Posted on 12/23/2005 2:29:31 AM PST by Sociopathocracy
We noted in this space yesterday the inevitability of serious injury, or worse, to innocent people as a result "of the illegal, immoral strike engineered by [TWU President Roger] Toussaint and his merry band," warning that "soon he will have blood on his hands, too."
Little did we know.
At 52nd Street and Third Avenue yesterday morning, a private bus struck 39-year-old city firefighter Matthew Long — who was riding his bike to work thanks to the subway shutdown.
Critically injured, he's now fighting for his life at New York Weill-Cornell Medical Center.
Mayor Bloomberg asked that "New Yorkers pray for him" — and, of course, most will.
The bus that hit Long had been hired by the Bear Stearns investment banking firm to shuttle employees during the strike.
The bus was northbound on Third Avenue at about 6 a.m. when it made an illegal right turn and hit Long. The driver, an Albany resident, was ticketed.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Businesses are sueing the Union today......So far one restaurant has filed....
> TROLL or simply dense?
"Simply foreign" and unaware of the situation in NYC. Been there, though, and I do not envy the people who have to drive you folk around. It would be a tough job by anybody's standards.
Now do you still feel empathy for the scaliwags?
My sentiments, exactly. Occasionally, I'll slow down long enough to observe the faces on the people whose tickets I am collecting while manuvering the SRO aisles, carrening 80mph to stop and back to 80mph. Their eyes all say the same thing. "You couldn't pay me enough to do THAT job."
> For goodness sakes, this group of thugs wanted the tax payer to fully fund there retirement at age 50!
Like I've said, I dunno the situation in NYC. I do know that at age 50 in Auckland driving in Auckland traffic, putting up with drunks and abusive rude passengers, always under a deadline I'd be ready to retire, or at least change jobs. No point working your arse off in a dangerous job for an ungrateful public if only to die of a heart attack at 51.
Maybe fully-funded retirement is a stretch. Heck, in my current position I do not even get a pension.
But no way in Texas could you persuade me to drive buses for a living.
It was reported here yesterday that the first lawsuit has already been filed.
I think the union is toast.
The report indicated the defendants included the union, the MTA and the City. It apparently did not include each and every one of the striking union members. The individuals should each and all be held liable.
BS Tell that to all the kitchen help, Bell hops, maids and cleaning crews and they will laugh their butts off!
Pushing buttons on a subway car is really hard and stressful bump(/S)
> BS Tell that to all the kitchen help, Bell hops, maids and cleaning crews and they will laugh their butts off!
So they underpay everybody in NYC... no disrespect intended, but it goes a very long way toward explaining what goes on over there.
Like I said, I'm foreign and I do not understand the NYC context, but I'm starting to form a definite picture.
Ok I'll bite...why not drive a bus in Texas?
My stepfather told me that it is in the unions contract not to strike before going into negotiations - he (stepdad) said that they went on strike prior to going into negotiations, which was in violation of their contract.
> Ok I'll bite...why not drive a bus in Texas?
No disrespect intended, mate. You have misunderstood.
But to remove ambiguity, there's no way I'd drive buses voluntarily anywhere on this planet, particularly not in a metropolitan area, and particularly not for the wages the transit companies have on offer, and particularly not for the abuse that seems to go with the job.
Those Mates of mine who choose to do likewise have my condolences. They do a tough job, and I applaud them. But I would not change places with them. Few people would.
....No one put a gun to the bus driver's, bus-boys, maids, bellman's head and forced them to hire on....
The striking workers are overpaid for their level of education.
NYC is made up of many places that have living space. The rail and subway system is a way to get to work in Manhattan or any where. You do not need to own a car in NYC and many people don't!
Unions = left. Don't expect politicians to criticize the union.
I agree...mate. I have no beef with the many hard working transit employees....but if they dislike their jobs & dealing with the public...why continue?
Get out..get a job that suits ones sensibilities.
> It will forever mystify me why some people take a job they hate, in a city they can't afford...
Dunno, mate. Maybe they get born in the wrong part of the planet and have few options on where and how they live. Not everybody is born wih wheels welded on their arse and unlimited gasoline to move to wherever they want, where they can afford to live.
Even in a small country like NZ, we see this: people stuck where they can't afford to live, and making unfortunate choices as a result.
Dunno the answer to that: like I said, I'm foreign...
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