BART and Unions dispute, any concerns? (vacation, commute, pay)

[Kurinji]

This particular perk that certain high-level BART employees received burns me up. It should be available to all BART employees, or stopped altogether. BART's top-level employees' vacation bank tops 69 years of unused time off - Inside Bay Area

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Originally Posted by bmw335xi

I actually believe government employees should NOT have the right to go on strike because their employer is the government which is funded by us. It's completely different if a union for a private company wants to go on strike.

Absolutely! We own them. They are our slaves.

[bmw335xi]

Originally Posted by NoMoreSnowForMe

Absolutely! We own them. They are our slaves.

They already receive more benefits than the average working American, so why should they be able to skip work, forcing us to find alternative methods to work, so we can then pay taxes so they can keep their benefits and wages?

I wonder what would happen to the average American if he/she didn't show up to work and said I want more benefits and pay or else I'm not working! He/She would be fired and someone who actually has a strong work ethic would come in and be given a chance to better their lives.

I know plenty of people who would love to have the same pay and benefits as BART employees. Some of the people on this forum are starting to make me want to join the other party, which is quite shocking to me.

It is a bit scary when you see people actually believe everyone is entitled to $100k salaries with great benefits without having to produce anything. Do they truly think the government can just keep increasing taxes, fines, fees and printing money without a negative reaction?

[mr bolo]

I hope all the BART employees get fired and they change the rules and hire a new crew

[johnsovl]

It wouldn't be all too difficult to hire and train a new crew, takes approximately 15 weeks from what I hear. But it would take too long and too much productivity lost. Talks resuming, but hopefully management doesn't cave in too much, I feel their current offer is much better than 2009's deal.

[andyadhi01]

Originally Posted by NoMoreSnowForMe

Absolutely! We own them. They are our slaves.

LOL... Dream on! They already own us taxpayers.. Public employees in bay area, police and fire in particular, will continue with their extortionist demand of salary and benefits and there is nothing we can do. Recently a fire dept guy in SF was drving the fire truck drunk and hit a motorcycle... This is what 200k/yr. gets.. Bay areas finest. I say there is zero chance this guy will be disciplined in any way.

[mayorhaggar]

It's kind of ironic that the one industry that routinely gives employees raises, the tech sector, is the one that has abandoned public transit with their own shuttles.

I'm not sure why the BART unions think that economic times are good so they deserve a raise. Most people are not getting raises, unless they're in tech. Tech is a big part of the problem because they don't pay their fair share in taxes at all. People not getting raises or good jobs is a global issue, but it's especially an issue in the US. Everyone should be rioting and organizing to get a good life for themselves, but instead everyone either just cowers and says nothing or they defend everything that Corporate America does to screw over the middle class. Meanwhile unions like BART's divide everyone by screwing over passengers so they can get paid more, when they should be joining with the middle class to fight for everyone to get a raise and a decent job.

I know that's pretty rantish and scrambled but the problem really is a lot bigger than BART. This economy is screwing over everyone and we just ask for more. Considering how much wealth is in the US there's no reason for us to have so much poverty or have such a fragile middle class, but we rationalize it and have decided that it's normal, or that we deserve to be so dispossessed. Happy 4th, everyone.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by mayorhaggar

It's kind of ironic that the one industry that routinely gives employees raises, the tech sector, is the one that has abandoned public transit with their own shuttles.

I'm not sure why the BART unions think that economic times are good so they deserve a raise. Most people are not getting raises, unless they're in tech. Tech is a big part of the problem because they don't pay their fair share in taxes at all. People not getting raises or good jobs is a global issue, but it's especially an issue in the US. Everyone should be rioting and organizing to get a good life for themselves, but instead everyone either just cowers and says nothing or they defend everything that Corporate America does to screw over the middle class. Meanwhile unions like BART's divide everyone by screwing over passengers so they can get paid more, when they should be joining with the middle class to fight for everyone to get a raise and a decent job.

I know that's pretty rantish and scrambled but the problem really is a lot bigger than BART. This economy is screwing over everyone and we just ask for more. Considering how much wealth is in the US there's no reason for us to have so much poverty or have such a fragile middle class, but we rationalize it and have decided that it's normal, or that we deserve to be so dispossessed. Happy 4th, everyone.

Did you see the Wal-Mart thread? My GAWD! I couldn't believe how virulently people insisted the company's practices were normal, standard, even sound business practices, and that employees count for nothing! People said businesses don't owe their employees anything, not even a 40-hr. week, let alone health care! Seriously! It's alarming what's happened to people's thinking processes.

[bmw335xi]

Originally Posted by andyadhi01

LOL... Dream on! They already own us taxpayers.. Public employees in bay area, police and fire in particular, will continue with their extortionist demand of salary and benefits and there is nothing we can do. Recently a fire dept guy in SF was drving the fire truck drunk and hit a motorcycle... This is what 200k/yr. gets.. Bay areas finest. I say there is zero chance this guy will be disciplined in any way.

WRONG!

He will have to endure paid temporary leave otherwise known as a paid vacation!

[bmw335xi]

Originally Posted by mr bolo

I hope all the BART employees get fired and they change the rules and hire a new crew