The Transit Union (Dallas: appointed, costs, buses)

[bboy36win]

Last week, the Transit Union rejected the state-appointed fact-finder's recommendations.

What do you think of this? Will they strike? What is the future of the PAT?

Your thoughts?

[dugdogmaster]

I think it would be devastating to this city. And what does it say when the employees approve of it, yet their union doesn't? This transit authority's employees already make more money than most across the country. I just don't get it, it's ridiculous. PAT also needs to be much more fiscally responsible. I, for once, am on the side of Dan Onorato. At least the employees have pledged not to strike for the foreseeable future.

[right-here-i-say]

Of course they should strike. They have the power to hold this city hostage, so they can get better benefits than 99% of American corporations give.

Everybody supports public transportation. They know this. So the post gazette will state that we don't support public transportation enough, even though the outlandish benefits are the problem.

Standard operating procedure for any union in the state.....

[CWO109]

Is this why the bus passes are kinda expensive? I mean, for a major city with a well-established bus/train system, it's quite a bit more expensive than Dallas where the buses are only used by hobos

[right-here-i-say]

Originally Posted by CWO109

Is this why the bus passes are kinda expensive? I mean, for a major city with a well-established bus/train system, it's quite a bit more expensive than Dallas where the buses are only used by hobos

PAT Transit is the most expensive in the nation. It costs more to bus somebody here than anywhere else.

Seriously, the pension system is out of this world. There was an article last year showing a bus driver who was making $97K per year. (over $50K in overtime). However, the pension systems gives them 50% of the average of their past 3 years for life (plus health benefits). That bus driver will make $47.5K for life and free benefits. And the average age of a PAT Transit retiree is low 50's. I would say that bus driver alone could cost us $2-3 million for the pension alone.