NYC MTA,partical strike strands 50,000,UPDATED THIER ON STRIKE

[mrFDNY]

hi all,
the mta(transit,trains and buses)is on partical strike with 2 bus depots in queens on the picket lines.this move has stranded a estimated 50,000 queens residents.a system wide strike in all boro's is planned at the stroke of midnight tonight if the union is unable to pass a contract with the city of new york.plans by the union called for all employees of the city wide mta to walk off the job at midnight tonight if no deal is reached.city of new york,office of emergency management has stated that 2.1 million people use the nyc transit system daily,with most those riders between 6 am and 6 pm. new york city goverment has feared pictures of fire trucks,ambulances and nypd police cars stuck in traffic if this strike goes forth.an estimated 1.7 million more cars will be on the roads if this strike goes thru,with 1.2 of those million being in manhattan, and brooklyn alone the second busiest boro for commuter traffic.city agencies feared rises in gas prices,gas shortages, motor vechile accidents and predestrain's being struck by vechiles and road rage incidents if the streets became flooded with cars.as well as commuter times being at least tripled if not more.an adverage commute of 2 hours could take you 6-8 hours to complete.

If there is a city wide strike all city emergency services workers will be placed on 12 hour tours and some even longer as well as all days off and vacation time canceled for all FDNY,NYPD and EMS workers.the city could lose as much as 2 million a day of tax revenue as more residents will stay home instead of finishing up last minute holiday shopping.the citizens of nyc,have all agreed the mta employees deserve more,however if they strike stranding 2.1 million people you can bet not one nyc resident will be on thier side any longer.plus the amount of over time this city will have to pay it's emergency service people,will be in the hundreds of millions.every single nyc emergency worker will be requried to report to duty,no exceptions.that's close to a million workers alone,with 60 percent on over time.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

I'm sorry for all the union people on the boards, but...this is why I hate unions. I don't know what all the fuss is, money most likely, but this kind of stuff irritates me to no end. Unions have served a noble purpose-safty and getting fair wages for workers. But there are times when they go too far...and I feel this is one of them. *Gets flame suit on and sits down waiting for the flame throwers.*

 

[FergieTCat]

Putting on my flame proof jumpsuit --

I come from a union family. My grandmother was in the ILGWU, my mother was in the teacher's union. But ... I have no tolerance for the transit workers. They want a better contract than most NYC employees. They wanted a 10% annual salary increases ... sure! They want to be able to retire at 55; I can't retire until I"m at least 70. They get paid better than most school teachers.

I think they are overpaid, overbenefitted, and consistently do not do their jobs. I am tired of being delayed because of "congestion" or "signal troubles". Maybe if they did their jobs consistently with a level of professionalism, I might listen to their complaints about being undercompensated.

Done now ...

 

[Carrieannew]

Help me please. My mother and I have a planned trip to the city Thursday. Going to the Martha Steward show! and then looking at the holiday decorations. But I have no idea how this will effect anything. We will be taking the train from New Haven to Grand Central Station. But the plan was to take a taxi from there to her studio. But will we even be able to get there now? And gosh only knows if we would be able to get a taxi. And we have to be there between 8:30 and 9:15am. This is not good.

 

[mickman1962]

I'm sorry for all the union people on the boards, but...this is why I hate unions. I don't know what all the fuss is, money most likely, but this kind of stuff irritates me to no end. Unions have served a noble purpose-safty and getting fair wages for workers. But there are times when they go too far...and I feel this is one of them. *Gets flame suit on and sits down waiting for the flame throwers.*

ditto

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

mrFDNY, IU'm sorry for you and your fellow workers for having to deal with this.

That said, I thought a strike was illegal for the transit workers? If so, I hope Bloomberg fires their sorry butts.

 

[Kimberle]

If Metro North does not walk (they are not suppost to, but I would not be suprised if they go out of sympathy), you'll be able to get to Grand Central. I would not count on finding a taxi. If you do, the streets will be so busy, it will take much longer (thus more expensive). If you can walk, you should be fine. I don't know where Martha's studio is. Generally, my rule of thumb in the city is if it's less than a mile, it's quicker to walk than to use a taxi/bus/subway.

