F$&@ing Transit Strike!

[Blueknyt]

agreed, bad form on the union side to strike at this time of year. but a strike is a big sign that management isnt wanting to bend or come to agreement and Union is tired of getting the bump off at the table.    while i cant agree witha total shut down of services, i cant agree with the taylor law completely, makeing it illegle for state,city,county employees to strike in the event of contract negotiations breaking down.  i wouldnt want to work outa contract either, it leaves the workers completely unprotected.

i think a backup plan between union and "whomever" of 50% reduction in services/workers (neither side wants or NEEDS that to happen) In case of IMPASSE at the table.  but it allows things to grind along with less damage then a total shutdown.  

the union screwed up in calling the strike, there are otherways to push the issue when management refuses to budge at all.

[sys49152]

Just once, I'd like to see someone tell the union to go pound sand when they go on strike...hire new personnel and show the unions that they can't necessarily strongarm their way to a sweeter deal (assuming rational mediation has already failed)

Your wish is my command...

http://eightiesclub.tripod.com/id296.htm

[yamahonkawazuki]

I've been in a union for a few years now. I was in NYSCOPBA (New York State Correction Officer's and Police Benevolent Association) but now I am in CSEA (Civil Service Employee's Association). I have found mostly only GOOD things to say about unions from my personal experience. I think, at least in my experience, that the union is a great buffer between the employer and the employee.

Why can't a truck driver pick up a paint brush and help paint? Because it is not his job. he is not qualified nor is he hired to be a painter. No more than a painter should be expected to drive a truck. The union creates a constract between the employer and the employee - it is designed to make sure that each gets their expectations and needs fulfilled.

Where I work, a healthcare facility, I am an IT guy. If I have downtime, should I be required to help feed and bathe the sick? Should I grab a mop and clean the floor? No. Should one of the nurse's aides or housekeepers do my job in their down time? No. It is not their job, and they are not qaulified.

When you have a job to do, you do it (and nothing else) to the best of your ability. No more and no less.  

,
alright, fine, but if there is no it work to do you dont get paid right,?i mean if thewre is nothing to do you go home? im just curious  

[Blueknyt]

When you have a job to do, you do it (and nothing else) to the best of your ability. No more and no less.

agreed to a point

however,do you continue your full to the best of you ability when your no longer under contract, or current needs/changes to do said job are not being seriously considered? specialy in highrisk enviroments? (firefighter,police,sea/airport,Medical)

[Phaedrus]

Some unions have a NO STRIKE clause in them  

I have NO idea whatsoever how most places work, but I know in the NYS civil service system, jobs are divided into titles. Each title has a job description and assigned duties. If you do someone else's job, you are working out of title. What is so bad about that you might ask? Job economics and security, for one.

Why not pay some Cleaner (Grade 5), to mop a few floors and also act as a Security Assistant (Grade 6). They could combine 2 positions into one. There goes a job; and imagine that on a larger scale. Thousands of jobs. So you would have a bunch of out of work people, and the ones that are working are performing jobs that they are not necessarily qualified to do.

What is better, having people work within their job descriptions in a tite that they are trained and qualified to do.....OR save a few bucks and have unqualified people doing double duty?  :dunno:

[yamahonkawazuki]

i ask this again, what if your assigned job title has nothing to do, do you not get paid?

[Phaedrus]

i ask this again, what if your assigned job title has nothing to do, do you not get paid?

Yup. Because in civil service - and many other - jobs, you do not get generally get paid hourly, it is usually salary-based. You get paid to do your job completely and wholefully based on the criteria of the job. It is very concrete what your job is; it is spelled out for you and you are aware of it when you go to work there. You get paid to do your job and nothing but your job. Ideally, your job would take up 100% of your work time. But the world is not ideal so there will be some degree of downtime. So basically, you are paid to complete your job - not for the amount of time that you are "busy". You sell your service more than your time. The job criteria is spelled out in nice black text on white paper, and that is what you are expected to do.

[Badger]

Just once, I'd like to see someone tell the union to go pound sand when they go on strike...hire new personnel and show the unions that they can't necessarily strongarm their way to a sweeter deal (assuming rational mediation has already failed)

Your wish is my command...

http://eightiesclub.tripod.com/id296.htm

Good catch...I couldn't recall whehter they fired them all or if they just threatened to.

Worked, though...didn't it?

[Badger]

Thinking about the transit strike, it strikes me that things could have gone really wrong for the workers and union leaders.  Considering:  1.) it is illegal for the transit workers to strike and 2.) disrupting mass transit is considered an act of terrorism.  It seems possible that the entire lot of striking workers could be arrested and charged with terrorism.  In fact, I believe they could be detained indefinitely (under the Patriot Act) without actually being officially 'arrested' or charged with a crime.

Interesting times we live in.

[Badger]

Some unions have a NO STRIKE clause in them  

I'm pretty sure that public sector workers in general are forbidden (by law) to strike.  I know this is true in MA, I'm pretty sure it's true in NY.  It would be a Really Bad Thing if law enforcement and firefighters decided to stop doing their jobs.

[Blueknyt]

yup it would, but i also wouldnt expect a firefighter or police officer to continue working under same pay, less benifits (pension getting screwed with) with more resposiblity and requirements and danger.    cant see how anyone would continue pushing with everything they have when thier boss walks up saying i wont listen to you or negoiate with you as a group in good faith and your work load is increasing .   But you cant do anything about it as its against the law. you have to continue and then some untill its resolved.  (could take years as goverment loves backing out of arbitration when it doesnt suit them ask the firefighters in miami during the 80's)