Reminds me of the threatened BART strike here in the S.F. Bay Area last year. The Union put out ads of "money for political influence, no money for safety, etc., etc." and the BART officials simply put out news stories saying exactly what BART drivers earned, what their benefits were and what the officials were offering. It worked. When the commuters found out that BART workers got health care and transit passes for free for them AND their families, had higher wages than most of the people using the system, the commute crowd sided with management. Everyone said the same thing - "I'm quitting my job and working for BART!" Only exception of course, were the socialists from the People's Republic of Berkeley.
I heard on Glenn Beck yesterday that the N.Y. Transit Workers also want an 8% raise, but are willing to settle for a 6% raise and a 25% reduction in disciplinary actions. Nice. My salary hasn't gone up 8% in three years.
NYC transit workers are paid a princely sum to do jobs that plenty of people would be happy to do for half the wages and half the benefits.