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Around 70 Muni buses serving more than two dozen biodiesel buses were delayed this morning after a union steward with Transport Workers Union Local 250-A blocked the gate and prevented the buses from leaving the Muni facility in the Dogpatch neighborhood. According to Muni officials the upset union steward disrupted service due to a dispute with management "over whether or not a personnel assignment was decided on the basis of seniority." The incident occurred between 5:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m.
"We have a zero tolerance policy for this sort of behavior, which negatively impacted our customers who we are all working to serve," fumed Nathaniel P. Ford Sr., SFMTA Executive Director/CEO. "As we address this issue with the union, we will take all available legal steps to prevent such an incident from happening again."
Muni goes on to say that "state law prevents the SFMTA from publicly discussing individual disciplinary processes." But we have a hint that said disciplinary action involves a feather on the wrist.
Muni has since returned to "normal" operating service.
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muni pile on.... go!
Is that why my bus driver this morning was pissed, speeding, making sharp turns and high speeds, and driving like a fucking maniac?
How is that different from any other day?
From what I heard MUNI drivers get paid $40+ an hour plus untold benefits paid for by SF tax payers and pls explain to me the need for a Union? Does management beat the drivers? or make them work 20 hours a day?
Another useless UNION
They get that $40+ an hour plus untold benefits because of the union.
This guy probably thinks that employers agreed to minimum wages, health insurance, the five day workweek, eight hour workday, and safety/sanitary laws out of the goodness of their hearts.
Just like how the drivers agree to provide reliable on-time pickups, courteous and helpful service, functioning equipment, and safe driving out of the goodness of THEIR hearts.
Muni management is always willing to make concessions to the union's needs. It would be nice if employees would do the same for riders.
I didn't say I agreed with the tactic. In fact, I'm willing to bet union leadership and the AFL-CIO didn't, either.
This was one steward, not the union on the whole.
I would bet that this was NOT authorized by the union local. Probably a dispute with this particular individual. Still no excuse for blocking in the buses.
"You can't treat the working man this way. One day we'll form a union and get the fair and equitable treatment we deserve! Then we'll go too far, and get corrupt and shiftless and the Japanese will eat us alive!"
True, unions have done some good, but they also have a strong track record of going way too far and doing nothing but viciously protecting their own interests at the public expense, forcing people to join them or be blackballed, and causing all sorts of minor property damage to unrelated workers not on strike crossing picket lines lest they lose their jobs. Not to mention frequently protecting their members from disciplinary measures and, in many cases, even legal action.
Ultimately we need to stand up to these unions and stop caving in. They keep fighting to be the most highly paid transit employees in the country (as I believe Prop. A mandated), but refuse to provide service that would even remotely support that or operate at any level in a manner necessary to meet mandated minimum service levels.
True, this was probably just one guy throwing a hissy-fit, but he ought to be severely disciplined for his actions not protected by the union or acting in a manner such as this because of the union.
In the end we don't want the same things. We want efficient, reliable transit. They want to get paid as much as possible and have thoroughly protected jobs for life.
Wow, you could write for unionfacts.org!
Did this headline really need to have the 'Angry' in it?
"Irresponsible" would suffice.
What is the union's position on this action? I bet they won't let Muni fire this person. It is great when unions help workers negotiate for wages etc., but they spend way too much time protecting the incompetents in their ranks.
but they spend way too much time protecting the incompetents in their ranks.
this is a major concern. of course its not always such a clear case. I think overall, that Muni's union seems to be too powerful. But if management / gov't agrees to the contract then they must bear equal blame as they both have to enforce it - and they can say no.
AHEM.
Ok look, good unions are ones that do great work and show that you pay for what you get. the "union label" is supposed to mean that if you treat people right you get the best of the best, and a mutual respect means management gets good workers and the workers know they are not going to get screwed.
in this case, this has been so far tossed out the window as to not be funny. Ok, fine so the union "leadership" (the ones that work their asses off to defend shitty drivers and not celebrate the awesome ones) did not "authorize" this (allegedly). Ahem.
This is bullsh*t. That one shop steward set off a ripple effect that essentially frakked MUNI all morning. Now let's face facts, in this economy the bosses for the Rest of Us are willing to fire people for whatever reason, being late being one of them. So basically this jerk made sure the OWNERS of MUNI (AKA ALL OF US) got screwed. If even ONE person lost their job for being late today because of this crap, well then braVO muni union. You just ensured someone hates your asses.
Prop A (2007) was amended to placate MUNI's unions and this is the thanks we get? Sorry, TWU, you are teh suck ,and even union supporters like me have a hard time justifying stupid silliness like this. Do it again and even the leftiest leftist from leftville who gets fired for being late thanks to MUNI is going to want to kick you in the ass.
=v= Seriously, WTF does this have to do with the union? How did it merit the "Union" in the headline and the still from Norma Jean?
The emphasis on something so totally irrelevant reveals more about the writer than the events.