So is there going to be a transit STRIKE or what?

[javeryh]

If so.... I'm not going in to work! I'd really like to know though - this midnight stuff is way past my bedtime.

[bignick]

What a bunch of cry babies. As if 50-60K isnt enough. Unions suck.

[dago2727]

Waiting up here too to see if I'm taking off or going in....

[javeryh]

What a bunch of cry babies. As if 50-60K isnt enough. Unions suck.

At that salary (without overtime), why even bother with college?

[Hex]

Unions suck.


And I thought I was the only one who thinks this. :lol: (at least, most Unions suck- Unions for hard jobs such as meat packing really benefit from Unions)

Man, fuckin' wages. Nothing was more embarassing than when the pussy Avalanche players were demanding higher pay. They play fucking hockey, it's not like they're stuck in a meat factory or cannery doing menial jobs. :roll:

[dafoomie]

This isn't about holding out for a big raise... The MTA wants to raise the retirement age, and cut healthcare and pensions. The Union wants some other concessions if they're going to agree to that, as they should. Its all part of the negotiating process, you want something, you have to give something. Its not as if the Union is going into this negotiation with major demands and the MTA wants the status quo, the MTA is the one making the big demands here.

[Graystone]

I've never been to NYC. However is 60k a year good in NY. 60k a year here in Ohio is a teacher after 25 years or a LPN after 15 years.

[javeryh]

$60K in NY isn't great if you live in the city but you could definitely commute and live in a decent area.

[zionoverfire]

$60K in NY isn't great if you live in the city but you could definitely commute and live in a decent area.

Which is pretty good for a job that requires no more skill than that of a line cook or $10 barber.

[docvinh]

$60K in NY isn't great if you live in the city but you could definitely commute and live in a decent area.
I just did a cost of living comparison for brooklyn NY and York PA (where I live). 60k in NY is equal to 45k in PA. That's actually not that bad really.

[dafoomie]

Which is pretty good for a job that requires no more skill than that of a line cook or $10 barber.
I think they would disagree, anyone can drive, but not anyone can drive a bus or a train, safely, for extended periods of time. The comparison is similar to how it works with pilots, there are lots of them, but very few are trusted with the safety of a lot of passengers, and those guys make the big bucks, the guys flying the smaller planes make very little. Bus and train drivers are responsible for the safety of a lot of people, and they make a decent wage, more than a cab driver. But 50-60k is not a lot, by any means, especially in New York. Its a decent, middle class salary, that you can (barely) support a family on, but you'll never be rich.

Thats the problem with America today, and the attitudes of a lot of people. If you didn't go to a 4 year college, and you aren't making the big bucks, people think they should make minimum wage, because "obviously" anyone can do it, if they can.

[zionoverfire]

I think they would disagree, anyone can drive, but not anyone can drive a bus or a train, safely, for extended periods of time. The comparison is similar to how it works with pilots, there are lots of them, but very few are trusted with the safety of a lot of passengers, and those guys make the big bucks, the guys flying the smaller planes make very little. Bus and train drivers are responsible for the safety of a lot of people, and they make a decent wage, more than a cab driver. But 50-60k is not a lot, by any means, especially in New York. Its a decent, middle class salary, that you can (barely) support a family on, but you'll never be rich.

Thats the problem with America today, and the attitudes of a lot of people. If you didn't go to a 4 year college, and you aren't making the big bucks, people think they should make minimum wage, because "obviously" anyone can do it, if they can.

Well if their job and experience is soooooo valuable then I guess they really don't need the union to protect there ass because there are plenty of high paying positions as a bus driver elsewhere.:roll:

I've met people without college degrees who do very well for themselves however most of them have more useful skills than the ability to drive a bus for an extended period of time.

[Scorch]

Strike!

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/12/20/nyc.transit/index.html

[RedvsBlue]

Strike!

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/12/20/nyc.transit/index.html

So does this mean a whole day of uninterrupted Javery posts?

[javeryh]

So does this mean a whole day of uninterrupted Javery posts?

You wish. :D I've got to do some work from home and hopefullly sneak out for an hour or two and get the wife a Christmas gift - I haven't done any shopping yet!

[Spacepest]

What a bunch of cry babies. As if 50-60K isnt enough. Unions suck.

QFT. Anyone with a clean driving record can get a job driving a bus. No college required.

You should see the bus drivers in my area. They actually make more money that the teachers who instruct the students that they drive to school! Now that's fucked up....

[hero101]

I got to work like 8:45, the company provided bus service for us. I wished I was home tho, I feel kinda of sick.

[dafoomie]

Well if their job and experience is soooooo valuable then I guess they really don't need the union to protect there ass because there are plenty of high paying positions as a bus driver elsewhere.:roll:

I've met people without college degrees who do very well for themselves however most of them have more useful skills than the ability to drive a bus for an extended period of time.
Actually, it shows exactly why they needed a union. The MTA wanted to take away health care and pensions. The Union wanted something in return. Without a Union, the company probably just takes away those benefits and gives them nothing in return.

Is there something about collective bargaining that you're opposed to? Because theres something about giving the company all the power in a negotiation that I don't like.

Driving a bus isn't something any idiot can do, and its not easy. I'm sorry if you think that anyone without a high level degree might as well be working at Walmart part time for minimum wage and no benefits.

