Thread: Just Bitching

We are having a transit strike here in NYC. Let me tell you it is hard to feel sorry for these guys. This is day 2 and it has caused my family and myself some iritation. Here are the points they are striking for

1. The right to retire at 55 with full benefits
2. Not having to contribute to their health benefits.
3. Not happy with 3% raises for the next 3 years. They want 8%

Well I and everyone I know contributes to their health plans (talking non union)
Our raises have been running about 3% for the past several years
As for retiring at 55 well I'm 51 with a 6 year old daughter so retirement does not appear to be in the cards for me. I am sure they will find me dead at my desk one day. I really wish these people would come to their senses and remember who they are hurting.

At least you're getting raises. Since 2000, I've managed to receieve single raise of less than 3%.

The sense of entitlement in this country is really beginning to hack me off.

I didn't know the specifics of the strike, other then I hear it's an illegal strike, but yeah, I'm with you. From what you posted, the want more then the common worker gets. And why should they. Raises? I may get 3%, I may not, mostly I get a raise when I change jobs. Retirement at 55? Federal standard is what? 63? With the cost of health benifits, everyone is having to contribute.

But hey, if they can negotiate a better deal, more power to them. But it's going to cost the taxpayers if they do.

Voluntary retirement at age 55? Really!
The only way I got to retire that early was to have 5 heart attacks!

As an ex New Yorker and someone who lived through the last transit strike 25 years ago (am I dating myself) I know what your going through. It just seems that lately the standard of living in this country is going down the tubes and its open season on the working man. Lets not forget that before we had unions people worked for a pitance and at the whim of their employers. It was the union movement that changed all that. Things are now regressing back to they way they were in the early 20th century and if someone doesn't start to stand up to corporate America in a few years the only jobs left for the average joe will be under ten bucks an hour. Its this world economy thing where we get pulled down to the level of some third world country's economy.

Personally I think if they can get the best package for their members all the more power to them. It has always seemed to me that there has always been this feeling amongst people that civil servants should never be better off than them. As a retired federal worker and I retired at age 56 I can tell you that we all have somewhat of a choice of our careers when we start out. When I started out working for the Gov't any civil service was looked down on and my friends at the time laughed at me. So they over the years have made far more in wages then I ever did but now I'm retired and secure and they are struggling to figure out if they ever will be able to retire. They an't laughing now.

So my point is don't be pissed off at someone else because they are in a situation that creates more opportunities for them as opposed to what another person has. If you had made other choices maybe you would be in that more advantegeous position. Sorry for the rant.

I don't have a problem with them trying to arrange the best package they can. What I have a problem with is their blatant breaking of the law, and even worse, the effect they are having on others. If your gonna pee in the pool, that's one thing. Just don't do it from the high dive!

RT