The union representing New York City transit workers is threatening a strike unless its members get a 24% pay increase over the next three years and can retire with full benefits at age 50. The median pay for a transit worker is already $55,000 — well above what most subway and bus riders earn, but union officials can never say that things are good enough.
Public strikes in NY are illegal, but the law has usually been ignored in the past. It will be interesting to see whether Governor Pataki enforces the law if the strike actually takes place. A Reagan v. PATCO reprise is conceivable. Read the WSJ editorial here and stay tuned.
