NY transit strike

[stillupfront]

The invasion of Panama was right up there.  Add in supporting South American death squads generally.  Democracy was okay according to Reagan, but like W., only if the people elect a ruler who will sell them out to American business.  Reagan stood for social darwinism and giving breaks to the already extremely wealthy.  He was a nightmare.  It's too bad Hinckley didn't get the job done.

Nevermind that he was running the country while showing strong symptoms of Alzheimers.  For once, when a president said "I don't recall," he may not have been lying.

You forgot the invasion of Grenada and the bombing of Libya.....it's called not taking crap from your lessers.

Giving breaks to the wealthy is called "trickle down economy" and it's a sound policy that works a hell of alot better than the Welfare state created by FDR and his heirs.

[Philly_Crew]

I'm getting a 3.5% raise next year and last year got a 3% raise.  The year before was 0% with only a bonus.  Tell me again why a subway operator deserves 8%? 

From NY Times: "The union originally called for 8 percent annual raises, but late in the day it indicated that it would accept smaller increases if the authority agreed to decrease disciplinary actions against employees by 25 percent. The union did not say how much it was willing to trim its demand....Going into yesterday, the authority had offered two raises of 3 percent in a 27-month contract. On pensions, the authority wants to raise the retirement age for newly hired employees to 62 after 30 years of service, while the union wants to lower it to age 50 after 20 years of service. At present, transit workers can retire at age 55 after 25 years of work, with a pension equal to half their annual pay; the average is $55,000, including overtime."

Yeah, cry me a river, Nancy.

The fact that you are getting zesty raises doesn't require that they get zesty raises, too.  Maybe you should be pissed at yourself for accepting such lousy pay, rather than at the TWU.

Okay, so maybe Concretefield is good for your general well-being.  After seeing this post, I was so pissed that I found another job offer.  Problem is that I'm not so sure I want to take it.  I would be supervising more people but would increase my salary about $6,000 with the good possibility of an annual 20% bonus.  The downside is if I leave the state, I would no longer have the stability and security, terrific benefits (defined benefit pension plan) and low stress environment.  The new job would be more money, hours and responsibility but would also have greater opportunities for advancement (probably assistant controller withing 3 years).  Since I probably wouldn't have been motivated to even look for another job without  , I figured I would get some input.

[Zanshin]

$6,000 sounds like more than it is broken down after taxes and doled over a year's worth of paychecks.  Doesn't seem like big enough of an increase to justify uprooting the family, unless you think you'd flat-out love the job and the people you'd work with.

[Butchers Bill]

Consider the opportunity.  I recently left a "low stress" job for more money, opportunity, and more hours and am miserable.  If the opportunity is what you are looking for, go for it...but be honest with yourself.

[Zanshin]

I'll just add to that by saying-- as I told BB before he took the job he now hates -- I took a job that was further away, for more hours and some "opportunity" that offered some more money...and it was just a horrible, horrible move.  Quality of life comes first, every time.

[Philly_Crew]

I would not be moving my family.  The commute would increase from 15 minutes to probably 25 minutes in the worst traffic.  I understand the $6,000 not being that much but the opportunity of the 20% bonus would sure be nice.  We don't currently have any bonuses.  10% of the bonus is how the company does, 5% how the particular line does and 5% is how you personally perform.  The new job has increases of 4% and I have averaged between 2.5%-3.5% with the state.

I currently like my job and the people I work with.  I think I would like the people I would work with at the new job.  Butcher's Bill, do you regret the move if you are miserable?  Is there a good chance you will be able to move up to a more rewarding position?

[Zanshin]

Well, if the commute would be good, and the money is better...that's a different beast.  But would you be able to manage the hours effectively in the new gig...that's the question you need to answer.

[Philly_Crew]

Well, if the commute would be good, and the money is better...that's a different beast.  But would you be able to manage the hours effectively in the new gig...that's the question you need to answer.

I would be going from a 40 hour set week to a 45 hour week with the possibility of working 50-55 hours/week during the busy season from late January to early April.  Talked with the wife who is supportive either way.  If I make more and we have another child, it would allow her to go from working 3 days/week to 2 days/week or 3 days/week for 6 hours.  More Mom time is great but less Dad time stinks.  Money can't buy time but it sure helps paying off the mortgage.  Gthistle, what is the worst thing about your new job?  The length of the commute?  Since we both have young families, I think we can relate on wanting more time for the family.

I am going over to the new job this afternoon and sitting with the person I would be replacing for about 2 hours.  This should give me a good feel if I think the work will be challenging/meaningful.  I do enjoy working for the state and helping the public.

[Zanshin]

Ohhhh, I'm not in that gig anymore.  But I was for about a year. 

Long story short, it was just a really bad fit with their corporate culture.  I managed a staff that was used to working until midnight or one in the morning for no reason other than that's what they thought was expected.  I'm in early, but I sort of expect that my team can get the work done during the day.  And if they can't, we need more resources....but it was a mid-sized company, trying to act like a big company...but they were ten years behind the times.  It was shirts and ties every day, and timeclocks for everyone to punch...and everyone was in cubicles.  Just a rotten atmosphere. 

