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Interesting fact about the fines imposed on the Transport Workers Union over last December's strike. The TWU can resume collecting membership dues (about $1.5 million per month) if TWU president says the union will never strike again. The thing is that TWU president Roger Toussaint has been pretty adamant about the right to strike, and it'd be unlikely he'd go for it... even though it seems like the union might want some sort of leadership shake-up. And in the "Toussaint's going to jail!" coverage that is so excitable in the tabs, the Daily News looks at what Toussaint can expect in jail. He'll be at "The Tombs" on White Street (aka the Bernard Kerik Complex!) downtown, in a 6" by 8" cell, and breakfast include "cereal, bread and fruit."
As for the TWU approving the contract, the MTA poo-poos it as they'd love to go to arbitration and stick it to the union. Toussaint told NY1, "We believe that MTA has a legal as well as a moral obligation to now go forward and vote on this contract and we believe that we will prevail legally, but also that New Yorkers want to see this in our rearview mirror. For the MTA to keep this issue in play when they have an opportunity to do so would be adverse to public sentiment." Sigh, now we fear MTA Chairman Peter Kalikow will talk about the legalities of going on strike.
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And what legal weight does saying the union will never strike again hold if they're not legally allowed to strike in the first place? That's ridiculous.
I can't believe he thinks he can take back the initial rejection of the contract. That takes serious balls. I think it would be a disasterous legal precedent if the courts made the MTA give the TWU what they want. The TWU should not be able to wriggle their way out of the mess they created. They should have considered all this before they decided to make New York walk to work in 23 degree weather.
MissPink, I agree. Are they going to threaten him with death this time to ensure he holds up his end? The hell is that all about?
I wish they'd freaking just kiss and make up. This is really silly.
Also, I was thinking last night. Can you imagine if they were to strike in the dead of summer? Winter was one thing, but hundreds of thousands of people walking through the city in summer? It's already stinky enough during the summer. Sweet Jesus, that would be awful.
Roger is delusional. He thinks he can dictate 'public sentiment' in the same way he dictates to his sycophants at the TWU. The dispute should be sent to arbitration. Arbitration is not a negative thing despite the way Roger characterizes it. I imagine an arbitration would result in a minor tweaking of the contract which would still mean increases for transit workers. Roger wants the whole cake, which is a mistake in any negotiation. Spitzer, Bloomberg and the labor board are all asleep in not commencing an arbitration months ago.
"We believe that MTA has a legal as well as a moral obligation to now go forward and vote on this contract and we believe that we will prevail legally"
We believe? Moral obligation? Damn! No wonder Toussaint gets no respect. This is not banana republic here!
It's amazing how in just a few short months, the MTA went from everyone's favorite group to hate into everyone's group to love. The MTA was caught with their pants down a couple years ago (they cooked the books, remember). Therefore, you can't believe a damn word the MTA says. Not one. This same MTA gave away $50 million in holiday discounts to tourists because they said "we have a surplus", yet said "we have no money left" when negotiations began. Again, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that the MTA cannot be trusted, not one bit.
Can you trust Toussaint?
How about Toussaint and Kalikow fight each other at Yankee Stadium. They can sell tickets and put it on TV. The winner gets their demands and the public gets the pleasure of seeing these two morons get beat up by one another.
Holy crap is that the actual (retarded) album cover for Say Say Say, btw?
I was so young but I remember that song & how mad it made me cause it sucked so bad! And the fucking video with Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson all dressed up like Vaudvillian actors totally offended my innocent impressionable eyes.
Gay Gay Gay!
O.K, back to more serious discussion...
Can I get money from taxpayers if I promise never ever to rob a bank?
This seem to be TWU's logic..
I support the workers' right to strike--it's how we all make our comfortable livings, bosses (collectively) would all pay you less if they weren't afraid of our collective action. This whole anti-strike sentiment is (1) selfish because our impatient asses don't want our daily rituals interrupted, and (2) a product of the Reagan (gasp!) and Thatcher (gasp! gasp!) administrations' war on organized labor. Can you seriously imagine what it would be like if it were ILLEGAL to strike? To attempt to get better wages and not sustain cuts to benefit programs? The spread of this neo-liberal agenda is scary.
That's my rant. I just want people to think about this more than just about themselves. I mean no disrespect.
Nice comment Roger. Have a nice 10 days in jail.
Jane,
I'm sorry, but you are full of crap. I pay my (non-union) employees very well, not because they collectively blackmail me into it, but because they do their jobs well and deserve it. This is the modern work place. If I didn't treat them with the respect and dignity that they deserve, they would leave to work elsewhere (as they should). I've heard them express the opinion that union employees tend to be lazy and have awful attitudes. I doubt most union workers could compete on the open job market if they had to. But what do I know, I work two jobs.
Its the second time visited this blog. Looks interesting.
Roger took advantage of the fact that the working people would support him (much like the Dems take black ppl for granted). It pleases my cold heart to see Roger in hot water and the Union finally realizing that they are not the only party of interest in this issue. Talk about being selfish. It was really cold those few days.