Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

N.J. Turnpike Authority extends toll collectors' contract but plans to eliminate all jobs in 2 years
The Star-Ledger The Star-Ledger ^ | April 29, 2011 | Mike Frassinelli

Posted on 04/30/2011 6:43:13 AM PDT by Daffynition

Take a good look at the person handing out dollars and coins in that toll booth on the New Jersey Turnpike or Garden State Parkway.

You are seeing an endangered species.

The New Jersey Turnpike Authority, which oversees the Turnpike and Parkway, ratified an agreement today to extend the contract of toll collectors for two more years. Unions agreed to a series of concessions, including salary cuts of about 25 percent — from around $65,000 a year to $49,500 annually — by the end of the contract.

But the intention is to eliminate all toll collecting jobs when the contract expires June 30, 2013.

(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Travel
KEYWORDS: newjersey; nj; unions
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-29 next last

Surefire way to stop the skimming. Force everyone to use EZ-Pass.

1 posted on 04/30/2011 6:43:16 AM PDT by Daffynition
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Daffynition

$65,000 a year...to sit in a toll booth?


2 posted on 04/30/2011 6:47:27 AM PDT by Flag_This (Real presidents don't bow.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Daffynition

so they are fazing out glorified cashiers????? they were making 65000, for doing nothing????

wtf?

and now they cut the pay to 490000??? oh those poor babies....

again, wtf?


3 posted on 04/30/2011 6:48:43 AM PDT by raygunfan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Flag_This

You have to have political connections to get one of those jobs. I’m shocked that they are being eliminated.


4 posted on 04/30/2011 6:49:12 AM PDT by dirtboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Daffynition

Just as long as none of the funds collected through EZPass go to line the coffers of the Teamsters Union, which is the union the toll collectors belong to.

Disgusting, greedy racket those toll booths. I’ve seen a more than 50% increase in the tolls in the last two years in PA and it is not going to road work. It all goes straight to union wages, union benefits, and union pension.


5 posted on 04/30/2011 6:49:59 AM PDT by Ghost of Philip Marlowe (Prepare for survival.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Daffynition

EZ pass, what a great way to let everybody know where you are. Just wait until they start sending out speeding tickets based on elapsed time between two points. Maybe there is a way to pay off the national debt without spending cuts or raising taxes after all.


6 posted on 04/30/2011 6:50:34 AM PDT by gusopol3
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Flag_This

7 posted on 04/30/2011 6:55:05 AM PDT by Daffynition ("Don't just live your life, but witness it also.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: gusopol3
Maybe there is a way to pay off the national debt without spending cuts or raising taxes after all.

And just think of all the jobs that will be created. Building thousands upon thousands of EZ pass toll crossings, government employees overseeing every detail. Wow, it could bring us out of the depression!

8 posted on 04/30/2011 6:59:04 AM PDT by unixfox (Abolish Slavery, Repeal The 16th Amendment!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: raygunfan
We eliminated tolls in Connecticut in 1985 and now they are being discussed as another way to raise revenue [again.]


9 posted on 04/30/2011 7:01:31 AM PDT by Daffynition ("Don't just live your life, but witness it also.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Daffynition
Last time I was on the Jersey TP was back in 1976—took a Navy buddy to his home in Franklin.

It was like driving into a highway prison where you had to bribe the guards to get off the damn thing. It was definitely a mob run operation.
There were thousands of impoverished Turn Pikers with their families who didn't have the bread to get off it camped out on the shoulders and medians begging and scrounging until they could scrape enough together to pay the tollbooth screws for their freedom.
A more depressing place I ain't never seen before.

10 posted on 04/30/2011 7:01:41 AM PDT by Happy Rain (WOLF3ABM581)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Flag_This
$65,000 a year...to sit in a toll booth?

Probably includes a figure for a generous health & retirement package. Just sayin'.

11 posted on 04/30/2011 7:02:06 AM PDT by Tallguy (Received a fine from the NFL for a helmet-to-helmet hit.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Cagey
Your new career path just changed. ;D


12 posted on 04/30/2011 7:03:40 AM PDT by Daffynition ("Don't just live your life, but witness it also.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Happy Rain

I hope you had the decency to toss one of your baloney samwiches out the window at least.


13 posted on 04/30/2011 7:04:59 AM PDT by gusopol3
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Tallguy

What do they do when they have to pee?


14 posted on 04/30/2011 7:05:55 AM PDT by gusopol3
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Tallguy
"Probably includes a figure for a generous health & retirement package. Just sayin'."

You may be right, but even so, where in the private sector, can you collect $65,000 per year in pay and benefits for such work?

15 posted on 04/30/2011 7:09:09 AM PDT by Flag_This (Real presidents don't bow.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Ghost of Philip Marlowe
Disgusting, greedy racket those toll booths. I’ve seen a more than 50% increase in the tolls in the last two years in PA and it is not going to road work

The PA turnpike tolls were set up to cover the cost of the road, road repair, salaries, etc. for the PA turnpike ONLY. That fund was raided for general road funds and whenever SEPTA needed an infusion of cash from the state.

16 posted on 04/30/2011 7:22:26 AM PDT by Abby4116
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Daffynition; AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; ColdOne; Convert from ECUSA; ...

Two years... end of Zero’s term... that’s about right... no one will be using the tollways because there won’t be any gasoline.


17 posted on 04/30/2011 7:38:01 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Thanks Cincinna for this link -- http://www.friendsofitamar.org)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Daffynition
Photobucket New Jersey Toll Booth Collector Union Guys
18 posted on 04/30/2011 7:46:19 AM PDT by loveitor.. ("I will leave with the greatest love for this country of ours..." Ronald Reagan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: gusopol3

If the government ever acheived 100% enforcement of the speed limit, there would be a national rebellion. People only accept the current speed limits because they know there’s only a small random chance of getting a ticket, and the occasional ticket cost is just considered the price of getting where you are going.

Nobody is going the speed limit. When I drive the limit occasionally, I pass nobody, and I am passed constantly. Tell every driver they will get ticketed if they don’t slow down, and they will show up at the polls and vote out the incumbents. And the incumbents know this — that’s why we haven’t implemented any automated procedures which would easily catch all speeders.


19 posted on 04/30/2011 8:17:30 AM PDT by CharlesWayneCT
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Flag_This

“$65,000 a year...to sit in a toll booth?”

If it was that easy! They also take money and sometimes give change back :)

On a serious note: their lungs must be messed up


20 posted on 04/30/2011 9:16:30 AM PDT by mewykwistmas (An honest politician is one who, when he is bought, will stay bought.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-29 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson