MYTH AND FACT / N.Y. TRANSIT STRIKE
Let's get some facts straight about the recent New York Transit strike ~ the ultimate myth is that this is a victory for New York.
The sad fact is that this is a human rights issue ~ that The Taylor Law is another dagger in the heart of organized labor and their basic right for a fair share of corporate profits.
Here are some other Myths and Facts courtesy of ANSWER and the Progressive review .
Allen L Roland
Myth: The members of Transit Workers Union, Local 100, who run the bus and subway systems in New York City, are "overpaid."
Fact: Newly hired workers start at $35,000 per year in gross (nottake-home) pay. That's way less than it takes to support a family in New York City. With prices of everything rising, the union's demand for a 6% raise per year might keep up the increases in the cost of living.
Myth: The TWU is "greedy."
Fact: The union is defending the health care and pension benefits that already exist. The MTA was trying to cut benefits and raise the retirement age from 55 to 62. The MTA wants to force newly hired workers to accept pay cuts of 6% for the first ten years they work. Bus and subway jobs are tough and stressful, working under any and all weather conditions, with high rates of disabling injuries.
Myth: The MTA can't afford to give the workers a decent contract.
Fact: The MTA admits to having a $1 billion surplus, but it still wants the transit workers to accept a cut in benefits and a wage increase that won't keep up with inflation.
Myth: Governor Pataki and Mayor Bloomberg are looking out for the people, while the TWU workers are just out for themselves.
Fact: Pataki and Bloomberg represent big business, not working people. Bloomberg's theatrical walk across the Brooklyn Bridge shouldn't make anyone forget that he's a billionaire who lives in total luxury.
Roger Toussaint and the TWU members have taken a courageous stand risking huge fines and jail time to defend what all working people need and deserve: living wages and real benefits. Millions of workers have lost health care, pensions and seen their wages decline in recent years. The outcome of this strike is crucial for all workers, whether a union member or not.
Myth: The Taylor Law and the MTA are in the public interest.
Fact: The Taylor Law is an anti-union law, meant to take away workers' most basic strength the right to withhold their labor.
Denying workers the right to strike means giving the bosses tremendous power. It creates a completely unfair negotiation, and encourages the bosses to try to impose take-away contracts, as the MTA has done to the transit workers.
The Taylor Law not only fines workers two days pay for every day on strike, but allows them to be fined $25,000 each. It also allows for the union to be bankrupted by fines of millions of dollars.
The MTA is run by real estate and banking executives with the aim of maximizing the profits of the big corporations, banks and stores. MTA Chairman Peter Kalikow is president of one of the city's biggest real estate firms. His vice-chairs, David Mack and Edward Dunn are real estate and finance executives, respectively.
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