QFT. Anyone with a clean driving record can get a job driving a bus. No college required.
Sorry, thats not true. First, you need a CDL, its not the easiest thing in the world to get. And to get a job with something like the MTA, you need years of experience. 70% of bus drivers are school bus drivers, and average about $10-$11 an hour, part time, averaging about 20 hours a week. And when theres no school, theres no work. Thats a big reason why many people don't stick with it long enough to get the required years of experience.

Driving a bus route on a transit system like the MTA is the very top of their profession, its the highest you can go. The very pinnacle of their profession only pays a decent middle class wage. I don't see why many of you have a problem with it. Transit systems only hire the best, and most experienced bus drivers, because its the most demanding type of bus driving. This isn't something that any idiot off the street can do.

[smalien1]

$60K in NY isn't great if you live in the city but you could definitely commute and live in a decent area.

They can't commute if they are on strike
But they wouldn't need to strike if the realzied they could commute!
And if they are on strike they don't need to commute

Fuck paradoxes.

[Snake2715]

Reminds me of this memo I have read....

Memo

From: Santa Claus

To: Residents of the Southern United States

I regret to inform you that this Christmas Eve I will not serve the South since my contract has recently been renegotiated by the Fairies and Elves Union, Local 11. I'm sure your children will be in good hands with the local replacement, my third cousin, Bubba Claus. He shares my goal of delivering toys to all the good boys and girls, but since his side of the family hails from the South Pole, there are a few differences between us:

1. His sleigh has a gun rack and a bumper sticker that reads: "These toys insured by Smith and Wesson."

2. Instead of milk and cookies, Bubba Claus prefers RC cola and moon pies. And Bubba doesn't smoke a pipe. Instead, he dips snuff, so you may want to leave a spit can near the fireplace.

3. Bubba's sleigh is pulled by floppy-eared, flyin' coon dogs. Once I loaned him a reindeer and now Blitzen's head is hanging above Bubba's fireplace.

4. Instead of "On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen...", Bubba Claus says, "On Earnhardt, on Andretti, on Elliott and Petty."

5. My "Ho, Ho, Ho" has been replaced by "Yee Haw." And Bubba's elves respond, "I her'd dat."

6. As evidently required by Southern law, the back of Bubba Claus' sleigh has a Yosemite Sam safety triangle with the words, "Back Off."

7. Bubba has cancelled the usual Christmas movie classics like "Miracle on 34th Street" and "It's a Wonderful Life". Instead, you'll see "Boss Hogg Saves Christmas" and "Smokey and the Bandit Xmas!" with dozens of state patrol cars crashing into each other and starring Burt Reynolds as Bubba Claus.

And finally,

8. Bubba Claus doesn't wear a belt. Be sure your wife and kids look away when he bends over to put your presents under the tree!

[daschrier]

I live in Boston on 30k a year, these people are cry babies.

[Sarang01]

God I'm so sick of this Anti-Union BS. Frankly Union's serve as a good counterbalance to Corporations who are sometimes headed by idiots who deserve a nice big load of shit from the Unions. You almost never will get an ounce of pity from me from asshole CEO's or companies looking to fuck the Union over to make a bit more profit. It's called cooperation on both ends and with how inflation and shit goes up employees everywhere should always get a cost of living raise every year. If you don't it's like your wage is being DOCKED by that equivalent amount that year.
You know we wouldn't need Unions if Corporations could deal with this shit PROPERLY themselves but they can't so they need a Union to spank them when they do bad. What you have to realize is some Corporations are like the troublemaker in class except you get to treat this troublemaker like a dog in some instances and bring out the choke chain in government regulations nearly strangling it half to death but that's another matter entirely. Man would I love to break down the spirit of some Corporations who get way out of line.

[CaseyRyback]

I gotta agree. The MTA made a 1 BILLION dollar surplus and they are arguing over some pension shit? Just think about the kind of dough they are going to bring in once the project to the meadowlands is done. I could understand if this was GM or one of the airlines a few years back, where the companies financial solvency is at stake, but these guys are just being greedy dicks. I hope the union gives it to them good.

also does the 1 billion include the oodles of money they get from the federal government for terrorism shit? I bet it doesn't

[Sarang01]

I gotta agree. The MTA made a 1 BILLION dollar surplus and they are arguing over some pension shit? Just think about the kind of dough they are going to bring in once the project to the meadowlands is done. I could understand if this was GM or one of the airlines a few years back, where the companies financial solvency is at stake, but these guys are just being greedy dicks. I hope the union gives it to them good.

Speaking of which I wish we'd take the floaters off the full fare airlines now. Seriously I would NEVER invest in an Airline unless it was Southwest or Jet Blue. Even before 9/11 why would you want to invest in such high risk, low gain stocks? Seriously full fare airlines are like Albatrosses, I wouldn't want to TOUCH them with my money.

[javeryh]

It's over - I'm headed to work tomorrow! Yay! Wait, .... I mean motherfvcking shitballs.

[Wombat]

I gotta agree. The MTA made a 1 BILLION dollar surplus and they are arguing over some pension shit? Just think about the kind of dough they are going to bring in once the project to the meadowlands is done. I could understand if this was GM or one of the airlines a few years back, where the companies financial solvency is at stake, but these guys are just being greedy dicks. I hope the union gives it to them good.

also does the 1 billion include the oodles of money they get from the federal government for terrorism shit? I bet it doesn't

we are still waiting for that money from the government, It seems 50 Alaskans needed a bridge to nowhere so we got screwed again.

and the billion dollar surplus doesnt really exist, most will go to rebuilding tracks and installing new cars as well as the new 2nd ave subway line and other projects that will create new jobs for more MTA workers