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With reporters dispatched to the four corners of the NYC transportation universe (the subway, the bus depot, the sidewalk, and the bridge), NYC media is in a frenzy. Reporters are noting how many cars are being turned away at 96th Street (the boundary for high occupancy vehicles - apparently drivers are looking for people to fill their car so they can make it past 96th Street, sadly no reporters have captured drivers kicking out the other three occupants at 95th), walkers are cold on the Brooklyn Bridge (and everywhere else), and the subway stations are empty! NY1's "In the Papers" was actually focused on the local newspapers' websites, because many papers didn't go to press in time (okay, we're just talking about the Times). It's also the top story for many of the national morning broadcasts - on NBC, it was before the terrible seaplane crash in Miami. Helicopters are buzzing above, looking for good aerials, and we imagine many people haven't slept much. Readers, if you see a reporter, give them a good soundbite, like, "Union!" or "Whatever, I can walk to work" or "I'm so screwed at work" or a really loud "Pataki sucks and blows!"
Do you find yourself mesmerized by a certain reporter on the transit beat? Tell us about your crush! And TV producers couldn't ask for a better fashion decision from the Mayor than his "i (heart) nyc" sweater [via BlogNYC].
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TWU: greedy, spoiled bastards.
The richest damn city in the US and they can't afford to give a raise to the people who keep the flow of people running relatively smoothly? I'm a creative director for an interactive agency and though the arts and culture are what this city is famous for, it's the service people who keep the city going.
If they don't perform these services, who will? For the most part, everyone is greedy by nature so are you telling me that these transit employees aren't allowed to want more?
everyone is entitle to more: firemen, policeman, teachers, sanitation workers, nurses, etc etc.
but striking like this is retarded
there is such disregard for labor in the US, it's astonishing
how in the world can these people be considered "greedy"? when the NHL or MLB players union had strikes, was there this much screaming?
the NHL didn't have a strike, the owners conducted a lock-out - the complete opposite.
The reasons there's this much screaming is because shutting down public transportation is a bigger deal to everyone is because they can't go to work
Yuppie New York gets the Mayor it deserves. Look at this chump.
Seriously, like Lindsey, another out of touch insanely wealthy Republican, Bloomberg does not relate to the needs of working New Yorkers, whether transit workers or otherwise.
Yes, the mayor does not control the negotiations with transit workers, but its critical for him to do all it takes to keep transit running. Guiliani did that, its a requirement. He dropped the ball big time, but of course the NY media will continue to kiss up to their favorite mayor. If this happened under Ferrer, the Post and the Times would be claiming Ferrer is the new Dinkins and that the City was going to hell.
Bloomberg is slipping.
Don't get me started on Pataki.
gothamist, check in with the londonist, but don't tube workers over there strike ALL THE TIME?
I dont get the hostility to the TWU. They have a right to tough tactics, just like Verizon has a right to drop the pensions of it's workers (they were non-union of course)
Geeze, get over it, Blike.
I found out today that it only takes me 10 minutes more to walk to work than it did to ride the subway.
Oh, and the TWU can suck it. They're overpaid as it is, their skills are not useful in any other profession, and they retire 10 years earlier than anyone in the private sector. What do they have to whine about? I somehow doubt their job is one of the more stressful in the city, too.
look most offices are in 'slack mode' this week since it is right before xmas
It is time for this union to go, just like the GM unions. As a society, we cannot afford to pick up the costs of union labor when it is so unrealistic (as compared to typical jobs in the area).
They are not striking for the "people", they are striking for themselves so don't believe the hype.
this union needs to be broken. they do not deserve more money. there would be plenty of others including myself that would be willing to take their job!
transit beat crush: bobby cuza!
I second Bobby Cuza. He is so cute...
other than that, New York's local news media is full of hideous middle age men, strange looking sassy black women (I am thinking at you Roz Abrams), and boring looking asian chicks.
Here's my short list of hottest men of local tv:
Bobby Cuza
Sam Champion
NJ Burkett
Rob Morrison
I'm amazed at how unaware some people in NYC are about what the issue is here. This strike has nothing to do with current workers, who were offered a raise and not a damn decrease in anything. It has to do with future workers getting the same sweet deal current workers do.
TWU employees get paid more than most of us. They have incredible benefits. But even that's not the issue.
What's at stake here is that the pension structure Toussant wants for FUTURE employees -- theoretical people who haven't been hired yet -- is insane. I was infuriated that the MTA gave away the store last night and that imbecile Toussant still didn't take it because he's a egomaniac who's worried that if the negotiations end, his TV time will cease.
The MTA caved in to the TWU last night (the general public's detriment) and offered to keep the retirement age at the ridiculously low age it is (If anyone else were to retire in my 50s, they'd be on the streets starving). In exchange, they offered that these theoretical employees pay a measely 6% of their salary instead of 2% for their Cadillac of benefits.
Put it this way: Let's say someone at the MTA is earning $50,000 (on average, they actually earn more). They currently pay $1,000 a year for their retirement benefit PRE TAX. That comes out to just $20 a week (what's that? an hour in overtime?). Now the MTA says a FUTURE employee -- not one who currently works there, but someone who might get a job, like, a year from now -- should pay about $60/week. For the benefits they get, it's still a bargain.
The benefits given to public service employees is the biggest scam ever shoved down the throats of the public. This whole b.s. of defined benefits (where a pension payment amount is guaranteed) came around at a time when the average life expectancy was a lot lower and we counted on population growth to pick up some slack. Guess what? Times changed.
Screw them all. They have some nerve trying to hold this city hostage. We need to force public service employees to switch to a defined contribution system like the rest of us (that is, those even lucky enough to have a pension system). Enough with their whining. This city has a lot of people who would take what the MTA was offering.
Luckily, their screwing themselves. By the time the dust settles (as it did last time), the TWU will realize that they're going to pay more money in fines than any benefit they ended up getting. Good. Maybe then they'll kick that twit Toussant to the curb.
And in the meantime, maybe the Kalikow will grow a pair and actually stick up for straphangers and tell the TWU that enough is enough.
you gotta be kidding me. They are depicting these workers as if they are workers from the 1930s who are making slave wages and arent being respected. The fact is, an average TWU member makes far more then the city median, far more then many city employees (cops, teachers, firefighters) have better benefits. Need I mention that they are at best GED are high school educated and INCOMPETENT pieces of trash. This isnt about the people, this is pure greed. The MTAs latest offer was 10.5% and a reduced pension age to 55. Thats something that NO ONE has. I hope all of them are fired and then see how OVERAPPRECIATED they are
what about doing away with the MTA? it should be either a state or city agency, not a public authority. as a PA, it is free from market forces and political forces.
Look at Bloomberg and Pataki, they are staying away from this whole mess. They like to pretend they have nothing to do with it. We would get a lot more from our public transportation if a political leader was held accountable for their mismanagement.