It's apparent, walking down Philly streets, SEPTA is on strike

Jstas

The sheer number of cars on the roads, the amount of angry people driving like maniacs and taking unnecessary risks and the people wandering around aimlessly in a daze, seemingly scared of their own shadows...yeah.

SEPTA on strike sucks. But what's worse is having to deal with the people who have been shoved out of their warm, fuzzy familiarity is exasperating to say the least. Then again, warm and fuzzy are two words I wouldn't necessarily associate with SEPTA in a positive way.

Makes ya wonder though, why would the union at SEPTA go on strike when there are thousands of unemployed people out there right now thinking "Hey, I could drive a train or punch a ticket or sit at an information desk and tell people to go screw themselves".

gtu2004

I was thinking the same thing. i think they should fire those on the strike for not doing their GD job. I did not get a raise this year from my job due to the economy, but I am not irresponsible enough to just take a few days vacation fighting for a raise. there are plenty of people out there that would do their job at a lower cost. fkin greedy SoBs.

gdb

Who/What is SEPTA ?

mhardy6647

Jstas wrote: »

SEPTA on strike sucks. But what's worse is having to deal with the people who have been shoved out of their warm, fuzzy familiarity is exasperating to say the least...

Umm... isn't that why they have strikes?

I think SEPTA is their transit system...

vc69

I'm guessing the last three letters are Philadelphia Transit Authority from the tone of the OP.

bobman1235

gdb wrote: »

Who/What is SEPTA ?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=septa

Jstas

God you people are idiots.

SEPTA = South Eastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority

This tool http://www.google.com will help keep you from looking like an ignorant tool. It's not just for finding ****, ya know?

mhardy6647

Jstas wrote: »

God you people are idiots.

SEPTA = South Eastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority

This tool http://www.google.com will help keep you from looking like an ignorant tool. It's not just for finding ****, ya know?

:-)

Around here we call it the "T". There's even a song about it...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M.T.A.
http://www.mit.edu/~jdreed/t/charlie.html

oh, I love that dirty water
ahh, Boston, you're my home...
(which is another song entirely)

vc69

I only care because you care Jstas.

Try to have a better day.

Zeros

Yeah, the streets are a mess with cars in the morning now. I've been stuck on the 95 off ramps in the morning due to all of the traffic.

Did you hear about the guy on the news complaining that he deserves a raise because the mayor makes three times what he does? Crazy bus drivers.

madmax

Jstas wrote: »

God you people are idiots.

SEPTA = South Eastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority

This tool http://www.google.com will help keep you from looking like an ignorant tool. It's not just for finding ****, ya know?

I thought it was the septic system installers association.
madmax

Jstas

Well I'm now hearing rumors that arson is on the list of possible causes for this fire this morning on the R5:

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local-beat/SEPTA-Train-on-Fire-69064652.html


Funny how a bitter strike starts and a train that has had zero problems all of a sudden turns in to a gigantic blaze that shuts down the entire line.

Jstas

More info:

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20091104_SEPTA_strike_spreads_to_suburbs.html

gtu2004

they should be fired. or even arrested. **** greedy ****.

BIZILL

Jstas wrote: »

God you people are idiots.

a bit much?

bobman1235

BIZILL wrote: »

a bit much?

That's why I just use the passive aggressive "let me google that for you" site (lmgtfy.com)

Jstas

BIZILL wrote: »

a bit much?

You're right, I should have used a string of derogatory descriptors that are a lot more vague yet a lot less inflammatory but combined would have a greater impact than a single word that people only find offensive when the description is apt. Others find it hilarious. Hence the appeal yet loathsomeness of guys like Maddox.

ohskigod

I saw this, honestly I hope someone pulls a Reagan and fires them all. Think the public would care? the same public dealing with 10% unemployment and cant get a job?

I'm a public employee as well and I took my hit like a man, these chowder heads should have too. they got the audacity to demand more money. I hope scabs crawl all over those trains, as long as they move. The people oof Philly (or any city) don't deserve this.

