NYC Transit Strike -- Article spells out terms

[FergieTCat]

In other words, the local TWU won't be happy unless they get a better deal than everyone else who works in New York City. Except for upper-management, I can't think of anyone whose benefits match what the TWU demands:

(CBS) NEW YORK The international arm of the Transport Workers Union is stunned and angry that its Local 100, representing New York subway and bus workers, turned down a contract offer from management and ordered its members to walk off their jobs, CBS2 News has learned.

Sources within other large public employee unions tell CBS2 reporter Marcia Kramer that the TWU's international leadership is considering taking over the local and seeking a settlement with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
Those sources say the upper level of the TWU thinks the MTA's latest offer is fair and worthy of further consideration and negotiation. They stand against a militant faction within Local 100 that pressed hard for a strike.

Here's a look at the key issues in the transit talks:

PENSIONS: The Metropolitan Transportation Authority had originally wanted to raise the age at which new employees become eligible for full a pension from 55 to 62. The union balked at that proposal. The MTA later agreed to allow pension eligibility to remain at 55 for new employees, but asked that the new workers contribute 6 percent of their salaries for their first 10 years of employment.

WAGES: The MTA had proposed annual raises of 3 percent. The union wanted higher pay increases; a later MTA offer included annual raises of 3 percent, 4 percent and 3.5 percent.

HEALTH: The MTA wants new employees to contribute 1 percent of their salary to pay for health insurance. Transit workers currently do not have to pay anything for health insurance.

SECURITY: The union wants disaster-preparedness training for its work force, following transit system bombings in Madrid and London.

HOLIDAYS: The latest MTA proposal also included added the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

DISCIPLINE: The TWU would like to eleiminate several rules and penalties that go with them. The union considers these rule and penalties "draconian."

 

[Doug123]

Apparently the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has a boatload of money in the bank right now too, right?

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Wow, that was an interesting article. Sort of eye-opening given the way the TWU presented their case this morning.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

Wow...is all I can say.

 

[FergieTCat]

The MTA has a boatload of money because they raised the fares! If anyone deserves that money, it's the commuters, the ones who are being overcharged.

Apparently the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has a boatload of money in the bank right now too, right?

 

[Tigger_Magic]

The MTA has a boatload of money because they raised the fares! If anyone deserves that money, it's the commuters, the ones who are being overcharged.

As with any metro transit authority that has a surplus, that surplus should be used for the benefit of the commuters of that system. Certainly, the authority should sock money away for a "rainy day" -- that is simply exercising fiscal responsibility. However, they have a responsibility to their employees and commuters to use some of that surplus to improve the system. Part of that could be salary increases, but if NYC is like most larger cities, there are stations, depots, buses, trains, etc. that are in real need of regular maintenance, upgrade or (gasp!) replacement.

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Apparently the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has a boatload of money in the bank right now too, right?

Correct me if I'm wrong but I read somewhere that the MTA has a $1 billion surplus while it also has a $2 billion pension DEFICIT.

Add that to the fact that I highly doubt the money is actually there, more likely only on paper as a projected profit.