We were in on Sunday. The decorations are beautiful. Especially Saks windows.

For Carrie.

 

[Nickunited]

You know what I noticed - us queens people suffer from Bus issues - I use the Triboro line every day and well - they always go on strike! Now the MTA is threatening strike and Triboro goes first - LOL - and the take over did not fully happen yet.

I hope they resolve it but if they do not - I am ready!

 

[BuddyGenie]

It's double jeopardy for me because I'm serving on a grand jury for the remainder of the week. I've got a ride, but who knows what the condition of the roads will be with all the mad traffic.

 

[T1130]

Putting on my flame proof jumpsuit --

I come from a union family. My grandmother was in the ILGWU, my mother was in the teacher's union. But ... I have no tolerance for the transit workers. They want a better contract than most NYC employees. They wanted a 10% annual salary increases ... sure! They want to be able to retire at 55; I can't retire until I"m at least 70. They get paid better than most school teachers.

I think they are overpaid, overbenefitted, and consistently do not do their jobs. I am tired of being delayed because of "congestion" or "signal troubles". Maybe if they did their jobs consistently with a level of professionalism, I might listen to their complaints about being undercompensated.

Done now ...

I completely agree.

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

I am a union supporter but think strikes should be reserved for serious safety issues or severe underpayment. For example Dbrother works as a psychiatric nurse. Because they are purposely understaffed to cut benefit costs, they are forced to work double shifts. Two out of 20 died in one year. One from a heart attack, one driving home after a forced double shift.

 

[Mary Anne]

Another Triboro Coach rider here. Managed today by riding the M train into the city and then going uptown from Delancy/Essex street.

Who's going to join me for a long walk over the 59th street bridge tomorrow?

 

[Regina]

Swell. I'm heading into the city on Wednesday with DD whose going on an interview for her internship this summer. If Metro North joins in, she'll just have to reschedule. There's no way I'll attempt to drive in.

This is nothing compared to the inconvenience that you'll have MrFDNY. Let's hope that they reach an agreement quickly.

 

[eclectics]

I heard the real sticking point is healthcare costs that the MTA wants all new hires to pay out of pocket. Surely a sore subject for all concerned.

 

[Nickunited]

See - I can pick up the M from Fresh Pond Road but that takes you the long way around! Actually - when the red busses go on strike I drive into Williamsburg Brooklyn and hop on the L train!

 

[Mish19]

I am so not looking forward to going to work tomorrow if there is a strike! My company is being pretty fair with lateness, work schedules, etc. I have annual leave saved but I was saving it for a WDW trip in March and now I may need to WASTE it on the strike.

 

[DaisyGirlAllTheWay]

I'm coming from canarsie and I have no way of getting into the city, period. I'm not even going to try. I do feel bad for those that need to get to work by all means necessary, in my case I have to use my PTO days which sucks.

 

[DaisyGirlAllTheWay]

I am a union supporter but think strikes should be reserved for serious safety issues or severe underpayment. For example Dbrother works as a psychiatric nurse. Because they are purposely understaffed to cut benefit costs, they are forced to work double shifts. Two out of 20 died in one year. One from a heart attack, one driving home after a forced double shift.

Some of the issues that the union has on the table actually DOES have to do with safety issues. For example, they are fighting for bus drivers to be able to receive pay for when the take off after they have been hurt on the job, there are also other safety issues for the workers that are on the table. What most seem to fail to realize that its about wayyy more than just $.

 

[mrFDNY]

It's offical they are on strike,3 am nyc time.all train and bus service is shut down everywhere in nyc.good luck fellow residents!

 

[mickman1962]

Some of the issues that the union has on the table actually DOES have to do with safety issues. For example, they are fighting for bus drivers to be able to receive pay for when the take off after they have been hurt on the job, there are also other safety issues for the workers that are on the table. What most seem to fail to realize that its about wayyy more than just $.

What, workmans comp doesn't cover bus drivers? I said it before on the UAW debate that went on here. Why does unskilled labor think that they deserved to be paid so much. If they weren't in the union their skills would warrant a $9/hr job if they were lucky. I will also say once again that unions are killing the US manufacturing and service sectors.