I took a little heat over my stance on the SEPTA strike. So be it. I’m not a fan of SEPTA by any stretch and I wouldn’t use their service unless absolutely necessary. Just like any government-run monopoly you get the worst of everything. As much as I don’t like SEPTA I can’t stand their management or the politicians who created the monstrosity, then cry about it after the fact. I stand by my defense of the workers who show up everyday and do their jobs despite dealing with the public and an uncaring management day after day. In fact I wouldn’t want their job. All you have to do is watch one episode of PARKING WARS to understand how abusive the general public can be.
I’ll go a bit further by saying SEPTA has a pretty decent safety record. Every year they make nearly a MILLION trips with statistically few injuries or fatalities. That in itself is a testament to the good job they do. Unless you sit at the controls of a commuter train packed with hundreds of people whose lives are in your hands you can’t imagine the responsibility.They deserve their fair salary. That is determined in contract negotiations that EVERY AMERICAN has a right to call for.
Does SEPTA have problems? Sure. Should it be fixed? Of course. But do you think the management or politicians in this city will have the courage to do it? No. Also the general public loves to complain about the cost of SEPTA. They can always choose NOT to use SEPTA like I have. They can also fork over the money to pay for the expenses involved in owning a car (or two). OR they can take a cab or use one of the car share services that are all over town now. God forbid even ride a bike for all you environmentally conscious. It’s probably a lot cheaper to take SEPTA.
This video shows the professionalism and skill of the train operator when this drunk woman fell on the tracks. She was alert to the people flagging her on the platform and hit the emergency brakes in time to stop the train before it ran the woman over. The woman is lucky. In the past months my crew and I recovered the remains of two people who were killed in this exact type of incident. If you watch closely you will see the woman’s foot actually hit the third rail. Luckily it hit the cover otherwise she would have been killed instantly. In the end no one was injured and the woman was able to walk away.
Before you ridicule someone elses profession think about how much you really know about it.
November 10, 2009 at 10:06 am |
“I wouldn’t use their service unless absolutely necessary.”
So their service is poor enough that you refuse to use it, but they deserve a 15% raise over 5 years.
November 10, 2009 at 10:15 am |
That’s my personal choice. I live a long way from where I need to be everyday. For me the ride would be intolerable. The connections wouldn’t work and I would lose the flexibility to come and go on short notice. I work a lot of overtime and it often depends on my ability to get to another firehouse on short notice. I also have to carry my equipment with me and I find it inconvenient. When I was a student I did take SEPTA often. I got where I needed to be in the end. Now my time is worth more to me.
BUT there are many people who live in town who CHOOSE not to own cars. For them the opposite is true. They have short commutes, can get everything they need close by or within easy reach of public transportation. They hop on the subway and have their lives arranged around the transit schedules like we have ours arranged around our cars.
My daughter takes the bus home from school as it is especially convenient for her / us. It’s a ten minute ride. Big difference. When the went on strike we dealt with it.
What WE think SEPTA employees should be paid is IRRELEVANT. That’s between their union and management. If they decided to take managements offer then they control their own fate. That’s the American way.
You can check their reviews here SEPTA
November 10, 2009 at 12:00 pm |
A “yes” is good enough.
November 10, 2009 at 10:15 pm |
You can’t fix Septa as long as they are unionized. Same with teachers and education.
They struck for six days and all they basically accomplished was to get the same contract that was originally offered them. Do I blame the rank and file for this? No; it’s the bullying union leadership and the herd mentality that says these guys must stand with their union no matter what their personal beliefs. This was a pissing contest between Willie Brown and government. I’d say government won, Willie Brown brings up a distant second, and the Septa-riding public loses big-time because now they have to deal with an “unrelated in any way to the strike” fare hike.
November 11, 2009 at 1:18 pm |
I like watching Parking Wars, whenever I get homesick I just put that on and feel the love. I had my friend watch it the other day, and was amazed at the entire show from the people to the PPA, “That’s Philly she said?” And she’s from Pennsylvania!
November 12, 2009 at 1:44 pm |
Hey Randal, you sure are a douche. I love people like you. You’re always good for a quick laugh. Ever heard of the word context? Why not look that one up in the dictionary before ever making another post. You might be able to make yourself look like less of a stubborn opinionated asshole with nothing better to do than disagree with everyone but yourself. Probably not though.
November 12, 2009 at 3:02 pm |
context:
–noun
1. the parts of a written or spoken statement that precede or follow a specific word or passage, usually influencing its meaning or effect.
2. the set of circumstances or facts that surround a particular event, situation, etc.
3. Mycology. the fleshy fibrous body of the pileus in mushrooms.
I’ll assume you’re not talking about #3.
Why would I disagree with myself? I’d look like an even bigger idiot arguing into a mirror.
So I’m a douche because ????. Because I ask the Captain why, on one hand, he thinks Septa employees deserve a 15% raise but, on the other hand, he wouldn’t use their service unless “absolutely necessary”?
So are you a city employee or just a regular union guy?
November 12, 2009 at 5:23 pm |
Randall- You missed the entire jist of my opinion. It doesn’t matter what YOU or I think SEPTA employees are worth. There is a process in place for them and management to hash that out. Part of that process is they can strike (at their own personal expense). If management believes strongly enough in their position then they should let the strike go until the workers can’t financially withstand it anymore.
I wonder how you would feel letting SEPTA workers decide what YOU should be paid since they know as much about your job as you do about theirs.