New York Transit Deal Shows Union's Success on Many Fronts

The New York Times ^ | 12/29/05 | Steven Greenhouse

[libertarianPA]

He was excoriated on tabloid front pages and by the mayor and governor. As thousands streamed across the Brooklyn Bridge on a frigid night during last week's transit strike, someone in a car yelled out his name, prefacing it with a curse.

But now, a day after details of an agreement between the transit workers and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority were spelled out, Roger Toussaint, the union's president, seems to have emerged in a far better position than seemed likely just a few days ago.

Mr. Toussaint, whose back appeared to be against the wall last week, can boast of a tentative 37-month contract that meets most of his goals, including raises above the inflation rate and no concessions on pensions. Indeed, several fiscal and labor experts said yesterday that Mr. Toussaint and his union appeared to have bested the transit authority in their contract dispute.

The authority did not come away empty-handed, however, as it obtained a major concession: For the first time, the 33,700 transit workers will pay a portion of their health insurance premiums.

[libertarianPA]

The judges fined the union, many of the papers slammed Toussaint, and still they manage to come out on top.

So much for the end of unionization. As long as there are wimps to concede, they will breathe mightily.

[skaterboy]

This is the Times so of course they gonna say this..

[pabianice]

[Congressman Billybob]

Will the Union pay $3 million in fines, $1 million for each day of the strike? Will the workers lose 6 days of pay, 2 days for each day of the strike? If not, then the main lesson here is, anyone can violate the law and get away with it, if he (it) is strong enough.

Well? Why doesn't the NY Times report on these matters?

Congressman Billybob

Latest column: " 'Domestic' Dishonesty -- the Press and NSA 'Wiretaps' "

[mewzilla]

They got pretty much the same deal they were offered before the strike. You know, the one they walked away from. It's a Pyrrhic victory for the union.

[riker7]

I feel sorry for union people. I don't see how they sleep at night. They didn't screw the government. They screwed every Tom, Dick, & Harry, trying to get to work each day they struck.

[durasell]

They sleep pretty well knowing that they get to keep a solid middleclass lifestyle and that their kids will go to college.

In NYC politics, right and wrong aren't at the top of the list.

[A Balrog of Morgoth]

Compare this NYTimes definition of victory to their definition of quagmire in Iraq.