BIZILL

Jstas wrote: »

You're right, I should have used a string of derogatory descriptors that are a lot more vague yet a lot less inflammatory but combined would have a greater impact than a single word that people only find offensive when the description is apt. Others find it hilarious. Hence the appeal yet loathsomeness of guys like Maddox.

ok. anyway, label me an idiot because i didn't know what septa is and my lazy **** was wishing someone would have at least spelled it out for me so i could decide whether or not to skip this thread. i sometimes look forward to your threads, though i hardly interact. some i just dip in and then dip out of. this thread would be the latter as it does not pertain to me.

anyway, you are better than the likes of myself. in theory. just sayin', go easy.

ohskigod

"""""Rendell said the union chose to walk away from an "excellent" contract offer that includes 11 percent in wage increases over five years, and 11 percent increase in pension contributions, and no increases in workers' contribution for health care.""""""


after reading this, I'm activley praying to God these selfish scumbags get cancer. I've got employees that would cut off a toe for what these SEPTA chuds walked away from. They must have tripped over enormous brass balls while walking away from the table.

Jstas

That's a big theme here in the ranting I keep hearing. It's not so much the strike that is the concern. It's happened before, people just deal with it.

I'm not 100% sure what the reasons for the strike are. I know that a couple reasons involve the workers having to dump more of their own money in to the pension fund rather than the city fronting the bill. They also have some "job picking rights" thing they are complaining about and they wanted a longer contract with pay raises.

This article does OK in explaining what's going on:

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20091104_Nutter__Rendell_blast_SEPTA_union_for_surprise_strike.html

From Philly.com

Local president Willie Brown said the major reasons for the strike were disagreements over increased pension contributions from workers, job "picking" rights, and the length of the contract. He said the union wanted 3 percent wage increases for each year of a four-year contract.

"I understand I'm the most hated man in Philadelphia right now," Brown said. "I have no problem with that."

Rendell said the five-year contract spurned by TWU leaders called for a $1,250 signing bonus upon ratification, a 2.5 percent raise the second year, and a 3 percent raise in each of the next three years.

It also called for an increase in pension payments to workers and no increase in their health-insurance contributions.

Rendell said he had agreed to give SEPTA $6 million from an economic development fund in the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to help pay for the contract sweeteners.

But people overall are more offended at the thought of it and the reasons why. The SEPTA workers should be glad they still have a pension. Many people lost their entire retirement fund let alone a pension and these guys are striking over having to pay more of their pay in to their OWN pension? They are also demanding regular pay raises and I know that even though I got a good review, raises and bonuses are not happening this year, they didn't happen last year either. So my pay is stagnant for two years now even though my performance warrants a raise.

I think it's silly that these guys are striking over this when so many are crying for work so they can feed their families and keep a roof over their heads. It's insulting that they could be so out of touch that these actions seem reasonable. I don't even care if it's a union or not. I think they should take the cherry deal they got, get back to work and thank the good Lord they even have a job to go in the morning.

NJPOLKER

Jstas wrote: »

God you people are idiots.

SEPTA = South Eastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority

This tool http://www.google.com will help keep you from looking like an ignorant tool. It's not just for finding ****, ya know?

Well said :cool::p:rolleyes::eek:

Jstas

BIZILL wrote: »

ok. anyway, label me an idiot because i didn't know what septa is and my lazy **** was wishing someone would have at least spelled it out for me so i could decide whether or not to skip this thread. i sometimes look forward to your threads, though i hardly interact. some i just dip in and then dip out of. this thread would be the latter as it does not pertain to me.

anyway, you are better than the likes of myself. in theory. just sayin', go easy.

If you want to take it that way, sport, it's on you.

I just don't see what's so hard about using a search engine of any kind since every major browser comes with a link to at least one if not multiple search engines embedded. You don't even have to use the keyboard. Double click on the word and your browser will highlight it. Right click it and select copy and then right click in the search box and click paste. Then click search. You do more activity picking your nose.

Besides, if I take the time to do everybody's learnin' for them and then post the learnin' as well as what I'm complainin' about, you all say I'm long-winded.

