I'm sure that everyone is aware that our unbreakable transit system has shut down due to a strike. As of Tuesday morning we have had to make alternate arrangements to get around the city. Luckily, Sam has been able to work from home. I have been equally as lucky. I don't get to work from home but since we are babysitting my cousin's car, I have been able to drive to and from work. Now keep in mind, our babysitting of the car has consisted of moving it once a week and not driving it. Since we have been in NYC for the past year and a half, I haven't driven the car at all. To go from not driving at all to driving in an area filled with crazy drivers has been quite a transition for me. Granted, I have done well. Driving the car has also allowed me to go on home visits at work.
But back to the reason for the blog...the selfish TWU Local 100! I am so angry that the union could not come to terms with the MTA. It seemed as though the MTA met all the demands of the Local 100 but still an agreement was not reached. And to choose the week of Christmas to shut down, as somewhat of a power play is just horrible. What happened to respect for your fellow man/woman/child? It breaks my heart that people are having to spend up to $50 a day to get to and from work when it usually costs $4 to ride the rails. This expense is taking away from what the working poor might have spent on Christmas/Chanukah/Kwanzaa/Etc. gifts. Not to mention food and other necessities. And what about those who use the public transportation to get to and from doctor appointment/dialysis, etc. So now that we're all having to find alternate transportation, will we be reimbursed for the MetroCards that have already been purchased that are currently useless?
But the biggest thing that pisses me of...Is the TWU Local 100 striking this week so that they can have a longer Holiday vacation and get all of that pesky Holiday shopping done without work getting in the way? I think that these transit workers are just shopping and enjoying the extra time off, because you can't tell me that they are spending ALL of their time picketing! I could go on and on about how pissed off I am, but I won't bore you with it. I just hope that they resolve this strike soon and that the TWU Local 100 would consider who they're really hurting by striking - Think of the 7 million customers! I'm amazed that riots haven't broken out. Haven't New Yorkers been through enough?!
1 comment:
You should be pissed at the MTA! They're totally corrupt, they mis-manage millions of dollars of public funds, they were prepared to totally sell out to the West Side Stadium developers at a loss, they have gross beer and diet drug ads in all the subway cars, and then they wanted to cut back on worker benefits to balance out their budgets?
I know it sucked for everybody, but I also think it is important that the workers get support. They're just trying to protect the dignity of their jobs (and be able to eventually retire).
The MTA needs to shape up and get their priorities straight! I know it's a trend in America, but skimping on worker benefits is not cool.
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