Oh no, I have to work until I'm 62, poor me, who cares that everybody else in the country rarely has any kind of pension these days, works until they're at least 65, and oh yeah, they should see the deals UAW guys get, talk about getting screwed. Until the MTA workers are being screwed like the UWA's and getting paid as little, they've got nothing to complain about except little stuff like everybody does about their job. Sorry, no sympathy for MTA workers, most union people in this country don't have it half as good (except the teamsters in hollywood). Heck, most people who are college educated don't have it as good and they actually have an education. Sorry, I just cannot feel for these guys, they make well above the average American salary, get better health and medical than most people with college degrees and 75000/year jobs, have better pension plans than those same people, and oh yeah, still get paid overtime and so can make upwards of 75000/year. Like I said, the little stuff, bathroom breaks and stuff like that, right on, but that's little stuff, that's not strike worthy. Maybe if other unions with a lot more people and a lot harder of jobs that required a lot more training and skill had the benefits most MTA (I qualify most because there are MTA jobs that require a lot of training and skill, but usually these are outside contractors, though the MTA maintains a few master craftsmen) workers already get, and this wasn't enough, it wouldn't be a big deal. Finally, let's not forget about pilots who have one of the most difficult technical jobs and most dangerous jobs, their pensions have also recently been stripped to nothing. IOW, I agree that work conditions should be optimal, happy workers make for more efficient service. BUT, when it comes to pay, benefits, and pensions for these guys, most are unskilled laborers who make more than college graduates and receive better health and pension plans already. And why is working until 62 a big deal anymore (my uncle is still on the roof at 54, he doesn't cry like a baby), life expectancy (especially for the new workers who wouldn't get their pension until 62) is well over 80 years old.

Oh yeah, and as said before, if they were putting their lives on the line like Policemen, Firefighters, and other such union workers, absolutely, we should give them every demand they make. But they're not police officers or fire fighters, they don't put their lives on the line in the same way.

P.S. this is my thread, so it isn't a thread jack And Tommy, those are awesome deals on fuente products, if you get some, we may have to do some kind of trade