Oh No, He Didn't
I realize that in assuming any of my Cleveland friends give a subway rat's grimy whisker about what's going on with the MTA strike, I've become one of those loathesome New Yorkers who thinks the world twirls about like a beachball tethered to the Empire State Building.
Sorry. Forgive me. Give me a good Cleveland scowl. Grrr!
Now get ready for some Cleveland-style cynicism.
I'd been waffling in my sympathy for the Transit Workers Union. The knee-jerk liberal in me wanted to support them before I even knew their demands. Then I found out that the average MTA employee makes around $55K annually. (Now that sounds like a lot more than it is, given the cost of living, but if you're living in, say, Queens, it's still fairly comfortable. Think $37K in Cleveland.)
Then I found out they were asking for an 8% annual raise. Part of me thought, gee, that's an awful lot more than most people get. But then I found out that the new contract would force new employees to pay 1% into the cost of their health benefits, while they'd still be 100% covered for existing employees. Unfair to younger workers! Boo! Hiss!
Though I'm currently sitting at home because I'm unable to get to work - and I'm not getting paid for sitting at home, either - I've decided to support the TWU out of sheer distaste for this bit of nonsense from Michael Bloomberg, commenting on the strike:
"This is not only an affront to the concept of public service, it is a cowardly attempt by [Transport Workers Union President] Roger Toussaint and the TWU to bring the city to its knees to create leverage for their own bargaining position." (italics mine)
Prithee, Lord Billionaire Mayor, tell me about the concept of public service. Tell me about how great it is to do a job that no one appreciates because they just expect you to be there, like air for them to breathe or grass for their Pekingese to pee in.
Underlying this statement is a very class-based insinuation that if you choose to earn your bread "serving" the public, you are hereby throwing away your human dignity, your right to at least ask to be treated better by your employer and by the ever-demanding public, who (guess what!) largely doesn't respect you. You might as well buy a T-shirt that says "Public Servant. Dump Shit Here. Have a Nice Day!" (I looked at the MTA Online Store this morning to see if they had something like that, but they don't. Too bad.)
I don't buy Bloomberg's assertion that the TWU is deliberately trying to harm the city just because they're greedy bastards who won't take whatever pathetic offer is dished out to them. I don't like him using this "affront to public service" crap to influence public opinion, to turn people against the transit workers. And most of all, I'm absolutely rabid with resentment that someone with his power would say something to perpetuate the hateful, hateful perception of the public servant as public doormat. He isn't just saying that to 8 million New Yorkers. Again, I've gone over to the self-centered dark side, but this was the top story on Google News this morning. The whole confounded taxpaying country, with its suspicious hatred of bureaucrats and Big Gub'mint, heard Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City imply that if your kids' PB&J is paid for on the public payroll, you should take what you can get and just be grateful that you have a job.
Please, sir, can I have some more?
New Yorkers could take this opportunity to reflect upon how much they depend on the lowly transit worker to power the lifestyle they've created here. I'm a cynical ex-public servant, though, and I suspect that most will simply, sullenly resent Mr. Joe Subway Conductor for not being grateful enough that he's allowed to serve them.
Sorry. Forgive me. Give me a good Cleveland scowl. Grrr!
Now get ready for some Cleveland-style cynicism.
I'd been waffling in my sympathy for the Transit Workers Union. The knee-jerk liberal in me wanted to support them before I even knew their demands. Then I found out that the average MTA employee makes around $55K annually. (Now that sounds like a lot more than it is, given the cost of living, but if you're living in, say, Queens, it's still fairly comfortable. Think $37K in Cleveland.)
Then I found out they were asking for an 8% annual raise. Part of me thought, gee, that's an awful lot more than most people get. But then I found out that the new contract would force new employees to pay 1% into the cost of their health benefits, while they'd still be 100% covered for existing employees. Unfair to younger workers! Boo! Hiss!
Though I'm currently sitting at home because I'm unable to get to work - and I'm not getting paid for sitting at home, either - I've decided to support the TWU out of sheer distaste for this bit of nonsense from Michael Bloomberg, commenting on the strike:
"This is not only an affront to the concept of public service, it is a cowardly attempt by [Transport Workers Union President] Roger Toussaint and the TWU to bring the city to its knees to create leverage for their own bargaining position." (italics mine)
Prithee, Lord Billionaire Mayor, tell me about the concept of public service. Tell me about how great it is to do a job that no one appreciates because they just expect you to be there, like air for them to breathe or grass for their Pekingese to pee in.
Underlying this statement is a very class-based insinuation that if you choose to earn your bread "serving" the public, you are hereby throwing away your human dignity, your right to at least ask to be treated better by your employer and by the ever-demanding public, who (guess what!) largely doesn't respect you. You might as well buy a T-shirt that says "Public Servant. Dump Shit Here. Have a Nice Day!" (I looked at the MTA Online Store this morning to see if they had something like that, but they don't. Too bad.)
I don't buy Bloomberg's assertion that the TWU is deliberately trying to harm the city just because they're greedy bastards who won't take whatever pathetic offer is dished out to them. I don't like him using this "affront to public service" crap to influence public opinion, to turn people against the transit workers. And most of all, I'm absolutely rabid with resentment that someone with his power would say something to perpetuate the hateful, hateful perception of the public servant as public doormat. He isn't just saying that to 8 million New Yorkers. Again, I've gone over to the self-centered dark side, but this was the top story on Google News this morning. The whole confounded taxpaying country, with its suspicious hatred of bureaucrats and Big Gub'mint, heard Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City imply that if your kids' PB&J is paid for on the public payroll, you should take what you can get and just be grateful that you have a job.
Please, sir, can I have some more?
New Yorkers could take this opportunity to reflect upon how much they depend on the lowly transit worker to power the lifestyle they've created here. I'm a cynical ex-public servant, though, and I suspect that most will simply, sullenly resent Mr. Joe Subway Conductor for not being grateful enough that he's allowed to serve them.
posted by Christine Borne at 8:48 AM
3 Comments:
Massa Bloomberg, oh, Massa Bloomberg, don't you worry none 'bout us workers, cuz we can get some free SWEET CAKE at the shelter, sir.
I totally agree. The demands aren't unreasonable, and the TWU 100 has admitted they're willing to settle for 6 percent raises - just not on the pensions and benefits.
There are few enough unions strong enough to make much of an impact in this country anymore (partly through their own mis-use of power, partly through outsourcing, and partly through relaxation of government aid), and I'm glad to see one standing up for what its members need.
However, Bloomberg is a businessman at heart, and business tends to grind unions under their heel in favor of CEO and corporate profits. I'm personally hoping this union can buck the trend and protect its workers.
Why is everybody talking about this when there's a Constitutional crisis happening in Washington?
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