As I write this, I am plodding along the 4 line…to pick up my car for a lunch meeting in Connecticut.
Let me first say that my mother is a nurse, and when she was an active nurse, she was a good one. That being said, the Hippocratic oath – ‘First, do no harm…’ – was an unspoken mantra around our house.
I am reminded of the fact that I love the subway…but I loathe those who run the subway. I am unsure how, in this day, age and economy, an entire body can be seemingly so corrupt. One day/week/month/year, there’s a surplus.
The next – a downturn. I know how much money I’ve got…and I know it’s not likely to increase or decrease dramatically in the next few months – markets be damned. So, I am unsure how the MTA does its math.
I am further unsure about their negotiating process. Let me be clear: I generally believe in unions where it comes to strength in numbers, etc. The ability to get better wages for all, better insurance is amazing. What I don’t get is the TWU’s hardcore stance in the face of cutbacks and the MTA’s inability to negotiate a fair contract for all parties – the workers, the MTA and the riding public. So much for ‘First, do no harm…’
Lastly, sorry for the lapse in output. My train rides have been very focused of late…and I’ve been a bit blocked. Another adage: ‘If you can’t say anything nice…don’t say anything at all.’