To increase the MTA estimate of the strike costs that New York City will bear we demand that John E Samuelsen president of TWU Local 100 adopt a belligerent attitude in the bargaining process. We also recommend that he should take a strike vote among the membership. If in the event that he speaks to the press we prefer the following statement, ‘if we don’t get our demands, there’ll be a strike!’.
He should tell the MTA that the subjective estimates of the costs that TWU Local 100 would incur from a strike would be minuscule. Specifically by publicizing how large our strike fund or the amount of savings the membership has built up. We are aware that they may try to manipulate our estimate, however we know we are due for a raise.
The MTA negotiator for example may bring to the table a mass of charts and diagrams to show TWU Local 100 how precarious the MTA financial position is or why TWU Local 100’s large demands will result in layoffs. Part of this is a useful exchange of information so that TWU Local 100 knows the MTA’s true position many times. However it also has large elements of bluffing as the MTA deliberately exaggerates the negative consequences of a particular wage increase in order to win a less expensive settlement. TWU Local 100 must play the same game by trying to persuade management that a wage increase will cost less than it thinks because of better worker morale and increased productivity.
Somewhat naive.
ReplyDeleteThe days of stomping around demanding big raises yelling "there will be a strike", and essentially "scaring" the MTA into giving you a raise is over (if it ever truly ever existed).
That strategy is gone the way of the horse and buggy, the icebox and fireside chats.
What a modern, responsible Union must do is do the calculations, run the numbers, be creative in ideas and demands,come with demands and offers that do 3 things:
1.Keep what you have
2.Hold on to your number of jobs
3.benefit your members.
Stomping around yelling "strike" only:
1.violates the Taylor law
2.makes you a target of ridicule by the press and the public
3.does not tell your members the truth
4.it also is somewhat lazy because it denies the reality of the current recessionary economic cycle in this country.
This is a business and must be treated as such, professionally and with clear goals. Contract talks that are unattainable from either side is a total waste of time for everyone involved.
How dare you pontificate on being responsible when YOU didn't pay your dues. You have no right holding office let alone preaching to the good members of TWU.
ReplyDeletepontificate...big word for you.
ReplyDeleteHere's a new word for you...Mah-phoney.
This blog is about exchanging ideas and discussing them not trying to be an internet thug.
Mah-Phoney you think you would have learned your lesson when you were slapped around in that bus depot.
And went crying to the MTA bosses.
trying to get members fired.
Go ruin your own blog Mah-phoney.
I paid my dues in more ways than one. You didn't pay when the chips were down.............SCAB.
ReplyDeletearen't we bit full of ourselves Ma-Phoney?
ReplyDeleteremember there are no living martyrs.
get a grip.