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Did your subway or bus commute seem a little slower than usual today? It's possible there really wasn't "train traffic up ahead"—apparently the Transit Workers Union wants to give the MTA (and riders) hell because the agency won't pay arbitrator-decided raises. And a text message last week suggested that workers were advised to "slow it down" today.
Over the summer, an arbitration panel ruled that the union could get 11% raises over three years, but the MTA won't pay them. TWU Local 100 acting president Curtis Tate said, "This time we followed the rules. This time we did exactly what they said we should do. And what did they do? Because they didn't like the way it turned out, they want a do over. You don't get do overs."
The Daily News reports, "Strikes or slowdowns are illegal under the state's Taylor Law, and the MTA in the past has responded with court orders mandating the union to obey," but of course, the 2005 strike happened anyway. The MTA said, "Obviously, we are prepared" for a potential slowdown, but what does that really mean, when your commute ended up taking twice as long?
Photograph by mpix123 on Flickr
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Didn't notice anything today but my commute home last night stunk to high hell.
the court orders were those andre the giant stencils: OBEY
This is why I hate unions, the MTA, and New York in General. In order to force a hand, the powerful make the average New Yorkers suffer.
Creating a squeaking wheel from human misery. F*ck you, Transit Union.
It's always the middle class that gets squeezed by unions, yet many politicians paint a different portrait.
The increased fees that unions force is just incessant nickel and diming of the middle class that doesn't stop until you're poor.
I did notice the 6 was slower today.
Waited much longer than usual during rush hour for a Queen-bound G train this morning.
The front car was also locked and the driver gave us shit when we asked why he wouldn't open the doors. So we had to wait for another.
The latter part was odd, but the first part happens occasionally---so I'm not sure if it was a coincidence or not.
Anyway, my stance on unions is quite clear: No one has a right to work or a right to their job. A job is just an exchange of labor for something (usually money). If you don't like it, you should be able to walk away. If your client doesn't like, they should be able to walk away, too.
There's over 10% unemployment in the city. Let's fire those who aren't doing their jobs. Will it cost money to train a new employee? Sure. But in the long run if we bust up these unions, it will save the taxpayer and the straphangers money and time.
Also, 11% raises, huh? What the fuck? Again, so out of touch with reality. Working for the MTA is a relatively low-skilled job. If the most skilled workers in this country aren't getting raises, how does it make sense that some of the lowest skilled workers get raises?
Some woman also shouted "Fuck you" at the operator as the train sat there, doors closed.
I thought she was nuts. If I had known this, I would've cussed him out, too.
This is entitlement at its worst.
My commute last night was horrible—besides the supposed "train traffic up ahead," the train car kept lurching and (since it was crowded, because it took 10 minutes for a 2 or 3 train to come during the evening rush) people were thrown around. And this morning, the train actually arrived quickly, but it was definitely slow during certain parts.
True the service was shitty today, but how can we differentiate today's shitty service from the usual shitty service we've grown so used to?
THAT is the real question, I agree.
Yep.
i can't wait for a revolution....but this city has no balls anymore. instead we lay back and get fucked
Why is it that there's so much criticism of the TWU for the "illegal" strike and other actions, but so little of the MTA when they ignore orders?
I'm not a TWU member but do generally support unions (I know there is corruption but not as much as in corporations). Is it a coincidence that real wages have declined along with the percentage of the workforce in union jobs? I think not; and it effects all workers.
Your intuition tells you this?
No, my experience, and my research. Given human nature, why would you doubt that those with more access to money would be more corrupt?
Corporations are ultimately fallible (unless Bush and Obama bail you out!). Build your corporation on cooked books and you'll eventually fail---Enron. Be slow to adapt to change and you'll eventually fail---Woolworth's. Rely on government largesse too much and you'll eventually fail---mortgage lenders. Run a Ponzi scheme and you'll eventually fail---Madoff, Stanford.
Corruption and fraud are not viable business models. Thus it's in one's best interest to run a business legally.
Ultimately the two differ because those evil corporations you talk about have a lesser evil. You have the choice to buy goods from a different company or start your own.
With unions, you've given up much of your liberty. A cut from the fruits of your labor is taken. You have to join them to work in certain fields. You have to vote for someone to represent you and your labor and the guy you may not like may be a middle man deciding your wage.
Unions are self-serving and have contributed to blocking out millions of minorities and poor people from honest work. They say they're for the little man, but screw them over the most. Furthermore, we all agree that the MTA is not very efficient. Logically, it's because the transit workers aren't the best or hardest workers. We could advance more as a society if we did without these cartels.
I have no ipod. What makes you think you know me?
Fair enough.
I more or less was attacking the sentiment that many of my liberal friends have: Corporations are greedy. Yet they can't live without the innovative goods many create.
Is it a bad thing that Microsoft and Bill Gates is so rich and prosperous? What about Larry and Sergey and Google? Are those employees who work in pristine office buildings and are paid well greedy, too? Or is it only the white people in suits who are greedy?
