Break the Union

New York City is in the dark. At least, it might as well be. For the second time in 2 years, I have seen streams of New Yorkers walking the streets out of need. The first time it was because of the heat. The second time, now, it is because of the transit strike. No buses, no trains are moving. I went to New York last summer for the first time in my life. No big whoop, so I have little to comment on regarding the how stricken the city is. But considering I have visited every major city in the world (except for the East), dude, I freakin' know what the transit system means to any city, any people. And they strike? That's understandable, really. Strikes are sometimes amazingly useful. Not when they actually strike, mind you. But the threat of a strike often brings to the table compromise and understanding in the midst of a possible shutdown.

However, now the entire NYC transit system is offline - now 3 days before Christmas. And this marks the third day of the strike. Fantastic, we have effectually run past the usefulness of strikes. Neither side is willing the compromise, that much is absolutely clear. I personally think the transit union's demands are ridiculous. A 24% hike in pay over the next 3 years? I believe the rough estimate of the average transit worker's salary is $57,000. At the end of three years, if the transit union achieves its demands, the salary would be just over $70,000. I realize NYC is an expensive place to live, but that's a lot of money nomatter where you live. The economy is growing with respectably low and stable inflation. Is there that great of a need for an additional $13,000 or is the union simply falling into step with all the unions that have come before? I tend to lean towards the latter. However, the transit union president declares that it is not about the money, in fact it's all about respect. Funny though, there is no mention of how respect is garnered in the eyes of the transit workers without the increase in pay. Not a strange concept that, money equaling respect.

Bloomberg won't budge. Despite all that the union is barking for, NYC mayor Bloomberg refuses to grant the pay raise. I believe the city won't go for anything more than a 9% hike at the end of three years. Bloomberg has even gone so far as to call the transit workers nothing more than thugs. Harsh language, eh?

So, this is a huge deadlock. They be buttin' heads.

The solution? Break the union.

A judge has already requested the presence of the important folks in the transit union, hinting at possible jail sentences. The city is already penalizing the union $1 million per day of the strike. This is new, surely? Not quite. We have an amazing past when it comes to how the United States deals with union strikes that are particularly invasive. Calvin Coolidge as governor of MA broke the Boston Police strike with the MA National Guard. He wrote, "there is no right to strike against the public safety by anybody, anywhere, anytime." Ronald Reagan fired those people in the tower thingy who direct the planes in - with computers instead of those cute wand things that light up. They striked in 1981 and he fired them so that the flight of the States would not come to a standstill. (Oh my word, the new Madonna song. I love it!)

The transit strike is not effectively placing the public into harms way. However, it is fundamentally changing the city every moment that the public transportation refuses to move. This is completely a state matter, thankfully Bush hasn't addressed the situation yet. So, Bloomberg and Pataki must do something and protect not only the standard of lives of their people but also their livelihood. So break the union. Grow some balls and fire the transit workers who are striking. Or put them in prison. Bloomberg quite likes saying how illegal the strike is. Well, do something about it big boy. Words are nothing right now. Hell, words caused the situation. Only action matters.

I am not a fan of abusive government. But this would not be abuse, should the NY government take action as I believe it should. The government would be taking it's rightful place and allowing the city to run as it must. The transit workers are employees of the state. The transit union is not the employer of the state. The workers must have rights and some ability to leverage, this is what the union is for. However, the union has gone to far as I think most unions will if left alone. I don't believe in big government. But neither do I support a select minority ruling the government (oh...oh....oooohhhh). Something has to be done to fix this gordian knot. Cut it.