krazy kat:
That’s what being part of a union is all about, kat. One person never (well, seldom, I should say) has that kind of power over his or her employer.
Chaim Mattis Keller
I don’t know what the latest news is in the negotiations, but yesterday I was speaking to my conductor on the LIRR. They got 4% every year for 3 years. Bloomberg is offering 0% for the first year and a grand total of 0% over the next 3 for the NYC transit workers.
NYC transit has been supporting the rest of the TA system (LIRR, Long Island bus and Metro-North) for years. They are also raising the fare 50 cents. Now, the NYC transit has had a surplus ever since they introduced the discount metrocard. The city is using this surplus to fill some budget gaps.
So what is really happening here is that the Transit workers and the public is being screwed.
Is being screwed. Are being screwed. Whichever way you put it, we’re taking it up the wazoo.
The MTA is run by the state not the city. Bloomberg, in theory, should have nothing to do the the talks. (of course that didn’t keep Saint Rudy from butting in last time) Also any surplus would state money would it not.
Also they need this new contract to NOT expire a few weeks befor Christmas so a 3.5 year contract would be better.
So far my job is ignoreing the strike and hoping it does not happen. If it does I don’t think I can go to work. (live in Brooklyn, work in Midtown)
Your are absolutely right Zebra. The reason why Guiliani was butting in was because he said he was tired of NYC subsidizing everyone else’s transit. Today we are feeling the payback.
The LIRR site seems to think the Flatbush Ave station will be open (as well as the other Brooklyn stations). So I think I can manage taking the train from Brooklyn, to Queens, to go back into Manhattan. This might work.
amazon is selling segways. would they arrive in time for the strike?
your conductor isn’t telling the whole truth,
from: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-NYC-Transit-Talks.html
“The two sides differ on money. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the state agency that runs the system, has offered no raise in the first year and has tied raises in subsequent years to productivity increases. The union is seeking a 24 percent increase over three years.”
Who knows what the “productivity increases” are, personally, I’d be in favor of doubling all their salaries if the NTA were to serrate the doors to prevent people from holding them.
The homeless guy who sits on the sprinkler head around the corner from the 7th Avenue Q stop in Park Slope has, along with his buddies, agreed to sit in my car and make us a carpool.
Of course, with the HEAT BROKEN (thanks, sis) they are better off at home in the Great Outdoors.
8% a year for three years versus nothing and the promise of nothing (and perhaps even a pay cut). The Transit Union has made a counter-offer of 6% a year for three years. The state is not talking.
Again, the state has taken the money NYC transit has made, gavin raises to the LIRR union and is willing to stiff the NYC union and all New Yorkers. Pataki should be taken out and shot.
8% a year for three years versus nothing and the promise of nothing (and perhaps even a pay cut). The Transit Union has made a counter-offer of 6% a year for three years. The state is not talking.
Again, the state has taken the money NYC transit has made, given raises to the LIRR union and is willing to stiff the NYC union and all New Yorkers. Pataki should be taken out and shot.
Hey!
That’s ME!
(mouths “Hi, Mom!” at the camera)
My dad is a manager for the NYCTA, and is considered an essential worker, which means he will have to be there, no ifs, ands, or buts. He’s planning on using the LIRR, which means I’m pretty sure they’re running. But how he’s going to get to and from the LIRR stations, I have no idea. I think he should bike, but he’s a wimp.
My solution is to be unemployed. [mods: insert wry smilie]
I actually went into the office to pick up some stuff, (I live in Park Slope and work at Fulton St) and I ran into some people I knew and had much fun teasing them about the strike.
Apparently, I’m so lucky. Who knew?
As for the bike solution, the new West Side Highway run will be the place to go; hell, it’ll look like China back in the day with all the bikers on it, no doubt. Here’s a link to the tips section at Tranportation Alternatives, including the online bike maps.
I’ve biked to work for years, so I’d add the following tip: Do a dry run into work on the weekend, so you can get familiar with your route, as biking on the wrong routes during rush hour traffic sucks.
And if anyone wants a good route to some place from Park Slope, lemme know. AFAICT, a good route and a good bike and you’ll be savinng some time off that morning commute!
-Ace
bump
Less than an hour to go, and no sign of a deal.
First thing’s first: I’m taking a few days off from work. I have a couple weeks worth of comp time and annual leave (plus a floating holiday ;)) so taking a few days off, while not preferable, is doable.
The main issue is tomorrow morning.
I have to get to the Office of Court Administration at 60 Madison Avenue (between 27th and 28th street) sometime around 10am to finalize some paperwork for bar admission, which will occur at 12pm at the Appellate Division courthouse at 27 Madison Avenue.
I live in Astoria Queens.
My plan is to walk to the Hunterspoint Avenue LIRR station, catch a train there (peak service runs from about 7am to 9am; it appears that Hunterspoint only has peak train service), and then walk from Penn Station.
I live a little less than 3 miles from Hunterspoint, so I am guessing that it will take me about an hour to get to the station on foot. Of course, it will be raining tomorrow morning :mad:
The walk from Penn Station should be about 20 minutes.
I plan to get up early, head out early, and expect a looong commute after getting to the Hunterspoint station. I don’t know how long the delays will be by train, but I’m sure that the train will be packed to the gills.
According to the LIRR website, the Hunterspoint station will be closed, but they indicate that any actions (which I assume includes station closings) made in response to the strike will not occur until 24 hours after the strike begins. However, if the station is closed, I will then take the Hunterspoint ferry across the East River to Manhattan, then hoof it the rest of the way.
I haven’t planned out my return home, but the peak trains head back to Hunterspoint after 3:30pm, so I can waste time in Manhattan for awhile there. If there are no trains, I’ll take the ferry.
This sucks 