Comments | 29usc151: my preemptive response on the TWU strike

29usc151

my preemptive response on the TWU strike

Dec 21, 2005 10:31

I've written up a preemptive response that I'm going to start posting as a reply to anything negative I read about the strike. Feel free to comment from any viewpoint.
(1) The MTA is running a $1 billion surplus ( Read more... )

Comments 7

29usc151 December 21 2005, 15:33:27 UTC

Another point under (6) - All strikes used to be "illegal". It was only through these "illegal" actions that workers were able to obtain the current "right" to strike.

29usc151 December 21 2005, 15:35:59 UTC

Another point under (4) - An example of the MTA's discipline: If you call out sick, the MTA sends a supervisor to your house to make sure you're really there. Would you be happy if your boss gave you so little trust?

maoscorpio December 21 2005, 15:52:51 UTC

WHOA. that is NOT cool. do MTA employees have to tell their supervisor if they're going to the doctor, so that the supervisor can make a stop at the physician's office as well?

and what is their policy on personal and/or vacation days?

29usc151 December 22 2005, 20:48:48 UTC

Found this for you -

On Monday, his doctor broke the news that the cancer in Casiano's spine had spread to his lung. He's already endured months of grueling chemotherapy. Now he faces applying to the MTA for disability.

What happened to this sick worker and to so many other employees at the MTA is as much the reason for this strike as a wage increase, pension or health care benefit.

"Ever since I started missing work for chemo treatments, my supervisor's been accusing me of chronic sick-leave abuse," Casiano said.

Nelson Rivera, shop chairman for the 300 mechanics and car cleaners at 207th St., says Casiano is not the only worker penalized for illness. Another mechanic with 30 years on the job recently had a heart operation.

"When the guy came back to work, the MTA demoted him to security guard instead of giving him light duties," Rivera said. "Since then, he's been disciplined twice and is now facing a possible dismissal in 30 days.

mrbryanzanisnik December 21 2005, 22:22:51 UTC

I think it's ashame that the local popular media (television news, etc) is focusing more on the "inconvenience" aspect than on the real facts behind the strike.

uksubs December 22 2005, 00:40:11 UTC

Alright, I'll take the bait on #6 ( ... )

29usc151 December 22 2005, 15:27:17 UTC

An impasse allows management to implement it's "last, best offer". It's not a tool to help negotiations, it's a way of letting the boss decide that negotiations are over and it's getting it's way.

The NLRB isn't involved in this, because it's a public sector union. Everything goes through the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB). They're actually getting involved at the moment.

The International Labor Organization guarantees the right to strike as a fundamental human right. With the exception of emergency services, this right should be absolute. The US Government has, of course, little to no respect for the ILO conventions. Still, much of the world sees this as a human rights issue, equal to anything in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights or the International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights.