Manhattan has long avoided a strike of the Transit Workers... the last one being in 1980 where for 11/12 days the trains came to a complete stop. At this point we should be informed enough citizens to not be treating the Transit Workers like less than human because they are asking for fair wages, better healthcare, and a bonus system that doesn't take into account how many of your sick days you take. However, NY's fairly conservative and Right-wing Magazines would have you believe that members of the TWU 100 and their supporters are doing nothing but harming Manhattan by going on strike. Perhaps this city, a bastion to the capitalist system and all it stands for, will lose some money. Actually, there is no doubt. It is the holiday season here and, after walking around Midtown near Rockefeller Center this evening, the tourists are out! This strike, which if it happens will occur starting tonight at 12:01AM/00:01, is excellently timed-- the last weekend before Christmas.
On average Transit workers make about 40,000$ per year before overtime. This is the average in the U.S. In order to live "well" in Manhattan a New Yorker must make 364 on the index per year, the second most expensive after Atherton in Califronia (366). Well is an operative word here- it means having all of the luxuries... the average New Yorker can support a family of four (2 parents and 2 children) comfortably by making at least 6,000$ per month or having a 6,000$ monthly budget (this works out to 72,000$ per year before taxes). In New York State, 35% of families live below the monthly budget amount. This is third to California and Texas.
Of course there are those in the service sector jobs that make much less than Transit Workers. Minimum wage is 6.00- and will change to 6.75 in 2006. The majority of minimum wage employees are working in service jobs or healthcare jobs. Thankless positions that we take for granted every day.
Just as we take for granted the people that ensure our safety and move 7 million people daily working for the MTA.
http://www.epi.org/content.cfm/bp165
http://www.fiscalpolicy.org/ImmigrantWorkers&MinimumWage.pdf
http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/strike/pdf/injunction_twu.pdf
