MTA Transit Strike over

Well, they are now going back to work and the city is going to try to get back to normal, it is time to look at what has been accomplished with this strike. Lets do a recap on the winners and losers here:

The Losers

1. All the students in our schools. My children are in elementary school and this affected them by forcing them to go in later than normal which throws off their whole routine. Even though older students were probably more pleased that they had shorter days, the time missed may need to be made up at the end of the year with an extra day. Nobody in the media has even mentioned the impact this strike had on the schools and the students.


2. The people working in the city and the surrounding areas that rely on mass transit to get to their place of employment. Some had to use vacation days or personal days because they could not get in or work from home. Some did not get paid at all because their job pays by the hour and if you do not work, you do not get paid..


3. The TWU workers who will be fined and rightfully should be because it was an illegal strike. The idea that they are seeking indemnity is ridiculous. They cost the city money. They cost the working people of the city money. They should pay what the law requires if they are willing to break the law knowing what the penalties would be.


4. The TWU Local 100 itself now will have to pay fines for the last few days. The local union has lost its credibility with the international union weighing in and telling them to go back to work. They still do not have a contract and they are asking for too much. I don't know about anyone else but I have not received an 8% increase last year. Many people have not received any raises. Why should they get such and increase?


5. The City of New York has lost revenue from taxes and the regular daily operations, overtime for police, and all the preparations to handle the strike.

The Winners
There are none.

I am just annoyed that the TWU thinks that not only was it OK to illegally strike but then have the audacity to think that they should not have to pay the fines. If I get a parking ticket because I did not pay the meter, I can't just go and put money in the meter afterwards and not pay the fine for breaking the law in the first place. The union shouldn't get any breaks.

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