Domestic Policy
TWU And MTA Are Add Odds In New York Transit Strike
The transit strike in New York has many hard working middle class citizens in an uproar, and not just in New York. Most American middle class working citizens are feeling more and more squeezed each day, they feel many of their benefits and job advantages are being taken away from them every day. They are frustrated and upset but they go to work, most of them saying they feel lucky to have the jobs they have.
Most middle class workers understand that in modern times a 3% raise is the standard, many manufacturing jobs are actually not receiving annual raises as they have in the past. A large majority of factories have stated they will be giving bi-annual raises and this will be a discretionary raise, not necessarily a certain promised percentage. Again, these hard working Americans show up and go to work, they really do not have any alternatives.
Many have stated that with the economy in such a globalized mode they feel unions have been marginalized; many manufacturing employees say that when unions try to play tough, companies resort to threats of closures and outsourcing.
That is why the strike hits at the heart of so many Americans. Some feel these striking individuals are the Robin Hoods of modern America, sticking up for themselves and trying to get a little from the rich to help pay the poor, well middle class. There is the other part of America that looks at the 8% annual pay increase and is appalled, they wonder how these individuals can want such a large raised locked into a long term contract when many middle income workers are losing their pay. Many steel workers have weighed in on the subject advising that in the last four years there have been many steel mill employees who have accepted pay cuts and reductions just to keep their jobs. They have no sympathy for such an outrageous request as an annual 8% raise.
The TWU represents approximately 34,000 bus and subway workers. They are asking for an 8 percent annual raise. The MTA is offering 3 percent. The union feels they are not respected by MTA management. The MTA has advised that they respect the union but they must run the system in a responsible fashion. The MTA also wants more productivity from their workers. The union claims the MTA has over a billion dollar surplus, the mayor and his administration has advised that this is not the truth referring to the amount as “mythical.”
Do you support the transit workers and their stance of assuring a good increase each year, or do you side with opponents of the strike who feel they are asking for too much and should be happy with what the MTA says is a very reasonable and secure offer?
NYC to seek restraining order against strikers
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4 comments for “TWU And MTA Are Add Odds In New York Transit Strike”
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[...] I keep reading variations of “making $55,000 a year with no educational requirements” or “there are high school graduates earning up to $60,000 in the TWU!”
These posts are often written by otherwise progressive people, who, in an act of fiscal insanity, don’t realize that they have entered themselves into a race . . . nay, a marathon to the bottom.
I still remember when Mike Quill, back in 1980, was asked “There are folks with better educations making less than some of your members. What do you say to that!”
And Mike answered with something like: “I say it’s time for those folks to get a raise, and I’d honor their picket line should they strike to do so.”
See folks, if you believe your education, experience or work product does not receive the same appreciation as a union worker receives, FORM/JOIN A UNION!
Don’t just snipe at others, when the ricochet will surely be hitting you someday.
I also can’t get over how quickly middle class America will sell itself out based on propaganda and sloganeering.
Billionaires are taking multi-million$ tax cuts from Bush, that you and your kids will be paying for, and, while some of you moan and complain, it continues and the majority of the middle class either avoids the polls on election day or, in a show of mental illness bordering on masochism, votes Republican.
But when a union balks at being forced to take less from the corp./authority that runs it, many Americans begin screaming to hang the union. And if that union is striking NOT out of the personal greed of its members, but over the rights of the next generation, many scream “Off With Their Heads” all the louder. It seems that personal greed is understandable; interest in the welfare of the yet unborn should end with the discussion of abortion, and certainly never be the subject of a strike to assist them in their lives AFTER their birth?
If you are middle-class, or ever want to be:
THIS IS YOUR FIGHT! [...]
NYC Transit Strike? More A Management Putsch!
Thanks for the opinion and the information Jack. Your insight on this matter is appreciated.
I think the flaws of your anti-unions/anti-strike are summed up in your own sentence, “Americans show up and go to work, they really do not have any alternatives.”
Do you really suggest that they just sit down? And I’d really appreciate it, if next time you feel like replying to my blog, that you would give a sincere attempt at a message rather than copying and pasting. I’m frankly offended by it.
Thanks for encouraging discussion. Your insight is valuable to my understanding of conservatism.
The strike has been settled but I feel both of your comments demonstrate the passion for unions on this issue. I agree with Boog that encouraging discussion is the best way to uunderstand the situation. Regardless of whether Jack or Boog agree or disagree, the fact that these individuals share the opinions is what will help America to continue prospering.