F. Christophe Silvera, Secretary – Treasurer, International Brotherhood of Teamsters,
Local #808, 22-43 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City.
Today the unions find themselves again under a blistering attack by the media and management. Currently, we see numerous questions about overtime within the MTA.
The MTA could significantly lower overtime, but the impact to the commuter would not be appreciated. Currently, we experience trains arriving at their destination 95 percent or better on schedule. It would be impossible to change rails with trains running or to weld a frog during rush hours.
This work must be done when traffic is reduced and that means at night or on the weekend. Major upgrades that keep our system, the envy of the nation, can only be done during off hours. Workers do not create the overtime and managers do not dole it out because they are incompetent, but because the rider-ship wants to get to their destination on time and safely. With less overtime, commuters would see on time performance fall into the 50 percent or less bracket.
MTA workers are a part of our community. They pay taxes and they consume products. They are not the economic enemy, nor are they parasites. They have made numerous sacrifices and concessions over the past twenty years for which they have not been given credit.
F. Christophe Silvera, Secretary – Treasurer, International Brotherhood of Teamsters,
Local #808, 22-43 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City.
