Comments on: One Week Left in Contract, BART Management and Labor Trade Barbs http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/06/24/one-week-from-contract-expiring-bart-mgmt-and-labor-trade-barbs/ Covering San Francisco's livable streets movement Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:38:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: murphstahoe http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/06/24/one-week-from-contract-expiring-bart-mgmt-and-labor-trade-barbs/comment-page-1/#comment-8181 murphstahoe Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:24:19 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=2741#comment-8181 Overheard on Caltrain: Conductor: Basically you have a lot of people not doing their expletive jobs. Passenger: Well what do you do about that? Conductor: Fire their asses. Of course, I am a union leader so it's my job to keep them from getting fired no matter what. I tell the bozos at Caltrain they need to do a better job of hiring people because we it's impossible to fire these losers once they get in, but the top brass is too lazy, they want to interview 4 people for 3 slots and only eliminate the worst one. They can't spend an extra couple of days so I have to spend the next 30 years defending their lazy asses. Overheard on Caltrain:

Conductor: Basically you have a lot of people not doing their expletive jobs.

Passenger: Well what do you do about that?

Conductor: Fire their asses. Of course, I am a union leader so it’s my job to keep them from getting fired no matter what. I tell the bozos at Caltrain they need to do a better job of hiring people because we it’s impossible to fire these losers once they get in, but the top brass is too lazy, they want to interview 4 people for 3 slots and only eliminate the worst one. They can’t spend an extra couple of days so I have to spend the next 30 years defending their lazy asses.

]]> By: CT http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/06/24/one-week-from-contract-expiring-bart-mgmt-and-labor-trade-barbs/comment-page-1/#comment-8171 CT Thu, 25 Jun 2009 03:48:46 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=2741#comment-8171 in order for any transit to work, the union have to be out. it have to make sure the worker or driver to care about their job. and a reason for the transit to stay on low cost. in order for any transit to work, the union have to be out. it have to make sure the worker or driver to care about their job. and a reason for the transit to stay on low cost.

]]> By: pro transit http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/06/24/one-week-from-contract-expiring-bart-mgmt-and-labor-trade-barbs/comment-page-1/#comment-8131 pro transit Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:44:28 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=2741#comment-8131 My proposal during the strike? Casual carpool at every BART station. No one gets on the Bay Bridge unless it's HOV 4+ or paying $8. It worked in NYC. My proposal during the strike? Casual carpool at every BART station. No one gets on the Bay Bridge unless it’s HOV 4+ or paying $8. It worked in NYC.

]]> By: pro transit http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/06/24/one-week-from-contract-expiring-bart-mgmt-and-labor-trade-barbs/comment-page-1/#comment-8121 pro transit Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:42:12 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=2741#comment-8121 How can anyone have sympathy for the "hard working" unions? BART "conductors" do absolutely no driving of the train, they only need to get off their butts once every 3 minutes and push a button to close the doors and announce the next station, no interaction necessary with passengers. Even then they manage to do a half-ass job. For this they get handsomely compensated starting at $80K a year. I can't really vouch for the work station agents do, except that I've never seen them do anything, really. They always defer your questions saying things like "you can only do that at the Powell station, I can't do that here" or "Call Customer service" or "I don't know anything about what bus lines serve this station, you'll have to ask Muni or call 511". I can't vouch for 37 years of BART administration either. They have borrowed against future political capital by caving into union demands and not holding the line on costs. Everyone knows these people are getting paid easily 20-50% more than they're worth. Meanwhile we have tons of capable labor out of work, starving for work because of the false scarcity created by the unions. Police officers getting paid well, I can understand, Muni drivers is also a bit unsavory work too, but BART is a joke. Labor issues are a key component to transit systems being effective. Not only is it important in terms of providing more service for the taxpayer's dollars, but there's an element of pride and professionalism that is missing from the strong labor unions. No-one seems to go out of their way to help you out or make your experience better.. its all about the minimum they can do. Why can't there be a lower base compensation package, but a bonus structure for outstanding and professional service, similar to the professional world? How can anyone have sympathy for the “hard working” unions? BART “conductors” do absolutely no driving of the train, they only need to get off their butts once every 3 minutes and push a button to close the doors and announce the next station, no interaction necessary with passengers. Even then they manage to do a half-ass job. For this they get handsomely compensated starting at $80K a year. I can’t really vouch for the work station agents do, except that I’ve never seen them do anything, really. They always defer your questions saying things like “you can only do that at the Powell station, I can’t do that here” or “Call Customer service” or “I don’t know anything about what bus lines serve this station, you’ll have to ask Muni or call 511″.