But now I'm being accused of believing I'm better than everyone else because I expect people to do a teesy bit of research if they don't know.

But I'm supposed to go easy. Riiiight.

Google's you're friend. Use it.

BIZILL

....or just label a person or persons "idiots". i get your point for sure, but "idiots"? i know what you're sayin'. you know what i'm sayin'.

if this had taken place in my state, i would have loved to interject some comments/opinions. but it's east coast so everyone carry on...

Jstas

BIZILL wrote: »

....or just label a person or persons "idiots". i get your point for sure, but "idiots"? i know what you're sayin'. you know what i'm sayin'.

Obviously you don't otherwise you would have had a similar response along the lines of what bobman posted.

tonyb

ohskigod wrote: »

"""""Rendell said the union chose to walk away from an "excellent" contract offer that includes 11 percent in wage increases over five years, and 11 percent increase in pension contributions, and no increases in workers' contribution for health care.""""""


after reading this, I'm activley praying to God these selfish scumbags get cancer. I've got employees that would cut off a toe for what these SEPTA chuds walked away from. They must have tripped over enormous brass balls while walking away from the table.

Welcome to the wonderfull world of unions. Greed is the name of the game. They would rather have members sit home out of work than give up a pay raise every year. Turns my stomache just thinking about it.

Jstas

tonyb wrote: »

Welcome to the wonderfull world of unions. Greed is the name of the game. They would rather have members sit home out of work than give up a pay raise every year. Turns my stomache just thinking about it.

If this goes past a week of striking, the pay raise for this year will be negated by the lost wages from striking.

I don't see an end soon. Nutter had to beg for Fed assistance a couple months ago just to keep the cops and firefighters paid and has been cutting back drastically in expenses. Philly is in debt up to Billy Penn's ears and these guys want a bigger piece of the pie. I really don't think Nutter is going to be able to budge even if he wanted to.

I wonder where they think the magic money is in SEPTA?

ohskigod

tonyb wrote: »

Welcome to the wonderfull world of unions. Greed is the name of the game. They would rather have members sit home out of work than give up a pay raise every year. Turns my stomache just thinking about it.

I hear ya, but even my Union (public workers as well) werent completely retarded. we got a deal, wasnt great, but they knew damn well they werent getting better in this climate. they just kept it short term.

truth be told, it was a CLOSE vote when ratified. there are a lot of idiots out there I guess.

LessisNevermore

ohskigod wrote: »

I hear ya, but even my Union (public workers as well) werent completely retarded. we got a deal, wasnt great, but they knew damn well they werent getting better in this climate. they just kept it short term.

truth be told, it was a CLOSE vote when ratified. there are a lot of idiots out there I guess.

Yep, those negotiations go both ways. We gave up money on our last contract, because we understand what's going on out there. Everybody just wants to make a living, and if we want to keep working, we have to stay competitive.

To paint all unions with the same brush, is just as ignorant as the unions who go over the top with unreasonable negotiations.

mhardy6647

Jstas wrote: »

You're right, I should have used a string of derogatory descriptors that are a lot more vague yet a lot less inflammatory but combined would have a greater impact than a single word that people only find offensive when the description is apt. Others find it hilarious. Hence the appeal yet loathsomeness of guys like Maddox.

Put me down for "hilarious" (well, I snickered, anyway).
Some folks' SEPTA are just deviated, I guess...

tonyb

LessisNevermore wrote: »

Yep, those negotiations go both ways. We gave up money on our last contract, because we understand what's going on out there. Everybody just wants to make a living, and if we want to keep working, we have to stay competitive.

To paint all unions with the same brush, is just as ignorant as the unions who go over the top with unreasonable negotiations.

Wasn't painting all unions with the same brush....if that was directed at me. Hell,if anyone around here has stuck up for the good unions,it has been yours truely. Been a union guy for decades my friend,but here in chicago,you can't change a lightbulb unless your union. Too much power in the hands of too few,and you get corruption.....ring a bell with any of you?