[Tndfpcin]

O.K. – you’re the rhodescholar here, and the truth of what you say is just to obvious to deny; but I honestly do not know why there are not more conservative voices on these forums.

This being a NYC centric website, one would expect the membership to be predominately liberal where politics are concerned. I personally would not consider myself liberal, left-of-center maybe: but definitely not a liberal.

That being said, maybe you can balance things out around here a bit; to me the only bad post, is no post. And if you are in fact a Rhodescholar: all the better.

And yea., Espada/Monserratte – the worst.

My point above was that a forum that had all libs or all cons is boring, and many times it is due to unfair, biased mods pushing one side out.

BTW, I am not a rhodescholar per se, I play the rhodes piano, so I use the ID as a funny (it is to me, damnit!) moniker...given that rachel maddow is one, it is another reason NOT to be one...

[nmnrIjGB]

Back to the topic, a superb article:

http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.c.../?ref=nyregion

Get Smart With Labor

Nicole Gelinas, a contributing editor to the Manhattan Institute City Journal, is author of “After the Fall: Saving Capitalism from Wall Street — and Washington.”

Seven months ago, the state-run Metropolitan Transportation Authority won a $2.1 billion bailout. Today, it is preparing to make the same “draconian” service cuts that it threatened last year.

The problem is that New York’s labor costs are unsustainable and consume money for physical investments. The deficit is a leadership deficit.

Powerful unions cannot continue to enjoy outdated compensation and rule packages at the expense of riders and New York’s economic future.
If the authority’s costs had kept up with inflation during the last half-decade, the M.T.A. would not face big deficits today. Instead, labor costs have increased more than 40 percent, driven by pension and health care benefits. Next year, pensions and health care will cost the authority nearly $2.2 billion, more than one-fifth of its cash operating expenses. Debt costs are up, too, and the reason for so much debt is that labor costs require so much cash.

These problems are not temporary — caused by the recession — but indefinite, caused by poor political decisions. The authority’s unionized workers in New York City can retire as early as 55 with generous health benefits. Long Island Rail Road benefits are legendary.

This is not compensation for low wages. Average pay for the authority’s city union members is more than $64,000. Subway and bus workers recently won an 11.5 percent raise over three years, costing the M.T.A. $193 million in 2010, more than service cuts will save. Similar generosity at state government is why Albany had to take away $143 million of the authority’s money for its own deficit. Work rules, too, add costs.

Immediately, the authority cannot do much about these costs, which are contractual. M.T.A. chief Jay Walder is cutting the non-union budget, including, possibly, 10 percent pay cuts, and there’s plenty more to do administratively. “It’s apparent to me that we don’t operate in a way that ensures that every taxpayer dollar that we receive is being used as effectively as possible,” Walder said Wednesday. But administrative cuts are not enough to avoid public pain.

Longer term, it comes down to political leadership from Gov. David Paterson, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and lawmakers. Skilled workers should be paid fairly, and current workers have a right to the pensions that Albany has promised them. But powerful unions cannot continue to enjoy outdated compensation and rule packages at the expense of riders and New York’s economic future.

[TughEmotteTug]

My point above was that a forum that had all libs or all cons is boring, and many times it is due to unfair, biased mods pushing one side out.

Point well taken, it has become increasingly obvious to me that this particular problem is absolutely pandemic in the world of internet forums.

The methodology is usually not two sets of rules – as you stated earlier – but one set of rules that are ‘selectively’ enforced. For ‘some’ the rules are strictly applied; but for ‘others’ those same rules are, lets say, more ‘liberally’ applied. A common practice on ‘most’ internet forums, but here at wny.

That being said, and despite the fact that I am the son of a civil service worker, I will try my best to keep moderation here exactly that, ‘moderate’; and if it is the end of TWU you wish to advocate for here: I, for one, would be interested in hearing what you have to say on the subject.

