0

TWU Members Protest MTA Headquarters

Posted by
on September 30th, 2009 at 4:30 pm

Yesterday, the TWU fought back against the MTA’s attempts to backtrack their way out of 11% raises awarded by an arbitration panel. Their method of choice was a protest in & around the MTA Headquarters in midtown. Shari Logan & Tom Namako of the New York Post have more in this brief report:

About 2,500 rowdy transit workers clogged the sidewalks and streets near MTA headquarters yesterday to protest the agency’s legal challenge to recently awarded raises.

The rally — which took up all of West 44th Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues — resembled the hordes of TWU Local 100 members who demonstrated before the 2005 Christmas-season transit strike.

The union wants the MTA to drop a lawsuit aiming to halt 11 percent raises and health-care contribution rollbacks over the next three years.

I wish I was still residing in the city as I would have photographed the protest for my readers. As you all know, I support the workers in this instance as most deserve the raises that are being offered. While we have the typical knee jerk reactions of anti-MTA workers, anti-union, etc… from the normal culprits, those who know workers personally understand that most are not like the ones portrayed in scathing reports.

You might enjoy reading these related entries:
TWU
1

Seneca Ave Station Falsely Labeled The Worst

Posted by
on September 28th, 2009 at 12:04 am

I was in my kitchen the other night & had the Fox 5 news on while I was in the kitchen. I was cleaning up when a subway story caught my attention. The story was about how the Seneca Avenue station on the M was the dirtiest station in disrepair according to a MTA survey. Robert Johnson & Pete Donohue of the New York Daily News have more in this report:

It’s official: a dilapidated subway station on the M line in Queens is the worst of the worst.

The Seneca Ave. stop in Ridgewood is in the direst state of disrepair, according to an MTA survey that assessed conditions of stations across the city.

“It’s scary and old and rickety,” college student Catrina Dennis, 21, of Ridgewood said at the elevated Seneca Ave. station yesterday afternoon.

Signs of decay are everywhere: rusting metal, peeling paint and concrete cracks sprouting weeds. There isn’t a sign on the platform that hasn’t been scratched or painted by graffiti vandals.

Mark Newbold, a sheet metal worker, wonders about his safety every time a train rumbles into the station.

“The platform rocks,” Newbold, 41, said. “I do dangerous s— for a living and it’s still scary.”

Click here for the complete report.

I strongly disagree with this so called survey. If this was a legitimate survey, I can guarantee you that this station would not be rated the dirtiest station in disrepair. I have been inside this station numerous times & while it is no beauty, it is far from being in the worst condition. I can think of a number of stops such as Chambers Street on the J, M, & Z, East 143rd St-St. Mary’s on the 6, 21st St-Van Alst on the G, & so on & so forth.

One of the selling points of this station being the worst was the condition of the stairs. Newsflash, the stairs are like that at hundreds of stations. I know for a fact that numerous people have fallen on one of the staircases between the mezzaline & track level on the uptown side of the Castle Hill Ave 6 station.

When it rains, or snows (especially), going down the staircase is extremely dangerous. I have almost tumbled down those stairs numerous times. Thankfully I have good balance or I would have been injured. I have taken a tumble on the stairs leading to & from the street at the Whitlock Ave station which are not exactly in a state of good condition.

In the end, I would like to see legitimate surveys be taken that highlight the true condition of the system instead of ridiculous ones showcasing a false reality.

xoxo Transit Blogger

You might enjoy reading these related entries:
Subway, System Conditions
2

Elderly Woman Hit By Q65 Bus

Posted by
on September 27th, 2009 at 11:48 pm

I was browsing the New York Daily News website & noticed I miss out on a story regarding an unfortunate accident in Queens. As expected when one hears or reads accident in Queens, they probably think it happened on Queens Blvd. If so, your instincts were spot on as a 65 year old elderly woman was hit by a Q65 in Forest Hills. Wil Cruz of the New York Daily News had more in this brief report:

A city bus struck an elderly woman on Thursday on a busy stretch in Queens, officials said.

The 65-year-old woman, who was not identified, was hit by a Q65 in Forest Hills about 11:45 a.m. She hurt her left arm but was expected to survive.

“She was responsive,” said an NYC Transit spokeswoman.

The woman was stable at Elmhurst Hospital Center. No one on the bus was injured.

The bus struck the woman at the intersection of 108th St. and Queens Blvd., fire and transit officials said.

It appeared to be an accident.

Still, the driver will undergo drug and alcohol testing.

That is routine after accidents, the spokeswoman said.

Thankfully the woman was in stable condition & no injuries occurred to anyone on the bus. Something needs to be done about increasing the safety for civilians on Queens Blvd.

xoxo Transit Blogger

You might enjoy reading these related entries:
Accidents, Queens
0

Service Diversions 09-24

Posted by
on September 25th, 2009 at 12:33 am

I updated the service diversions page with the latest information for the weekend & upcoming week (beyond in some cases). Don’t forget to check in for any changes to the page. I also suggest printing out a copy of the page to use while riding the system. Have a safe & wonderful time as you enjoy the first official weekend of fall!

xoxo Transit Blogger

You might enjoy reading these related entries:
Service Diversions
4

MTA Workers Protest Over Raises

Posted by
on September 23rd, 2009 at 11:49 pm

The latest shot in the raise battle between the MTA & Transport Workers Union Local 100 was fired earlier today when hundreds of union members protested in the streets of midtown. Pete Donohue of the New York Daily News has more in this report:

In a scene reminiscent of the tumultuous days leading to the 2005 bus and subway strike, hundreds of transit workers took to the streets of midtown Wednesday morning to demand a contract.

More than 350 workers protested the MTA’s refusal to accept a pact that would raise hourly pay rates by more than 11 percent over three years, which an arbitration panel awarded.

After failing to negotiate a deal directly, union and management agreed in January to go to arbitration with expectations that the panel’s decision would be final.

But after the award was released in August, the MTA claimed the panel made legal and factual mistakes. It has asked a judge to toss it out.

“They’re very damned upset,” Curtis Tate, acting president of Transport Workers Union Local 100, said of the rank-and-file. “It’s ‘damned if you do, damned if you don’t.'”

Click here for the complete report.

Readers of this blog know where I stand on the issue. I applaud the union for fighting on behalf of their members. While many people want to incorrectly group all MTA workers as lazy & overpaid, those of us with common sense know that is not the case.

In what comes as no surprise to me, some of the replies left to Pete’s report are the same ridiculous anti-worker themes presented at every possible turn. After awhile, I wonder why I even bother acknowledging the idiocy. One day I hope to see an end to the notoriously dicey relationship between MTA leadership & its workforce. Until then, the battle wages on.

xoxo Transit Blogger

You might enjoy reading these related entries:
MTA Finances, TWU