Reply #31: Some people seem to forget.........

[Historic NY]

the cops & fireman also threatened, and the city finally coughed up. Transit has been w/o a contract for some time. The big sinking issue was the pension plan. The MTA wants to take away a 20yr-55age plan and replace it with a 20yr-62 plan and then make the employees pay 6% for it. Strange concept give them less then get and then make them pay for it. The purpose of the younger retirement age was to move in new blood at lower salaries, hence creating a savings.

The MTA is a bloated political hack plagued quasi-governmental authority that always pleads no money. People forget it takes a lot to move the city and take it workers for granted. The strike may cost the union fines, but sometimes its the only way. This hasn't been a one week or one year struggle to settle, its been festering for a long time.