Wednesday - December 21, 2005

Two Million Dollars And Counting

The busiest time of the year in the busiest city in the world. Add to that freezing temperatures. Then throw in a union that is determined to make everyone miserable simply because they want more money. What do you get? You get seven million thoroughly ticked off New Yorkers and a million-dollar-a-day court imposed fine.

I think Mayor Bloomberg needs to take a lesson from Ronald Reagan here. Remember in the early year of Reagan’s presidency, he fired all the air traffic controllers for doing the same thing? This kind of act by a public transportation union is reprehensible and totally without merit. Mayor Bloomberg, tell the union to go to hell and hire new workers. It’s what Rudi (and Ronnie) would have done ...

NYC Enters Second Day of Transit Strike
December 21, 2005, 6:36 AM EST
NEW YORK (AP)

New Yorkers faced another bone-chilling commute Wednesday without their cherished subways and buses as a transit strike entered its second day, leaving both patience and shoe leather wearing thin. With talks still stalled, a judge imposed a huge fine Tuesday against the Transport Workers Union—$1 million for each day of the strike—and lawyers were due back in court Wednesday.

The sanction was levied against workers for violating a state law that bars public employees from going on strike. The union said it would immediately appeal, calling the penalty excessive. The strike over wages and pensions began Tuesday morning, just five days before Christmas and at a time when the city is especially busy with shoppers and tourists.

“It’s too cold for this,” said Jose Cespedes, 55, a hotel maintenance manager who was planning on walking 25 blocks home in 24-degree weather and winds swirling. “I’m very disappointed that neither side thought enough about the community.” The mayor put into effect a sweeping emergency plan, including a requirement that cars entering Manhattan below 96th Street have at least four occupants.

Crowds were thick at both Pennsylvania Station and Grand Central Terminal as commuters waited for trains on the two suburban rail lines, where the number of riders soared. “It’s pandemonium,” said Dana Berkowitz, outside Pennsylvania Station during Tuesday’s evening rush hour. “I feel like I’m in the mosh pit of a Metallica concert.”

Bundled up in heavy coats and hats, others shared cabs and car pools, caught water taxis, biked, rollerbladed or even walked. The mayor joined pedestrians hoofing it across the Brooklyn Bridge.

- More on this story here ...

Posted by The Skipper     on 12/21/2005 at 07:08 AM   
Filed Under: • Unions-Labor •  
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Not that very many people ever read this far down, but this blog was the creation of Allan Kelly and his friend Vilmar. Vilmar moved on to his own blog some time ago, and Allan ran this place alone until his sudden and unexpected death partway through 2006. We all miss him. A lot. Even though he is gone this site will always still be more than a little bit his. We who are left to carry on the BMEWS tradition owe him a great debt of gratitude, and we hope to be able to pay that back by following his last advice to us all:

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It's been a long strange trip without you Skipper, but thanks for pointing us in the right direction and giving us a swift kick in the behind to get us going. Keep lookin' down on us, will ya? Thanks.

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