NYC Could Face Transit Strike Friday

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by DanS


Wow!

Why?

Cost of living increases just about that quickly.

[KrazyHorse]

Ah, misread it. That's not 8% over three years, but 8% a year for three years.

[Arrian]

Cost of living goes up 8%/yr? Edit: yeah, not 8% over three years...

The city is offering 6% over 2 yrs, 3 months... which strikes me as in keeping w/inflation...

-Arrian

[KrazyHorse]

Actually, I'm still not sure if they mean 24% or 8%.

That's a poorly written sentence.

[Az]

Yep. It's a poorly written sentence....

[Arrian]

I thought it was pretty clearly 24% (8%/yr for three years):

"Transit workers want 8 percent annual raises over three years."

-Arrian

[Az]

It was pretty clear? then how come

Doh, misread it. You're right, that's a pretty big gap.

[Arrian]

I misread the city's offer - the 6% "over 27 months." I was skimming and I basically didn't catch the "over 27 months" part... and made the silly assumption that it was 6% annually for 3 yrs (so the same as the union, minus 2%/yr).

If one actually reads it carefully, it's clear.

-Arrian

[Az]

MTA's offer:

http://today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=bondsNews&storyID=URI:urn:newsml:reuters.com:20051216:MTFH18251_2005-12-16_18-02-45_N16287641:1

The MTA is offering a 9 percent pay raise over three years while retirement age for new hires would rise to 62 from 55 and new employees would have to contribute one percent of earnings toward health care.

Kalikow said existing employees would not be affected by most of the changes and he said the measures to cut pension and health-care costs were essential to avoid major deficits starting from 2008.

This offer sucks.

Btw, this isn't nearly kneejerk union protection. I actually usually don't side with unions when it's them against public utilities and govt. corps.

[Arrian]

One article says 6% over 2 years, 3 months and the other says 9% over 3 years... huh?

Perhaps it isn't so clear.

And yeah, that offer isn't so special. But the Union demand doesn't look reasonable either. So we're back to what Dan and I were talking about: both sides start at unreasonable positions and negotiate until they meet somewhere in the middle (usually).

-Arrian

[Az]

IIRC, it's actually worsening the condition of future workers. What they're saying is "hey, those people aren't working here yet, who cares about them?"

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by GePap


Bull. Manhattan is expensive because it has a population density of 66,000 per square mile.

Rent control is obviously not the only factor, but if you don't think it makes it more expensive for the rest of us you are an economic ignoramus.

[Sava]

I don't see the problem here.

This is just negotion tactics.

Everyone is just trying to get what they want.

Oh yeah, those transit workers are just living it up because those evil unions are able to EXTORT THE CITY out of so much money.

I WANT TO BECOME A TRANSIT WORKER.



knee-jerk anti-union morons

this is just the way things work... give and take...

and updated story http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/16/ny...rtner=homepage

The Transport Workers Union represents 217 workers at Jamaica Buses, based in Jamaica, Queens, and 490 workers at Triboro, based in Flushing, Queens. By noon today, the buses were still running, and it was unclear when the union members would stop work. A driver for Triboro Coach said a walkout was unlikely before Monday.

At worst, there will probably be a limited strike. Hopefully not for too long and the workers will get a better deal.


GOD FORBID THEY GET PAY INCREASES SLIGHTLY BETTER THAN THE RATE OF INFLATION!!!

THOSE EVIL UNIONS

[Edan]

This looks like the issues that need to get resolved:

Wage increases: The Metropolitan Transportation Authority offered two wage increases of three percent each over 27 months. The union sought eight percent annual wage increases.

Pension benefits: The MTA wants to move the retirement age from 55 to 62 for newly hired employees and is asking for higher employee contributions from new workers. The TWU countered with a proposal to reduce the age for full retirement benefits to 50.

Health coverage: The MTA is asking for higher co-payments for prescription drugs and office visits. The MTA also wants new employees to contribute two percent toward health care premiums. The union opposes these changes.

Job responsibilities: Another controversial area is the MTA’s desire to broaden job responsibilities for certain titles. The MTA originally asked to eliminate conductors from some trains so that train operators (“motormen” in the old parlance) would open doors and make announcements as well as operate the train. The TWU has been fiercely opposed to this proposal and won an arbitration ruling on the issue. The MTA more recently proposed to convert conductors to customer service agents who would roam the train rather than stay in the conductors' booth. Similarly, the MTA wants the former token clerks to move around subway stations and help riders. The union has expressed reservations about employees’ safety in stations, and passenger safety if conductors’ duties are changed.

link

Retirement at age 50?

[Japher]

55 is pretty rediculous as well