I can’t vouch for 37 years of BART administration either. They have borrowed against future political capital by caving into union demands and not holding the line on costs. Everyone knows these people are getting paid easily 20-50% more than they’re worth. Meanwhile we have tons of capable labor out of work, starving for work because of the false scarcity created by the unions. Police officers getting paid well, I can understand, Muni drivers is also a bit unsavory work too, but BART is a joke.

Labor issues are a key component to transit systems being effective. Not only is it important in terms of providing more service for the taxpayer’s dollars, but there’s an element of pride and professionalism that is missing from the strong labor unions. No-one seems to go out of their way to help you out or make your experience better.. its all about the minimum they can do. Why can’t there be a lower base compensation package, but a bonus structure for outstanding and professional service, similar to the professional world?

]]> By: patrick http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/06/24/one-week-from-contract-expiring-bart-mgmt-and-labor-trade-barbs/comment-page-1/#comment-8031 patrick Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:54:55 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=2741#comment-8031 fire them all and start fresh there are plenty of people looking for jobs today who would be happy to work for much less, and probably work harder to boot. fire them all and start fresh there are plenty of people looking for jobs today who would be happy to work for much less, and probably work harder to boot.

]]> By: david vartanoff http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/06/24/one-week-from-contract-expiring-bart-mgmt-and-labor-trade-barbs/comment-page-1/#comment-8021 david vartanoff Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:55:15 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=2741#comment-8021 bad faith -- oh right, not giving "our" side everything we want. And when do the riders get to ratify the contract? bad faith — oh right, not giving “our” side everything we want. And when do the riders get to ratify the contract?

]]> By: CT http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/06/24/one-week-from-contract-expiring-bart-mgmt-and-labor-trade-barbs/comment-page-1/#comment-8001 CT Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:58:46 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=2741#comment-8001 we can let the union go... I am looking for a job.. so are the unemployed. who used to be rider and not have a job are willing to take 1/2 as what they are pay for now. we can let the union go… I am looking for a job.. so are the unemployed. who used to be rider and not have a job are willing to take 1/2 as what they are pay for now.

]]> By: DaveO http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/06/24/one-week-from-contract-expiring-bart-mgmt-and-labor-trade-barbs/comment-page-1/#comment-7991 DaveO Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:53:59 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=2741#comment-7991 Just fire the lot of them. Just fire the lot of them.

]]> By: marcos http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/06/24/one-week-from-contract-expiring-bart-mgmt-and-labor-trade-barbs/comment-page-1/#comment-7961 marcos Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:36:24 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=2741#comment-7961 Your fare dollars at work, funding Sam Singer and Associates to slam labor and do everything possible to avoid a consensus solution. -marc Your fare dollars at work, funding Sam Singer and Associates to slam labor and do everything possible to avoid a consensus solution.

-marc

]]> By: Greg http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/06/24/one-week-from-contract-expiring-bart-mgmt-and-labor-trade-barbs/comment-page-1/#comment-7951 Greg Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:12:34 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=2741#comment-7951 I have to say, no one is coming out looking good in this. BART's hardline anti-union rhetoric, and misleading stats is dissapointing at best. But the unions aren't really looking too good either, and aren't making any direct appeals to the owner/riders like they should if they expect any sympathy from an over-taxed, underpaid ridership that loses the most during a strike. Sure would be nice if tough times inspired people to work together, instead of beating each other to a pulp, but alas, that's not the case. I have to say, no one is coming out looking good in this. BART’s hardline anti-union rhetoric, and misleading stats is dissapointing at best. But the unions aren’t really looking too good either, and aren’t making any direct appeals to the owner/riders like they should if they expect any sympathy from an over-taxed, underpaid ridership that loses the most during a strike.

Sure would be nice if tough times inspired people to work together, instead of beating each other to a pulp, but alas, that’s not the case.

]]>