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- A judge ruled that L train conductors must remain on board, shooting down the MTA's challenge to a ruling that an arbitrator made. Got that? The MTA has been removing conducts off the L train, as it shifts to one-person operation, but the transit workers' union had an arbitrator find that was actually illegal. So the MTA appealed to a judge, who has now sided with the union. The one-person train-operation/ OPTO-ization of subways is actually a sticking issue with the union during these contract negotiations, but it's unclear whether this ruling will affect the talks.
- Female transit workers are complaining that there aren't enough bathroms for them to use on the job. Newsday reports that during a sidewalk rally, workers "held up large photos showing filthy, dilapidated employee lavatories, alongside pictures of pristine facilities they said were typically available to management personnel." We need to find those pictures. Women make up about 5% of the transit workers; they hoped to make an issue of the bathrooms at the union meeting, but we're guessing it's lower on the totem pole.
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Aren't TWU custodial employees responsible for cleaning subway bathrooms used by TWU members? Or is that too much for them to handle because they're busy cleaning sweeping the mezzanine at Grand Central in the middle of the morning rush hour? Let them go ahead and strike. It's about time they forfeited the last little bit of goodwill they still have working for them.
It's really hard to feel bad for a lot of these workers. Remember, this is the conductor who mumbles or rushes through what little he has to say, and then slams the door on you. Or the token booth worker who likes to yell at foreign tourists at the top of her lungs and overlook the turn-style jumper who is stealing from her pocket.
Yes, plenty of people probably work hard behind the scenes, but all the public sees are the lazy employees that get paid more than our city teachers
I've got a much more positive view of these workers. While I know there are lots of problems, that doesn't mean that the workers should have to suffer with poor working conditions. Imagine how you would feel if you had to use these bathroom facilities. Or if you weren't even able to take a bathroom break because the line was too long and your break wasn't long enough. These are things that most people take for granted in their jobs but that we aren't according to our transit workers, particularly the women.
yeah, the complacent smarmy comments are really bullshit. i'd love o see how long your patience would last dealing with thugs, rude out of towners, clueless foreigners, all while being underground in at best dank and grimy working conditions.
i was riding the train home late one night, when an elderly lady who was running for the train tripped and fell. she got up and into the train and sat down. at the next stop, an MTA employee was waiting on the platform came in, found her because the conductor had radioed ahead, and proceeded to offer her a cab ride to a hospital where she could be examined then brought home. she was worried about not having enough cash on her but he assured her that they would take care of everything. I was amazed at how quickly they responded, at how polite and caring he was, and how effectively they managed it without having to slow the train down for the other riders. i'm not saying theyre perfect, I ride everyday at least twice and have my share of frustrations and complaints, but they work damn hard, on a HUGE system which they keep running 24/7. I wish they would slam the doors on people more often, maybe it would keep them from blocking the doors and the trains would run faster for it.
SP: Let me tell you a story about this weekend. It was around 1:30 at Union Square, I was boarding a 4-5 train (forgot which) and accidentally fell (yes FELL) in between the platform and the train... you know the part where there are no metal grates and the gap is almost 2 feet?
Well, my entire RIGHT leg fell in, my left leg and arms/upper body were hanging on the bottom of the open train door (literally hanging inside the train) and guess what? The CONDUCTOR TRIES TO CLOSE THE DOOR!
The best part.. I WAS IN THE GODDAMN CONDUCTORS CAR IN THE DOOR CLOSEST TO THE CONDUCTOR. I WAS LITERALLY UNDER HIS FREAKING NOSE.
Fortunately my girlfriend was there causing a scene, "STOP THE TRAIN!" and the train car passengers started screaming. They helped me out, I'm literally pouring blood from a gash on my right hand, and I sit down... the doors close and its off to the next stop... nobody coming to help, nothing. I ask the train car passengers for tissues and literally everyone on the packed train offers to help.
I get off at City Hall to see if I can even walk, and the conductor literally looked me in the eyes and didn't say A GODDAMN WORD. I literally sat down on the chairs there dripping blood while he decides to close the door and go Fulton.
I eventually hobble out the station, the token booth clerk is on the freaking phone so they don't open the handicapped door, climb out and get a cab to NYU downtown.
So you know what, that might have been a nice experience sp... but I had one of the most horrific experiences in my life, and you know what... FUCK the TWU.
FUCK THEM. (and I used to be a supporter, but after Saturday... FUCK THEM)
hey, i'll give a fuck about their bathrooms when the riders actually get some
My favorite is when the local train is waiting and the express train pulls up and the local train conductor closes its doors as soon as the express train doors open, and then we have to sit there and wait another 20 mins for the next train because the conductor couldn't wait 30 seconds.
Other cities use OPTO and in some they have some system, be it TV monitors or rear view mirrors, for the train operator to check and see if the doors are clear. One down side is in some setups, like the one here, the train operator would have to move from one side of the train to the other in many cases to open the doors, which would cause more dwell time in the station.
However, I do like the idea of an additional crew member on the train, as it can add to safety and security - if and only if they do their jobs.
criminals of the worst kind that's what they are! people who are much worse of are being hurt by this in devastating ways, and for what? so the fucking transit workers can buy the newest version of the ipod. FUCK THEM!!! wake the fuck up people, you are not poor, malnourished and discriminated against, you're a bunch of spoiled lazy individuals who could not care less about the people who reall are in need. Greed sure is contagious isn't it!!! Fuck all of you, fucking cowards.
criminals of the worst kind that's what they are! people who are much worse of are being hurt by this in devastating ways, and for what? so the fucking transit workers can buy the newest version of the ipod. FUCK THEM!!! wake the fuck up people, you are not poor, malnourished and discriminated against, you're a bunch of spoiled lazy individuals who could not care less about the people who really are in need. Greed sure is contagious isn't it!!! Fuck all of you, fucking cowards.