I am reading the latest article you posted and must say that much of the material you have posted does resonate with me, but I do not have much else to say on the subject at this point.

P.S. A little Whistle blowing on this issue - Syracuse.com

[Sydrothcoathy]

Point well taken, it has become increasingly obvious to me that this particular problem is absolutely pandemic in the world of internet forums.

The methodology is usually not two sets of rules – as you stated earlier – but one set of rules that are ‘selectively’ enforced. For ‘some’ the rules are strictly applied; but for ‘others’ those same rules are, lets say, more ‘liberally’ applied. A common practice on ‘most’ internet forums, but here at wny.

That being said, and despite the fact that I am the son of a civil service worker, I will try my best to keep moderation here exactly that, ‘moderate’; and if it is the end of TWU you wish to advocate for here: I, for one, would be interested in hearing what you have to say on the subject.

I am reading the latest article you posted and must say that much of the material you have posted does resonate with me, but I do not have much else to say on the subject at this point.

P.S. A little Whistle blowing on this issue - Syracuse.com

Well stated, and distinctly accurate. For the record, both of my parents worked for the city as civil service, and were longtime public union members. While one can argue for the right of unions to exist in the private sector, no such argument is viable for public employees, which is why the courts must correct their mistake and dissolve all public unions.

[DenisMoor]

All?

Teachers? Cops? Firefighters? Those who clean and maintain public buildings?

Who would then negotiate on their behalf?

[Unrersvar]

All?

Teachers? Cops? Firefighters? Those who clean and maintain public buildings?

Who would then negotiate on their behalf?

Like the rest of the planet, the municipality/employer would offer a salary that they felt was reasonable, and based upon:

1-how many show up to get a job
2-how long people stay on the job
3-the reasons people leaving the job express for doing so

..the employer/municipality would then have the freedom to fire low quality performers, fire excess staff in poor economic times, and demand quality work from the employees, none of which can be done currently.

They would also be able to better manage costs, without having to fund ever growing pension and health benefit plans that are absurd compared the rest of the workplaces in the country, or be blackmailed with a strike.

[inilbowly]

That's when scabs get hired, and accidents happen because they are improperly trained.

[b91ZmxzX]

Somebody clearly would rather live in one of those flourishing Right To Work states.

There are three handy airports close to NYC with flights to all of them.

[poulaMahmah]

Somebody clearly would rather live in one of those flourishing Right To Work states.

There are three handy airports close to NYC with flights to all of them.

Funny how all of those right to work states have enjoyed FAR higher growth than NY. Funny how NY is the top state in the country in the number of people moving out:

http://www.empirecenter.org/2007/09/mayflower-moves.cfm

You keep raising those fees and taxes to pay those union salaries baby, and people like me will continue to get fed up, and move our businesses elsewhere.

See how long your tax base holds up, superstar...

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/17/ny...a.html?_r=1&em

"The state is staring at a $6.8 billion deficit, and Gov. David A. Paterson has already announced a delay on payments to schools and property owners."

And:

"...revenues from a dedicated payroll tax — enacted in the spring to avert service cuts — came in $100 million below expectations. Last week, a court ruled that the authority must also pay big raises to its unionized workers."

Yeah, genius, that'll help bring LOTS of jobs back to NY...

As Maggie Thatcher once said,"the problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money."

[htDgExh8]

From here:

http://www.empirecenter.org/files/Mi...Report.Red.pdf

Nearly 60 percent of the New York out-migrants moved to southern
states—with Florida alone drawing nearly one-third of the total. Thirty
percent moved to the neighboring states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and
Connecticut.

• Households moving out of New York State had average incomes 13 percent
higher than those moving into New York during the most recent year
for which such data are available. In 2006-07 alone, the migration flow out
of New York drained $4.3 billion in taxpayer income from the state.

Yeah, that's sustainable.

When you're left with 5 people, and 4 are on welfare, see if you're able to continue funding those fat pay packages of your union friends...NOT.