DN: Gee, thanks, TWU! | Philly

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Wednesday, November 4, 2009

DN: Gee, thanks, TWU!

(Kriston J. Bethel / Staff Photographer)

The Daily News doesn't like to get in the mix of contract talks, but has no qualms about criticizing the proces of a public sector negotiation. It doesn't much like the way the TWU handled itself in this one. It predicts a big "thank you" for TWU president Willie Brown from "the thousands of commuters who woke up yesterday morning to find out they had no way to get to work." And a few more Philadelphians who may want to thank Brown for the 3-a.m.-on-election-day-strike:

Another big thanks from the workers who don't get paid if they don't show up at work.

And from the workers who fret that their jobs are already vulnerable in a shaky economy without adding to the instability with a transit strike.

Don't forget the thanks from parents whose children will now have to figure out how to get to school, and if they can't get to school, who might be around to babysit them.

And from voters who woke up on Election Day to find out that they might not be able to exercise their civic duty by voting.

In a separate editorial, citizens are encouraged to cooperate our way through this thing. We've set up a special "Strike" page on City Howl for people to share ideas, plan carpools etc.

Review city services on our sister site, City Howl.

Posted by Doron Taussig @ 10:54 AM Permalink | 8 comments

Comments

Posted 12:00 PM, 11/04/2009

CleanupPhilly

For the DN and Ink which very much like to reduce thinks to the black and white, this presents a problem. How do you demonize business when the business is a public entity that is "owned" by riders and taxpayers? How do you demonize a stakeholder who is you in order to write an encomium to unions? Dilemma! How about lets hire non union drivers, and fire the bad employees who seem to be causing electrical fires now on the trains that are running?

Posted 12:01 PM, 11/04/2009

CleanupPhilly

Dear me, we can't get "in the mix" of contract talks as if we were journalists! It might require us to write something critical of unions!

Posted 12:04 PM, 11/04/2009

CleanupPhilly

I like you kids, don't get me wrong, I think that when you use your brains, you are very smart, so let me give you some advice. Here come the lenders. They own things. They don't like people who can't understand what it means to be an owner, responsible for things, people, and services. You'd be wise to "get in the mix" and cover their reality of dealing with a union that walked away from a contract you guys will never get in your profession. I heard they laid off some four dozen Ink people, so just sayin' NOW would be time to shine. Put yourself in management's shoes here, and the rider, and the taxpayer, and see how far the pols have let us down by coddling a union that has declared war on you and me.

Posted 12:06 PM, 11/04/2009

CleanupPhilly

I've never seen an R5 train burn like it was hit with a grenade people, without some help, like it was rolling through disputed Kashmir.

Posted 12:07 PM, 11/04/2009

CleanupPhilly

Are you guys going to go all cowardly lion on contract talks in the most interesting labor story in the country since Hoffa was shot?

Posted 02:55 PM, 11/04/2009

Doron Taussig

Cleanup:
"Cowardly lion"? Did you read the post you commented five times on? It is quite critical of the TWU. You might also check the following links for additional IOM coverage of these contract talks: http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/our-money/Brown_Nutter_cut_out_of_future_negotiations_SEPTAs_offer_not_good_enough.html http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/our-money/How_to_prevent_the_next_SEPTA_strike.html http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/our-money/Nutter_talks_tough_on_SEPTA_strike.html http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/our-money/How_far_we_havent_come_looking_back_at_the_2005_SEPTA_strike.html http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/our-money/Does_SEPTA_really_have_the_money.html http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/our-money/Why_strike_now.html http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/our-money/Open_thread_--_What_do_you_think_of_the_SEPTA_unions_demands.html

Posted 07:28 PM, 11/04/2009

donnybrook

5 consecutive posts is a little creepy.

Posted 07:31 PM, 11/04/2009

donnybrook

less writing, more reading: the title is sarcastic. this article is against the union.

8 comments

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Ben Waxman reports and blogs for “It's Our Money.” Before joining “It's Our Money,” he was a regular contributor to the Philadelphia Daily News op-ed page and former contributor to the blog Young Philly Politics. He studied political science at Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA.

Doron Taussig is the Project Manager for “It's Our Money.” He is also a graduate student in communications at Temple University. Previously he worked as a Staff Writer and News Editor for the Philadelphia City Paper.

Dave Merrell is the Web Editor for "It's Our Money." He comes to the project from Philly.com, where he is a web producer. Originally from upstate New York, he moved to Philadelphia after graduating from Haverford College with a degree in math and economics.

Anthony Campisi reports and blogs for "It's Our Money." Originally hailing from Central Jersey, he came to Philadelphia while a student at the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied intellectual history. He also writes about transportation for PlanPhilly, an innovative urban planning website started by PennPraxis, the consulting arm of the Penn School of Design.