What are some of your thoughts? Is this strike justifed? Should'nt all unions be this strong?

 

Sucks that these people should be able to basically hold all New Yorkers Hostage. I say fire em all and get new help like Reagan did to the Air Traffic Controllers

 

Kinda of a mixed bag IMO, Part of me is glad to see that the working man does have the ability to make a stand, the other side is whats happening there, what a mess. They could bring the economy to its knees it seems. I Honestly havent kept up on the unions demands etc. But if the powers that be realized this was really gonna happen why didnt they take the potential walk out more seriously? and if they did then dont complain about the inconveince of no mass transit. Anymore I just get tired of EVERYTHING that happens being related to how much its gonna cost everyone. Is that the only thing that matters in this country anymore? If it is, then we`ll all get what we deserve eventually. Personally I couldent live like they do, just to many folks.

 

Fire em all, that would be real good, inexperienced workers operating mass transit. They wanted a raise since they have new threats by terrorism but the city wouldn't go for it, or not much of a raise. If it weren't for unions the wages and benefits wouldn't be what they are today, however in recent years we've seen fewer union jobs and consequently we've also had lower paying non-union jobs, if some of the non-union, low paying jobs organize you will see an increase all the way around with union and non-union jobs.

The Taylor law forbids civil servants from striking.

This is the worst part at the bargaining table, if the city knows they can't strike what the point of signing a contract, theres no initiative. There are too many cities that never reach an agreement with their unionized employees and end up working for years without a contract, meaning years w/o raises or updated ins./ benefits. I hope this strike gives the cities a little warning of what happens when no contract is agreed upon. I hope all the FOP and IAFF union reps are watching this and taking notes.


PROUD TEAMSTER

 

These guys are wanting an 8% raise every year for the next 3 years! Who do they think they are? The city offered them 3.5%/year. 3.5% is more than most people are getting. Also they are against the new hires having to wait until 62 to get full retirement benefits. The union president said "They had a 1 billion dollar surplus last year they can spread it around"?????? It is a wonder businesses with a union don't go under ....wait most of them are!

 

8% I was happy to get a 3% a few years ago (military).

 

I haven't got 3% in 4 years.

 

They work in a city that has had two major terrorist attacks, numerous threats, and by terrorists own admission they are going after mass transit, they have to work with an elevated threat above the thug threats, give em the raise. After the mayors comments about the TWU calling them thugs, I would hold out for a good 10%.

And about the union companies going out, looks to me like they are growing, look at Yellow-Roadway, UPS, Kokosing they're not going anywhere.
The unions are every where, you see a firetruck going up a city street, thank the IAFF, a cop FOP, nurses, doctors, they're members of the white collar unions called associations, committee, or whatever gives a professional group of colleagues one strong voice.

PROUD TEAMSTER, PROUD AMERICAN

 

Union membership is at an all time low. Delphi just broke the unions back after their going belly up. If they feel like they are in danger they can quit. 8% is just silly. Has anyone heard of GM, Ford or Delphi??? Unions are no longer as strong as they once were. I agree that unions have helped every worker but there usefulness is over.

 

If there usefulness is over why are companies like wal mart paying low wages and poor benefits, if the CFW got in there they could atleast get up to standards. Why are single income families non-existent, get the wages back up with unions, keep the willing mothers home with the kids so they don't grow up to be dilinquents like many are today. Unions helps keep family in the family.

 

I've never been a Union man, However, I've never lived in America with No Borders before either. They tell us we're in danger of terrorism all the while the people from third world countries pour across our borders and seem to be welcomed with open arms by the Government and big business. What's wrong with this picture?

 

Very well put! Many people do not ever consider this fact about unions. Many will make the argument that you shouldn't see a single income family unless the breadwinner has had the luxury of being able to pay for a college education and became a success in life,,etc... and since they've worked hard they earn the higher pay,etc.. I agree,, but...
Look back 50 years ago in the history of this country,, the standard American family supported itself just fine on one income while the other parent stayed at home and ran the house and raised the kids, actually raised the kids not just shuttled them to day care, baby-sitter, school,etc..
The vast majority of these familes back then were supported on an average joe's income,, Sure they weren't rich,, but they had a roof over their head that didnt leak and shoes on their feet,, point being,, it didnt take 2 incomes to provide for your family.
Today,, the only blue collar jobs you will find that will support a family of four on one income without making them rely on government aid(our tax $'s) are union jobs.

 

Right on both of you. Unions are like a Democracy, very imperfect, but better than anything else. The demise of unions has meant the demise of the middle class in America. Revel in your $2 oil filters and $1.29 qt. oil at Wal Mart then look at your health care costs and realize how much you're really paying for what you buy. After you add a portion of what you pay for health care to subsidize Wal Mart employees, it's not such a great deal. We have become too much of a "ME" society and big business like Wal Mart (and others) are taking advantage of it. Give me the '50's and 60's anytime, even if I couldn't get a Cummins in my Dodge pickup back then!

 

I wish this were true I really do. I'd love to be able to see mothers staying home with their kids. The truth is we make walmart what it is by shopping there for everything from underwear to bologna we want it cheap. Another reason single income families are non-existent is that we want more now, the truth is we could probably get by with less "stuff" and let our wives stay home but that isn't what we do.

 

You are saying that they expect an 8% raise? I doubt it. That is what is considered an "opening offer" to be negotiated. Do you guys know that the union worker has a 28% higher wage for his work? Do you know that in union trades there is an apprenticeship program during which there is schooling to learn the trade? Just as an example, here in Minnesota the avreage person taking the state plumbing test has to take it an average of 3 times to pass. Union members RARELY need to take it a second time to pass. The schooling for what I do consists of a 5 year progam that runs from Sept. to the end of April each year and the apprentice MUST attend and is not paid for the time. Think of your time as a comodity. You sell your time. Shouldn't you be able to seel your time for the most you can? Wouldn't that be beneficial to you? If you have more disposable income don't most of us spend it? Think of a worker like a stick. One single stick can be broken easily, but a bunch is much harder to break. Would you like to go back to 12+ hour days for $5 an hour? Not me. Almost all the benefits you see weather union or non union working conditions are a direct result of unions. Another thing to keep in mind is that when a person joins a union they have agreed to a contract that all parties have agreed to. At that point they are no longer what is considered an "at will hire". An at will hire is one of those that can be "hired at will, FIRED at will". In other words your boss can get rid of you for no reason and there is nothing you can do about it. With a contract (which is nothing more than the 'rules of the game') you have a lot more protection even under the law.
Tom