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The hearings to determine the Transport Workers' Union fine from the three day transit strike is just full of (weird) new tidbits. The TWU has been arguing that paying a $3 million fine, plus not receiving its union members' dues automatically each paycheck, would ruin them. The MTA says that the TWU's 80 West End Avenue headquarters are worth $39 million - and TWU treasurer Ed Watt said that there was an offer on it for $60 million! The MTA's lawyer also suggested that union members pay their dues by PayPal, but TWU President and soon-to-be jailbird (lest he appeals) Roger Toussaint says that it's unlikely all of the union's members would voluntarily pay dues. Yeah, no one really likes dues. The judge is expect to rule on Monday.
Random fun fact: Toussaint could get 30% reduction in jail time for good behavior! That would mean just a week in jail.
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paypal?? to pay dues?? that's just nuts. i thought most union dues were deducted from paychecks.
Or the union could just negotiate for those who pay dues and the others can get McDonald wages. Without the union these guys would make about 40% less and the quality of our transit system would deteriorate even further.
Union dues are now deducted from paychecks but since TWU broke the law this is now being terminated (rightly so).
Bus drivers make $60k/year with full job security and full benefits. 40% less pay sounds about right. In real world (private sector) this kind of job that requires no education or skills would pay much less without taxpayer funded benefits, early retirement and job security.
TWU makes me sick. Why taxpayers should pay for the superworkers? TWU members should pay their own pension and health plans just like we do.
Lest We Forget..
The following is a comment from your average, not overly punctilious reader. The word "lest" is _not_ in fact a cutesy, antiquated form on "unless." Instead, "lest" means "(so) that not." For example: TWU chairman Roger Toussaint appealed his conviction LEST he serve time in jail.
Gothamist, I like you, I really do. But you're not writing for a high school newspaper. Your staff is too large, and your blog writing too short, to allow such egregious errata.
Ok, now make fun of me.
A 3 million dollar fine will not ruin the union. It doesn't take much money to negotiate a contract every couple of years or so. Dues are a non-stop cash machine for the union. If they are bankrupt today they will continue to rake in cash for the rest of eternity, so Roger shouldn't lose any sleep over it.
I'm a lexicographer, and I just want to confirm that "Sexy Lexicographer" is NOT me! My colleagues aren't particularly sexy, either.
Who are you?