Walking the Picket Line

[lehighguy]

There is a strong union tradition in my family, and my grandfather was a negotiator for the MTA when he was alive. Helped organize the last strike. My parents are strong supporters of the strike.

I don't know what to think. I know little about thier contract. The only thing I read is an NYT editorial that was against the strike. I know from working on GM and Delphi debt deals that excessive union concessions can bankrupt a company. Watched the companies debt go to junk, defaulted on benefits and pension, laid of all the workers anyway.

[BadBoyBenny]

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I know from working on GM and Delphi debt deals that excessive union concessions can bankrupt a company. Watched the companies debt go to junk, defaulted on benefits and pension, laid of all the workers anyway.

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This is a government agency that ran a 1 billion dollar surplus last year.

[lehighguy]

They also had a rate hike and part of the money comes from taxes. So you could easily say the surplus money should go towards rate reductions rather then pay increases.

What is comes down to is whether the contract benefits are justified for the work being done. I know from my grandfathers experience it is [censored] work and you should be compensated for that, but I also recognize that being able to retire at 50 or 55 with 3/4 salary and benefits for live is way better then like 90% of the country.

[Jdanz]

whether the strike turns out to be "justified" likely will have a lot to do with how replacable the employees are (economically and politically speaking).

I feel bad for the workers, but frankly this is a pretty inefficent machine, and if they clear a large part of their workforce they could likely do away with a lot of the crap, especially the crap that builds up with sucha massive pension plan.

[Gunny Highway]

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This is a government agency that ran a 1 billion dollar surplus last year.

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So the answer is to charge the customer less, not give tha already-overpaid union jackassses more.

[ACPlayer]

I think the workers must take a stand and the stand must be on principle if the company goes bankrupt so be it. I have no idea whether the principle is justified in this case or not.

There is a difference being forced to take paycuts or concessions and being forced out because the company goes bankrupt. Like any negotiation if the unions cannot walk away they are screwed.

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I think the workers must take a stand and the stand must be on principle if the company goes bankrupt so be it. I have no idea whether the principle is justified in this case or not.

There is a difference being forced to take paycuts or concessions and being forced out because the company goes bankrupt. Like any negotiation if the unions cannot walk away they are screwed.

[/ QUOTE ]

No pay cuts or concessions for current employees were ever discussed. The company offered a 11.5% raise over 3 years, the union wanted 24%.

Currently, workers pay nothing toward health insurance. The company offered to keep that for current employees, but wanted new hires from now on to pay 1% of their salary toward health insurance. The union said no way.

Currently, workers pay 2% of their salary toward retirement, and can retire at half pay at age 55 with 25 years of service. The company wanted new employees from now on to pay 3% and to have to work until age 62. Union: no way.

I have heard nothing from the union that justifies this strike. The union is not facing the world reality of the impact of health and pension benefits. They have a sweet deal, but they still want more.

I think the union leaders are screwing their members, and will end up screwing themselves. They are being fined $1 million a day, and the union started the strike with about $4 million in the bank. The workers face individual fines of 2 days pay per day of strike under NY state law, and they will probably face special union assessments to replace the funds paid in fines. Little guy gets the shaft again.

[lehighguy]

Most unions vote on proposals and conditions. It isn't renegade union leaders, the workers probably support it as well.

[benfranklin]

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Most unions vote on proposals and conditions. It isn't renegade union leaders, the workers probably support it as well.

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My experience, including working several union jobs, is that union leaders keep their members in the dark and only ask them to ratify a contract after the fact.

A major issue in this strike appears to be union opposition to a two-tier contract, with future new employees getting different (i.e., lesser) benefits than anyone now working. Why would any rank and file member care if that kind of concession is needed to keep his wages and benefits? The new workers come in knowing what the deal is, and can take it or leave it.

Just like the current workers came in knowing that it was illegal for them to strike, and that they would be fined if they did.

[Gunny Highway]

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I think the workers must take a stand and the stand must be on principle if the company goes bankrupt so be it.

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This is the exact stupidity that bankrupts companies and lands their stupid union workers in the street where they belong.