Update from New York

It has been a while since I updated the blog, but I hope I can be forgiven as I have been bogged down with marking and am updating from New York. This time of year, New York is bustling with millions of workers, shoppers and tourists scrambling to get out of the Christmas rush. I admit to not being a huge fan of the Christmas rush, as the over-zealousness of mass consumption does get a little much. This year, however, New York was even more chaotic, as it was in the grips of a mass transit strike. It is on this topic that I wish to address.

The mass transit strike was the first time in twenty-five years that transit workers in this city walked off the job. The strike brought New York to a standstill. It was interesting to watch as the media and the state vilified the transit workers while almost dismissing the workers and their wage, pension, and health benefits out of hand. The issues were moderate enough.

The rhetoric from the employer and the state was not. Governor Pataki demonized the union and the leadership as “law breakers” and “thugs” which was also echoed by New York mayor Michael Bloomberg. On top of the political rhetoric, the courts were equally malicious as they levied fines in the neighborhood of $1 million/day just for exercising a basic democratic right: freedom of association anybody?

Meanwhile, back on Wall Street, companies are able to write off millions of dollars in pension benefits by declaring bankruptcy (Hello Steel Companies). I wonder where the courts are in these disputes? Oh the sweet nature of American justice.

More updates when I return. Now that the strike is over, I have to finish my Christmas shopping. How is that for a contradiction in terms and analysis?

Happy holidays all!