Reply #88: Well, it's hard to support them when I have to pay half my health care.

[sleipnir]

There are people begging for jobs and with no health care. Really, all that was asked was for them to chip in a bit more on health care and pensions. Something that is happening all over the country in the private sector. I work with some hazardous substances that will likely give me health problems in about 30 years, but I still have to pay for half my health care and with no pension.

I feel bad, because if the city collects on the fines the Judicial branch has upheld, it's going to be about $30,000 for each worker and the TWU 100 is going to be broke to the tune of $1 Million a day.

I really don't fully support this strike, especially when I learned that their International told them not to strike. Also, it seems support for this strike is not high within the Union rank and file. About 1,000 Union members broke the line and did not strike and the two TWU workers I overheard last night at diner in the East Village were constantly talking about how they would rather be back at work and were honestly scared about the potential $25,000 fine on top of the two-days pay. They seemed to have serious second thoughts about going on strike.

I think that in the end, the two sides could have reached an agreement. If the MTA took the pension increase off the table and the Union agreed to pay a few dollars more for health care and raise new hire retirement age, we would be still riding the trains. But, for some reason, cooler heads did not prevail.

This strike is costing the poor the most and it's pure greed on both sides that is only going to hurt New York City.