NYC Transit Strike

[Alan From NYC]

At 0300 EST, NYC transit workers went on strike.

I'm less than thrilled.

[FineExampl]

Doesn't sound good man. Good luck. Nice that they do this stuff at Christmas.

[AmyJane]

Sorry Alan. Do you have to picket now?

[Alan From NYC]

Originally Posted by FineExampl

Doesn't sound good man. Good luck. Nice that they do this stuff at Christmas.

When the last strike occured, the date was April 1, 1980. At first, people thought it was a joke. They stopped laughing pretty quickly.

The union decided back then that a srrike would've been more effective if it took place at the end of the year.

[Alan From NYC]

Originally Posted by CyberGreenBaby

Sorry Alan. Do you have to picket now?

I'm supposed to report to the nearest picket line, which is only a few blocks from my house.

Even though there are nasty wind chill factors (it's 19 degrees without 'em), I don't feel much solidarity. I never supported this action and now that it's happened, I still don't.

To be frank, I'm feeling a bit lost this morning.

[BUGINME]

Originally Posted by Alan From NYC

The union decided back then that a strike would've been more effective if it took place at the end of the year.

I think the union was right! I hope the strike won't last long!!

[Alan From NYC]

Originally Posted by BUGINME

I think the union was right! I hope the strike won't last long!!

The financial penalty, which is being fined two days pay for every day on strike, plus the loss of the day's pay, is pretty nasty.

I predict the strike will be relatively short, lasting four days at most. (Just in time for my vacation.)

[AmyJane]

Originally Posted by Alan From NYC

I'm supposed to report to the nearest picket line, which is only a few blocks from my house.

Even though there are nasty wind chill factors (it's 19 degrees without 'em), I don't feel much solidarity. I never supported this action and now that it's happened, I still don't.

To be frank, I'm feeling a bit lost this morning.

I'm so so sorry. This is terrible for alot of people.

[Alan From NYC]

Originally Posted by CyberGreenBaby

I'm so so sorry. This is terrible for alot of people.

Mostly, I feel sorry for the millions of people who depend on the buses and subways.

The roads are are already gridlocked. Long Island Railroad and Metro North commuter lines were totally unprepared and have thousands of people lined up at stations.

Many commuters here in Brooklyn are walking to their Manhattan jobs. Crossing the Brooklyn Bridge, they look miserable.

[AmyJane]

Originally Posted by Alan From NYC

Mostly, I feel sorry for the millions of people who depend on the buses and subways.

The roads are are already gridlocked. Long Island Railroad and Metro North commuter lines were totally unprepared and have thousands of people lined up at stations.

Many commuters here in Brooklyn are walking to their Manhattan jobs. Crossing the Brooklyn Bridge, they look miserable.

My best friends husband works in Tribeca and he refused to go to work today. He said its just not worth the hassle. He was supposed to work at a premiere for a Johnny Knoxville movie last night that he wasnt going to get paid for. He said he figures it was just a ploy to get him to be at work today because he would have had to stay over night last night.

This is terrible. I was watching the news and all of the people who were told that if they didnt make it to work somehow they wouldnt get paid really had me upset. These poor, literally poor people have no other way and they cant afford to pay 5-10 bucks to get back and forth to work.
I'm praying this is over real fast.

I'm so glad...for more reasons than one that I never accepted that job at Cantor Fitzgerald! Besides...if I did I wouldnt be here right now!

[Porkchop]

Originally Posted by Alan From NYC

I'm supposed to report to the nearest picket line, which is only a few blocks from my house.

Even though there are nasty wind chill factors (it's 19 degrees without 'em), I don't feel much solidarity. I never supported this action and now that it's happened, I still don't.

To be frank, I'm feeling a bit lost this morning.

Hi Alan - I'm in the CWA and I feel your pain. The thing about this, the union hopes this will compel action by the powers that be, but I'm afraid all it is going to do is stir up anti-union sentiment.

Good luck - I think you're right though, it won't last long.

[Alan From NYC]

Originally Posted by Porkchop

Hi Alan - I'm in the CWA and I feel your pain. The thing about this, the union hopes this will compel action by the powers that be, but I'm afraid all it is going to do is stir up anti-union sentiment.

Good luck - I think you're right though, it won't last long.

My strongest memory of the last strike (I wasn't a transit worker then) is of the bitterness the public felt for transit workers for months afterward.

No doubt it will happen again, even among our supporters.

[squeebug]

well hopefully they get their crap together and it doesn't last long

[Alan From NYC]

Originally Posted by squeebug

well hopefully they get their crap together and it doesn't last long

What's going on strikes me (no pun intended) as male posturing. My union president wants to show he's a strong leader and the MTA bosses (and the mayor, and the governor) want to show that they can take anything dished out.

Meanwhile, everyone else is angry and miserable.

[Growler]

Alan, can you not just go to work and cross the picket lines to avoid the fines? i mean it sounds like you loose 3 days pay for every day you are on strike? this is NOT right.

it sounds like you werent really wanting to strike from the beginning, what is stopping you from reporting to work?

[AmyJane]

Originally Posted by Growler

Alan, can you not just go to work and cross the picket lines to avoid the fines? i mean it sounds like you loose 3 days pay for every day you are on strike? this is NOT right.

it sounds like you werent really wanting to strike from the beginning, what is stopping you from reporting to work?

Oooh no! He can't do that! He'd be the only one out there driving for one...and also he would be shunned most likely by his fellow transit workers...much worse for him in the long run I would think.
But I think even if he wanted to he couldnt. No good at all! I'm sure the last thing he or any other transit worker would want is to be considered a scab! This stuff sucks mucho!

[Dottydeb]

I have never been to NY or any other big city, unless you count Atlanta or Charlotte. I was just amazed at the cars backed up going into the city this morning. I'm a country bumpkin and it just seemed like another world to me. I just cant imagine not being able to just go wherever whenever? That would be so scary. We have no public transportation here. No walking to work either.
To Alan and all you other New Yorkers, I feel for you and hope its over soon.

[Alan From NYC]

Dinky Pottydoodle speaks the truth!

I have to honor my union. However, I show my disagreement my not picketing.

That's pretty much all I can do.

[Alan From NYC]

Originally Posted by Dottydeb

I have never been to NY or any other big city, unless you count Atlanta or Charlotte. I was just amazed at the cars backed up going into the city this morning. I'm a country bumpkin and it just seemed like another world to me. I just cant imagine not being able to just go wherever whenever? That would be so scary. We have no public transportation here. No walking to work either.
To Alan and all you other New Yorkers, I feel for you and hope its over soon.

I believe the traffic was backed up, not because there was so much more than usual, but because the police were enforcing the four occupants per vehicle rule.

Even with the strike, if someone has to get somewhere, it can be done.

[AmyJane]

Originally Posted by Alan From NYC

Dinky Pottydoodle speaks the truth!

Dinky Pottydoodle....OUT!