These boots were made for walkin'
Well, after much waiting and stress, the strike is on. The MTA strike that is. That would be the subway and bus system here in glorious NYC. It's a good thing we are use to walking. 60 something blocks though is a long way. If you have ever been here and know where Times Square is and you know where Grant's Tomb is in Harlem then you can understand my walking commute today. I am meeting a co-worker in hopes of catching a cab.
So here's the rub. The transit workers are unhappy with their jobs. Like we are all so happy with what we make. They are demanding an 8% raise for the next 3 years. Each year 8% raise. Have you ever gotten an 8% raise. I'm sorry but that's unreasonable. They are also fighting against later retirement. The "man" wants any new, someone not even hired yet, to have to work until 62 before they can retire. Not unreasonable. Heck I always thought we had to work to 65 at least and knowing that I will be working til I drop. Then the MTA wants to offer the union a 3% raise the first year, a 4% raise the second and a 3.5% raise the third and have new employees still be able to retire at 55 but pay 6% towards retirement for the first 10 years. The base pay for these union workers is $47,000 before overtime. Hello, that is $10,000 over the median pay in my salary band and I don't get overtime.
So the commute goes like this: No cars into Manhattan below 96st unless there are 4 people in the car. So getting a cab is not going to be easy. While cabs are able to pick up multiple fairs not a lot of people work so far uptown. Also the city has been cut into zones for taxi fares, so a cab ride to work will be about $30. Because the zone I am in, Midtown, is $10 and each additional zone is $5. Did I mention with the windshield factor or whatever it feels like 10 degrees?
I realize I sound like I complaining. Not so much, just trying to relay the facts. I was speaking with a friend last week when the strike was first a threat. My friend knew nothing of it and it seemed weird to me that something so immediate and prevalent in my life was nonexistent to all my family and friends. While the news in California was all about the Iraq elections here it was all about the strike.
I have no sympathy for the Union.
Good news though is I"ll be in California in just a few days so I can thaw out. The best way to thaw out is under water right? Cuz from I what I understand you all need an ark about now. Al says (Al Roker) that you guys are getting hit hard with the rain.
Stay dry my friends and Happy Holidays.
posted by Kimber @ 7:53 AM
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