Fiscal discipline is unheard of maxim for union members
No doubt buoyed by unionist demands in Wisconsin, Ohio and Indiana, Phoenix Valley Metro bus drivers are now protesting. Marching and chanting “We want a contract,” forty of the city’s drivers are participating in a “sickout,” protesting this morning outside of a “Friends of Transit Event” where Phoenix’s Mayor Philly Gordon received an award. And wouldn’t you know? The City of Phoenix, itself, is part of the group making the presentation.
The daily reports that the dispute is between Veolia Transportation Services, which runs 33 city bus routes out of 99, and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1433. The union is one of three unions representing Valley Metro bus drivers.
Last May 19, the daily reported that the City of Phoenix approved an agreement that will pay up to $27.5 million to end the city’s three-year contract with Paris-based bus contractor Veolia, including an additional $13.5 million over five years to the company’s pension plan and $2 million for accumulated sick leave for Veolia workers. The City of Phoenix then negotiated a new 5-year, $388 million contract with Veolia that began July 1, 2011.
Those familiar with this site are aware it is no fan of Mayor Gordon, his sanctuary-city policies, or deal-making misadventures. But times are tough. The drivers should be glad they’re working. Lots of people aren’t.
My work ethic, sense of responsibility and knowledge of my job and how to carry out the duties it entails, has been my protection for the years I’ve been in the workforce. I’ve never belonged to a union. Never will.
For crying out loud! Get back on the bus, shut up and drive the damn thing. If you have another profession, such as the practice of medicine, accounting or law, by all means engage in it. If not and bus driving is what you do, DO IT.
In 1981 the air traffic controllers union went out on strike, demanding higher salaries and a 32-hour work week!! In doing so, the union violated a law which banned strikes by government employee’s unions.
Heroic Ronald Reagan declared the strike a “peril to national safety” and ordered them back to work. Only a tenth of the nearly 13,000 workers returned to work. President Reagan gave the others 48 hours to return to work, or lose their jobs. True to his word, he fired them! It was an event that made Ronald Reagan a champion to Anericans across the country. Scott Walker should call on the people of Wisconsin to “fire” those 14 legislators who are on the lam.
And these bus drivers here in Phoenix? Give them 48 hours to get back to work or they’re gone. Driving a bus isn’t exactly rocket science. But many people, particularly students and the low income depend on that mode of travel.
I am a wife of one of the Bus Operators, and Members of the ATU. I am taken aback at the judgement being placed by some of the people here. My husband and his co workers are certainly not “monkeys” or “idiots” that I can assure you. It seems that people are mis informed about the reason that the operators are taking a stand against a company who is threatening the livelihood of our families. How would any of you like to get your income reduced by 50%, your health benefits made worse while having to shell out over a thousand dollars a month for your family to have the crappy coverage they are trying to force down our throats. Lets not forget the years of dedicated work that these men and women have put in day in and day out to earn their vacation time that the company wants to take away. All the while, their executives are taking company funded trips to Vegas every other weekend, huge increases in their salaries, company paid vehicles, Veolia paid housing, and a 35k bonus into their pension each year. All off the backs of Operators like my husband. What person would stand for this kind of treatment, and why should they have to make a choice of giving up their careers or taking the ridiculous cuts this company is trying to force on them.
Lets not forget another piece of the pie in this situation. The City of Phoenix Mayor, Phil Gordon is dating one of the top exectives of Veolia, and this has allowed this company to corrupt our city. He assisted Veolia in getting the 388 million dollar contract, waived all fines that the company should have incrued for a work stoppage during these negotiations.
Veolia is taking the tax dollars of all the people here complaining about the Operators, and spending it on their own agenda, their pockets, period. These Operators are not out there just throwing a fit because they arent getting raises, there is so much more to the story, and before you make comments that pass judgement upon these hard working Americans, please be sure that you are well informed.
Wife of Unionista:
Cry somewhere else. As union people, I have little doubt and your husband voted for Democrat Phil Gordon for mayor over Republican Steve Lory. The reason Gordon has repeatedly won in spite of being a moronic jerk is that the firefighters, police and teachers unions back him and the status quo to the hilt. Your husband’s union is no different. City election turnout is always notoriously low and elections are won by the union and city personnel voting for the Democrat. Do you deny that includes you and the hubby?
You’re concerned over rising health insurance rates. In our household they are in the same range you are talking about. Yes, it’s high, but we chose to have insurance and we sure as hell don’t expect other people to pick up the tab as you do.
As to Phil Gordon and his girlfriend…that was public knowledge from the time his wife kicked him out. He was traveling all over the world with his honey and it was publicized that she and her business partner were on the city payroll. For that matter, so were all of his cohorts and members of the firefighter’s union. Were you also unaware that he rehired police chief Jack Harris with another title and at a huge salary and gave contracts to his own sister and her husband? But you still voted for him, didn’t you? Give me a break. You get no sympathy here.
How about if your husband just drive the bus. And earn a paycheck. And pay what’s called for in regards to his healthcare ins.
How much money a year does your husband pay to belong to the socialist union?
Go ahead and strike, it’s mainly illegal immigrants that use the bus anyway.
I think the Obama administration is such a big fan of mass public transit because more public transit means more government, more power, more public sector unions, more union dues, and more money for liberal politicians.
As for me, I’d like to see less public transit. I don’t think that we ought to get rid of public transit altogether, though. I used the bus for a few months to get to work once, and that was nice, but I think I’m against light rails, monorails, bullet trains, etc., because they turn out to be boondoggles. I’m glad Gov. Chris Christie canceled the big train-tunnel that was supposed to go under the Hudson river. He saved tax-payers a lot of money.
But you should look into the Sahuarita bus system- that’s the small town south of Tucson I grew up in- it’s ridiculous. Taxpayers are paying a lot to have empty busses drive around all the time. Nobody uses the buses, probably because the town is spread out and most people have their own car. One time my Mom was walking down the street and the bus pulled over, not at a bus stop, and said, “Hey, do you need a ride anywhere? It’s been a pretty slow day” My Mom said no, because she was only walking down the block. Ha ha ha.
http://michellemalkin.com/2011/02/26/trumka-best-way-to-create-jobs-is-to-raise-taxes/
Union…schmunion.
I can’t feel sorry for anyone who has a job and decides not to work. Many of us lost jobs paying much more than we are able to make now. I know folks who took 80% pay cuts just to have a paycheck and get off unemployment. They will likely never make that kind of money again in their lifetimes, certainly not in this state. Their homes are devalued 50% or more and some work two jobs just to have a roof over their heads. Most folks work for companies that coddle their execs and don’t offer the greatest in benefits- but we still show up.
This should clear up any questions about where the support for the union crybabies comes from — the very highest place!!!
Obama will “put on a comfortable pair of shoes” and walk with them — as soon as he gets back from vacation and off the golf course!