Bail Out MTA Bus Employees

We call upon President Barack Obama, Congress, Governor Patterson, Mayor Bloomberg and New York City Counsel to ensure that MTA uses the "Bail Out" funds afforded to them to end not only the public transportation crisis in New York but also the struggle of the families of the employees of MTA Bus who have not received a contract in more than five (5) years.

MTA took over the seven (7) private lines of New York July 1, 2004. Since MTA has taken over the private lines the fare has been raised from $1.50 to $2.00 in 2005. MTA now says their deficit is so large that they are considering raising the fairs again to $2.50 this year.

MTA's practices are unfair if you take a Nassua County Bus you have to pay an additional $0.25 to get a transfer then the transfers are only good for two hours and the transfers do not work for Nassua County Buses to City Buses and vice versa.

I know we all remember the bus strike in December of 2005, would we like to see another strike in our iminent future which would cripple this City.

MTA continues to haggle with TWU Local 100 and Mr. Roger Toussaint who's current contract has just expired and is now in arbitration. Wait I ask what about the seven (7) private lines Green Bus Lines, Triboro Coach, Command Bus Company, Liberty Lines Express, Jamaica Bus, Queens Surface and New York Bus Lines taken over in 2004 by the MTA now known as MTA Bus some of them are going on five (5) or more years with no contract... which means no raise.

MTA has not given them parity to TWU Local 100 but don't they do the same work? The seven (7) private lines serve more boroughs Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Bronx and Yonkers than TWU Local 100 but they got their contract. Hmm question wasn't there a act passed in 1963 known as the "Equal Pay For Equal Work" shouldn't the employees of the seven (7) private lines be protected by this?

The seven (7) private lines do not have Civil Servant status but when they threaten to strike they are held to the Taylor Law. This law is unfair it works in the favor of MTA and ties the hands of the unions. For those of you who know nothing about the Taylor Law it penalizes the unions and its members with harsh fines and possible jail time while giving no incentive to the MTA to come to a quick and fair agreement with the unions.

Has anyone really looked at where the MTA spends its money? How about the useless renovations that start and stop and have been in the works for numerous years and are just sucking the life out of the city, maybe the company cars or the big salaries of MTA's cheif executives and their bonuses how about the analysis and research companies they use to tell them whether an idea is good or not, makes you think doesn't it. But yet the buses are falling apart, less buses are being sent out, theres more wait between buses and alas the drivers, mechanics and everyday employees of MTA BUS those seven (7) private lines are being treated as the "Red Headed Step Children" of MTA. These seven (7) private lines have not been given a contract, yet TWU Local 100 has gotten their contracts and raises for the same work these hard working men and woman are providing to this City, wouldn't you call this being taken advantage of. Food, Fuel, Home and just everyday living costs have risen yet these hardworking people are making the same salary they were making more than five (5) years ago isn't time we step in and help them get what they deserve.

MTA stands there and tells us they need to raise fares not only on on rides for the buses and trains but for tolls and that there needs to be a payroll tax to give us better service how? Put your money where your mouth is MTA. Show me start with how you treat your employees they have direct contact with the men woman and children who ride the MTA Buses everyday not you men and woman sitting up there in the executive board room who have probably not ridden a bus in years making six figures while some of your drivers are losing their homes or taking on second jobs to survive...you tell me where our safety is being considered in that.

MTA received a bail out from the Federal Government thats the "Peoples Money" isn't it? Now lets help bail out the employees who aren't seeing the benefits of this bail out.

We need the "People's Government" to step in and help out there needs to be a disband the current MTA Board and replace it with a publicly funded and elected entity directly accountable to the people of New York.

We need our legislature to push MTA to continue contract talks with the seven (7) private lines instead of making them wait behind TWU Local 100. Give these men and woman what they deserve equality and fairness. Give them their contracts.