Metadish, Fresh from NYC

Apparently the TWU’s website has gone on strike too.  They’re redirecting people to their blog at twulocal100.blogspot.com. 

Here’s the TWU’s statement from their website:

With a one billion dollar surplus contract between the MTA and
Transport Workers Union Local 100 should have been a no brainier. Sadly
that has not been the case.

Our contract expired
midnight on Thursday. In an attempt to save Mass Transit an in
deference to our riders, we postponed our deadline and attempted to
continue talking to the MTA.

From the beginning, the
MTA approached these negotiations in bad faith, demanding arbitration
before even trying to resolve the contract. Hours before contract
expiration, the MTA got rid of its one billion dollar surplus — a
surplus which we believe continues to be understated by some one
hundred million dollars.

The MTA knew that reducing health
and pension standards at the authority would be unacceptable to our
union. They knew there was no good economic reason for their hard line
on this issue - not with a billion dollar surplus. They went ahead
anyway, supported by the Bloomberg administration which wants to
overrun Municipal Labor Unions and all City workers with down pressed
wages and gutted health benefits and pension plans.

This
has been combined with continued attempts by the MTA, joined by the
Governor and the Mayor, to intimidate and threaten our members and
their families.

This is a fight over whether hard work
will be rewarded with a decent retirement — over the erosion or
eventual elimination of health benefit coverage for working people. And
it is a fight over dignity and respect on the job. A concept that is
very alien to the MTA. Transit workers are tired at being under
appreciated and disrespected.

The Local 100 Executive Board has voted overwhelmingly to extend strike action to all MTA properties effective immediately.

All
Local 100 representatives and shop stewards are directed to report to
their assigned strike locations picket lines or facility nearest you
immediately.

To our riders, we ask for your understanding
forbearance. We stood with you to keep token booths open, to keep
conductors on the train and oppose fare hikes. We now ask that you
stand with us. We did not want a strike. Evidently the MTA, governor
and the Mayor did.

We call on all good will New Yorkers,
the Labor Community, and all working people to recognize that our fight
is their fight, and to rally in our support with solidarity activities
and events. And to show the MTA that TWU does not stand alone.

-Roger Toussaint, President, TWU Local 100

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