Add to that a commute that BLEW, and it was just a recipe for disaster.  The corporate culture is a HUGE thing.  For me, I want to do a good job, but I also want flexibility and the ability to spend time with my family without being singled out as the slacker.  I ended up being asked to go back to the company I left to start up a new deparment, which REALLY bailed me out.  Another lesson in never burning bridges.

[stillupfront]

I'm getting a 3.5% raise next year and last year got a 3% raise.  The year before was 0% with only a bonus.  Tell me again why a subway operator deserves 8%? 

From NY Times: "The union originally called for 8 percent annual raises, but late in the day it indicated that it would accept smaller increases if the authority agreed to decrease disciplinary actions against employees by 25 percent. The union did not say how much it was willing to trim its demand....Going into yesterday, the authority had offered two raises of 3 percent in a 27-month contract. On pensions, the authority wants to raise the retirement age for newly hired employees to 62 after 30 years of service, while the union wants to lower it to age 50 after 20 years of service. At present, transit workers can retire at age 55 after 25 years of work, with a pension equal to half their annual pay; the average is $55,000, including overtime."

Yeah, cry me a river, Nancy.

The fact that you are getting zesty raises doesn't require that they get zesty raises, too.  Maybe you should be pissed at yourself for accepting such lousy pay, rather than at the TWU.

Okay, so maybe Concretefield is good for your general well-being.  After seeing this post, I was so pissed that I found another job offer.  Problem is that I'm not so sure I want to take it.  I would be supervising more people but would increase my salary about $6,000 with the good possibility of an annual 20% bonus.  The downside is if I leave the state, I would no longer have the stability and security, terrific benefits (defined benefit pension plan) and low stress environment.  The new job would be more money, hours and responsibility but would also have greater opportunities for advancement (probably assistant controller withing 3 years).  Since I probably wouldn't have been motivated to even look for another job without  , I figured I would get some input.

My thought is this:
I am getting older (44) and at this stage of my life I am looking toward a retiremen not t

[stillupfront]

I'm getting a 3.5% raise next year and last year got a 3% raise.  The year before was 0% with only a bonus.  Tell me again why a subway operator deserves 8%? 

From NY Times: "The union originally called for 8 percent annual raises, but late in the day it indicated that it would accept smaller increases if the authority agreed to decrease disciplinary actions against employees by 25 percent. The union did not say how much it was willing to trim its demand....Going into yesterday, the authority had offered two raises of 3 percent in a 27-month contract. On pensions, the authority wants to raise the retirement age for newly hired employees to 62 after 30 years of service, while the union wants to lower it to age 50 after 20 years of service. At present, transit workers can retire at age 55 after 25 years of work, with a pension equal to half their annual pay; the average is $55,000, including overtime."

Yeah, cry me a river, Nancy.

The fact that you are getting zesty raises doesn't require that they get zesty raises, too.  Maybe you should be pissed at yourself for accepting such lousy pay, rather than at the TWU.

Okay, so maybe Concretefield is good for your general well-being.  After seeing this post, I was so pissed that I found another job offer.  Problem is that I'm not so sure I want to take it.  I would be supervising more people but would increase my salary about $6,000 with the good possibility of an annual 20% bonus.  The downside is if I leave the state, I would no longer have the stability and security, terrific benefits (defined benefit pension plan) and low stress environment.  The new job would be more money, hours and responsibility but would also have greater opportunities for advancement (probably assistant controller withing 3 years).  Since I probably wouldn't have been motivated to even look for another job without  , I figured I would get some input.

My thought is this:
I am getting older (44) and at this stage of my life I am looking toward a retiremen not too far in the future. I have numerous friends who work in the public sector and are reaching their 20 year anniversary. While I have invested fairly well over the last several years, I still envy their pension plans that include lifetime health benefits. I expect to retire in my early to mid 60's. They will be able to retire at least 10 years before me. At my age that is a huge plus. It really is something to consider.

[QB Eagles]

NY transport workers vote down contract

Union leader Roger Toussaint told a televised news conference the contract failed to win ratification and it was "back to the drawing board." He gave no indication of whether another strike could be called.

[stillupfront]

NY transport workers vote down contract

Union leader Roger Toussaint told a televised news conference the contract failed to win ratification and it was "back to the drawing board." He gave no indication of whether another strike could be called.

Hopefully they will jail the leaders, fire the strikers and hire replacements.

[Philly_Crew]

My thought is this:
I am getting older (44) and at this stage of my life I am looking toward a retiremen not too far in the future. I have numerous friends who work in the public sector and are reaching their 20 year anniversary. While I have invested fairly well over the last several years, I still envy their pension plans that include lifetime health benefits. I expect to retire in my early to mid 60's. They will be able to retire at least 10 years before me. At my age that is a huge plus. It really is something to consider.

Thanks for the advice gentlemen.  I decided to stay with my current position.  SUP, we have to serve 30 years for full retirement and don't get lifetime health benefits.  We get to stay on the group health policy, but contribute more to the premiums.  Maybe we need a union