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The article points out that subway conductors are usually much more protected than bus drivers since they are not sitting out, totally accessible in the front where all the passengers get on.
Also, some of these disputes appear to be about having to pay. When you get in the subway, you've presumably already paid.
So I would think there would be far fewer spit assaults on train conductors. Oh, where's Fred and Motorman Mike when you need them?
Here I am , just getting in from work as a matter of fact
My opinion is this ... I think anyone who spits on anyone is a word that I can't print here , but it starts with a 'd' and ends with a 'bag' ...
I would support a law , we can call it Mike's Law , that allows unlimited retaliation against a person who spits on another person ... I'd love to be on a Jury if a bus driver or conductor , or in fact anyone , anywhere , was arrested for knocking the day-lights out of someone who spit on them. By the time the trial was over , the prosecutor would be getting locked up for bringing charges.
Today I was operating the Q train and I had to confront a drunk guy at Kings Highway for harrassing a woman and her infant. I laid the law down to the guy and escorted the lady and her child up to my car of the train. Apparently the incident was so bad control center had to call me and my conductor to investigate , it was the first and only time in 3 years as a motorman that I had to leave my position to investigate an altercation. People don't know how to act in public anymore.
I'll tell you one thing though , I was happy to do it , and that scored big time points for the MTA and the workers regarding public relations because the train was crowded and the passengers seemed shocked that a motorman would intervene on someone's behalf like that.
Note to self : 1 good deed for the date 5/24/10 accomplished .
On a side note , aside from actually being hit by someone , being spit on would be the only other thing I would be willing to lose my job over if need be. If anyone ever spit on me , we'd be rockin' and rollin' ... say whatever , curse , give me the finger , stick a tongue out and wiggle it up and down while making an angry face , I don't care. But hit me or spit on me , and it's on.
Here I am , just getting in from work as a matter of fact
My opinion is this ... I think anyone who spits on anyone is a word that I can't print here , but it starts with a 'd' and ends with a 'bag' ...
I would support a law , we can call it Mike's Law , that allows unlimited retaliation against a person who spits on another person ... I'd love to be on a Jury if a bus driver or conductor , or in fact anyone , anywhere , was arrested for knocking the day-lights out of someone who spit on them. By the time the trial was over , the prosecutor would be getting locked up for bringing charges.
I found I couldn’t be outraged at the two months off because I just couldn’t get passed the spitting part. People are being spat upon and that wasn’t the point of the article. How disgusting. I agree that retaliation should be unlimited. I think the lights would just go out if this happened to me – just a blind rage. There would be carnage.
As much as I don't like the spitting and people should be brought up on charges for that nonsense, taking 51 days off for being spat on is an abuse, and one of the many reasons why there is a backlash at the unions and city workers. When you hear these stories, it makes you annoyed that anyone has the ability to take 51 days UNCHECKED for being spat on? I mean really?
The backlash against Unions is due primarily to these sorts of ridiculous time-off/no accountability/abuses....and when they don't do anything to rein in these abuses, it makes the public angry and anti-union. When you demand a raise or fight ANY concessions at all when others are being laid off, no raises, no bonuses, pay cuts, no 401k matching, tax revenues plummeting and major budget cuts, it makes the public angry. And yet they continue...the union will be the cause of its own demise because of this never ending nonsense...
51 days off for being spat on totally unchecked...wow.
Actually, one of the transit workers who were spit on took 6 months off!
I agree with SobroGuy....a few days or maybe even weeks should be enough time. Anything more than that is abuse.
Not to mention "MTA" workers are no angels. Especially, the bus drivers. I experienced rude and obnoxious drivers all the time. These people drive pass the bus stop in the dead of winter. They suck their teeth and role their eyes when you ask a question.
Not all of the MTA workers have this attitude. But I have seen enough of them and trust me most of the passengers did want to spit on them. I guess spitting is a last resort since it's against the law to hit them.
How about, they get a napkin, wipe it off, then get back to work.
It's gross, but come on...
LOL.....wow......
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