Apologies, as I was ranting mostly with that post. I should've stayed on topic: Unions suck. They keep poor people poor by denying low skilled jobs and forcing a high minimum wage which keeps minorities out of jobs. Furthermore they quash innovation. They create group think. They strip individual rights from each worker.
On the L today was forced off the train by the conductor yelling. The manhattan bound across the platform had the same situation. After 5 minutes we got yelled at some more to get back in the rockaway bound train. Quite confusing - but now makes sense
I got kicked off the L this morning coming into the city because "all train traffic is stopped because a stuck car in the underwater tunnel" then as half the people made it out of the station they said we could get on and go after all...
Shut up you marshmallows. (j/k)
TWU Local 100 has some set of balls; each and every member should be held accountable for the illegal strike, and forced to pay the fine. They are shameless in their insistence that they should not have to pay in to their health insurance, and toe expect a raise while their quality sucks worse than ever is over the top.
I still call on all merchants in this city to implement a reverse strike, and decline all goods and services to Local 100 members.
Sadly, there's nothing we can do because of government; government enables a de facto monopoly. There's nothing inherently wrong with a monopoly. It only sucks in cases like this where its protect by government and thus creates artifically high barriers to entry.
The private bus companies could succeed in this city the city didn't doom them from the start.
And how about privatizing the subway lines?
Privatize the subway? You want to pay $10 a ride???
Who says it will cost you $10? I may cost you $2.00 a ride. I'll pay $4 a ride if the stations are clean and the service is better.
You might be retarded. Stop filling up thread space with your silly right wing boiler plate rhetoric.
"Privatize the MTA?"
- What, are we going to sell off the underground rail lines to the highest bidder? I mean really? Is one entity gonna buy the entire MTA? Then we'd have a Private Monopoly? I prefer a public monopoly over a private one. Or do you propose that the MTA sell itself off parcel by parcel? In which case, changing lines, could involve changing train companies too, with all sorts of issues.
We get it Bottomless Chips, you're a rich asshole "I'll pay $4 a ride if the stations are clean and the service is better." (or more likely your parents are rich and you just think you're better than everyone else), and you think government is BAD. But, perhaps in your black-and-white world, you might recognize, that for some things, it is better from a societal and wealth maximizing angle, to allow certain governmental monopolies. I can just think of a few examples off the top of my head, but certainly Mass Transit Systems are number 1:
(1) Mass Transit
(2) Military
(3) Border Enforcement
(4) Criminal Justice Systems (Local courts cf. private arbitration)
(5) Police
(6) Fire
In New York City, I know for sure, that Fire and Mass Transit used to be private enterprises, and gradually became public entities over time because of profound gaps in coverage and other failings resulting from their private states. For example, "your house is on fire, well how much will you pay me to put it out?"
Healthcare aught to be on there, and hopefully soon it will be.
And as for my commute, I bike to work, and it seemed fine out there to me this morning.
congrats on being democraticunderground's posterchild of the day.
I agree that there would be headaches with breaking it up, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't consider it. It took time to unify the lines, too.
New Yorkers still have very cheap service, relative to other cities. We have the most rail, most stations, most cars to upkeep, it's open 24 hours, has extensive bus lines, and we only pay $89/month.I believe in Washington DC on the Metro you can pay more than $4 for a ride if you take it the maximum distance, so I'm not being "elitist" as you portray me to be. It's a reasonable amount. And no my parents don't subsidize my adult living other than the nice gift card and cake they got me for my birthday recently. Thanks, Mom and Dad!
And I do think that federal government is pretty worthless. You created the great strawman, too, that people think "gets" Libertarians. Libertarians don't advocate eliminating the military, courts, and enforcing contracts. In fact, those are the only functions of federal government most of us believe in. Where have you read otherwise? Same goes for fire and police, too, as they're local entities. Otherwise, what else are the exorbitant property taxes going toward? I'm also pretty sure that NYPD/FDNY received federal funding, too, for "terrorist/emergency" type gear and training.
I don't see how these issues relate to the unions dragging down our transit system. Congrats, I guess. Should I call you elitist, too, since you can live decently close enough to where you work? I'm sure many who work in Manhattan wish they could live closer to the city. Oh, wait. You probably think this is an asinine assumption. Funny, I thought the same thing about your "elitist" comment!Roads are paid for by user fees and excise taxes: tolls and the state gas tax. You pay none of them, so you're a free-rider.
I live 7.5 miles from work. It's about a 35-42 minute bike ride through traffic (no direct bike routes for me).
I assume you're being snarky, but I pay NY city and state taxes which go to the roads as well. Furthermore, it's fairly indisputable that Cars and Trucks wear out the roads much more so then frickin bikes.
I referenced Healthcare as an area where a public monopoly might be more Utilitarian in it's application then the status quo, because you were ranting about how public monopolies are just as bad if not worse than private monopolies.
I took the train today becaues it said it was going to rain. Yah, I feel for you guys who take it regularly, it was crowded as $hit.
