NYC Transit Strike

**voltz** · 19 Dec 2005, 04:24 PM

The transit system would be smart to have additional workers ready for this kind of situation, then all strike members can take their freshly issued pink slips and fuck off.

**Revoltor** · 19 Dec 2005, 04:39 PM

Oh my. Big final on genetics tomorrow. Things might get interesting.

**haohmaru** · 19 Dec 2005, 04:42 PM

Originally Posted by voltz

The transit system would be smart to have additional workers ready for this kind of situation, then all strike members can take their freshly issued pink slips and fuck off.

I'm not against their right to strike, but they should time this differently.

**bahn** · 19 Dec 2005, 04:51 PM

Originally Posted by burgundy

NYC transit workers are set to strike at midnight. A winter storm is going to hit us at the same time. I seriously want to vomit.

That. Fucking. Sucks.

And that's so mean Sleeveboy (shit, who am I kidding? I smirked a bit too. Thank god I moved away from that island)

**kedawa** · 19 Dec 2005, 04:53 PM

If they're facing fines, then they really don't have the right to strike.
I'm curious as to their reason for striking.
It sounds to me like they make a good living already, but think they're entitled to live in the most expensive parts of the city.

**raystorm** · 20 Dec 2005, 01:12 AM

Another deadline has come and gone. The latest news was that the TWU rejected the latest MTA offer and then went to their union headquarters.

**SonofdonCD** · 20 Dec 2005, 06:28 AM

And it's a go!

Originally Posted by MSNBC

NEW YORK - The city's transit union called a strike Tuesday morning after failing to reach a deal with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority following days of bitter labor talks, ensuring that New York will be thrown into chaos by the height of the morning rush."With a $1 billion surplus, this contract between the MTA and the Transport Workers Union should have been a no-brainer. Sadly that has not been the case," union president Roger Toussaint said at a news conference.

MTA Chairman Peter Kalikow called the strike "a slap in the face" to all New Yorkers and said state lawyers will immediately head to court in seeking to block the walkout.

The rest of the article at this link.

This absolutely sucks, hard. I'm not totally effected by this since I live on Staten Island, and their one single train will still run, at least according to Mayor Bloomberg's contingency plan. But this is one of the worst things that can happen to NYC (and at the worst time), short of a blackout or terrorist attack. Millions of people will be affected, and millions of dollars will be lost each day this strike continues. They are almost literally holding the city hostage.

I can understand the workers frustrations with their contract with the MTA, but striking was made illegal cause it can cripple this city. It's not like this strike will only affect one company; this affects anyone without a car, and in NYC that is a helluva lot of people. The head of the union asked for the public's understanding and support, but I doubt they will get it. Bottom line is that their private matters with the MTA have become ALL of our problems.

I don't like the MTA that much either, but they actually look like the victims in the way this is being portrayed in the media. They said they addressed the union's demands and put a final offer on the table that should've satisfied them, but they rejected without putting forth any counter offer. Whether it's true or not, it makes the union look too demanding.

I don't mean to sound insensitive to the workers. But damn, I (and 7 million others) have to at least get to work each day. And I ain't taking a $20 cab ride each way to do it.