we'd have to hire, as you put in such a racist manner - "mexicans" and "chinese" - why f-ing not?! you'd rather satisfy domestic greed and selfishness than employ the tons of other people, immigrants or not, who'd take these jobs eagerly?