Anyway, I just couldn't let that "privatize the MTA" suggestion go unresponded too.
It was definitely snark.
Why would you want to start that battle, though? Is Medicare really working when it's on pace to go broke? Social Security? What about Medicaid? What about USPS's monopoly on letters?
I don't think large, government operations are ever efficient. The military is something we all agree should be federally run, but as 9/11 and its aftermath showed us, its massive size led to conflicting opinions. We had more than 10 intelligence agencies updating the Cabinet about al-Qaida and the Taliban!
2 Trains this morning were crawling between 96th and Times Square -- no traffic ahead of us, and no announcements as to why. Clearly a slow-down.
The worst B/Q train service I can remember. Waited 20 minutes this morning, and the train was too packed to fit on. When another one finally arrived, it went half speed the entire way into Manhattan.
These overpaid, unskilled assholes really believe that they deserve a raise during a terrible recession and zero inflation? Then when they don't get it, they take it out on the riders?
BULL SHIT.
I experienced slowness this morning also, but my commute was much faster than normal because I managed to catch each of the three trains on my route.
I've also noticed that trains are pulling into stations a lot slower than they used to, even though there's no track work at the station.
My service this morning was actually noticably better than it usually is (on the F).
this bad behavior only spurs me to work harder on my teleportation device.
bike ride in was fantastic!! (sorry, sorry...inciting, i know)
but seriously, the MTA was one reason I started commuting by bike, right after the strike in 05, cold as it was, I was so pissed at all the people involved, and the greed....
Agreed: there were no delays on the Williamsburg Bridge bike path!
Anyway, MTA service almost always shitty and the employees are almost uniformally assholes (I can't say how many times I've seen employees yell at people asking questions about unannounced service changes, even when they're are no signs indicating what's going on) and already make more than I'd ever imagine they would. The MTA is has ruined more of my good moods and good days than any other thing in my life.
Fuck those guys.
Yup, the B in upper Manhattan, usually quite reliable, took forever to come this morning.
But I wonder if this wouldn't have had more effect if the Union had let people know about it beforehand. As it is, most people will think "shitty service again? These people don't deserve raises."
It seems that it's been that way for a few days now...on the C they've been waiting five minutes at every stop and then trundling very slowly, with no track work in sight. The same thing happened on the Q.
I'm not anti-union but what the TWU does is disgraceful.
It's about time they get rid of those trains and pave over the tracks so more cars can use those tunnels and viaducts.
oh come on, you're not even trying anymore.
Didn't commute today, but the 1 train coming from the Bronx last night was unusually slow, and they pulled the same thing some of the other commenters mentioned... "get off this train, no, wait, get back on."
They've got a lot of fucking nerve.
I take the 1 Train from 79th and the operator and conductor of the train I was on were clearly in cahoots trying to slow down service. There's no doubt in my mind. It took an extra 10 minutes. I loathe the TWU for always taking it out on other New Yorkers who are just trying to make a living.
The 5 express was unusually slow this morning, it took forever to get from Grand Central to Union Square with no traffic ahead with frequent breaking.. It arrived with the same 6 train that left Grand Central at the same time.
the 1 train held was " being held" "due to train traffic" on nearly every third stop this morning. got to work about 12 minutes later than usual.
The L train into the city from Lorimer this morning was _fucking terrible_. Trains running every 8-15min. at 9am rush; had to wait for about 30 minutes before I could squeeze onto an overcrowded train.
Yeah the L train was worse than usual for me too.
waited 9 min. for the L this morning (usually come in 3-4 min)the train was stuck for about 10 minutes between 1st and 3rd ave for a while this morning.
Confession:
I usually get really antsy waiting for the train and start drawing on the Ads.
Speaking of ads, we should subsidize the system with ad revenue, get rid of the turnstiles, and coordinate a closed-circuit tv network to broadcast train positions at track and street level. I wouldn't mind having the bedford L station named "American AppareL..."
Or somebody should just put slap some homing beacons on every train and track them with an iphone app.
http://dontwastemymotherfuckingtime.ytmnd.com/
A train in from Brooklyn was definitely doing this. I was 10 minutes late, on the one day I actually needed to be on time. Awesome.
We crawled along the entire route, going about walking speed or a little more, stopping occasionally on the way for 30-60 second stretches...then proceeding again at 6-10mph.
A Third World transit system should pay Third World wages. Pay those jerks 30 cents an hour and let them play with the trains all they want.
The 4 was slow as shite!
The MTA is a state run organization...that's a problem right there, we could start with that.
How do you know when the M96 is in a slow-down? Does it go backwards? I walk to work and usually beat that bus through the park.
awesome photo!
was held in the 77th st station for 10 minutes this morning due to "mechanical problems" at 42nd street.
oh god, another day of outrage. seems everyone with their hand out is outraged about something
At least do this BS on a day when it is not raining, so I can ride my bike to work on the side walk and through red lights scaring grannies all the way across town.
After the bus never showed I walked to the train and had "mechanical problems" on my train