New York Unions’ Snow Job: Mayor Calls Storm Slow-Go ‘Unacceptable’
- Posted on December 30, 2010 at 6:50pm by
Meredith Jessup
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Despite denials from the New York department of sanitation, accusations of purposeful sabotage in the city’s clean-up of the day-after-Christmas blizzard continue to fly. On Wednesday, Mayor Michael Bloomberg called the city’s response “unacceptable” pledged to pursue a criminal investigation after workers accused union leaders of trying to slow the snow removal.
Dan Halloran, a city councilman, says he was approached by a number of city employees unhappy with the so-called “go-slow” protest mounted by some of their colleagues. According to Halloran, the workers claimed that some managers who had been demoted to save money wanted to “send a message” to Mayor Bloomberg. In retaliation for city budget cuts, sanitation workers deliberately slowed the snow clean-up efforts, raising their plows to avoid cleaning snow-filled streets and skipping who areas on their routes.
The Guardian reports:
“These supervisors gave ploughers the green light to not tackle the storm aggressively,” Mr Halloran told The Daily Telegraph. “They were told ‘take your time and don’t rush’.
“They were not going to let the Bloomberg administration get the benefit of their hard work after hundreds of supervisors lost their jobs and 100 were reduced in rank and had their salaries cut.”
Cuts were made to the department as part of Mr Bloomberg‘s attempt to reduce the city’s $2 billion (£1.2 billion) budget deficit. About 10,000 city workers are expected to be sacked over the next 18 months.
The “whistleblowers” — three sanitation workers and two supervisors — also expressed anger over the fact that some of their homes remained snowed in. “If they missed a street, don’t worry about it. It would be okay because no one would be on top of them,” Halloran said.
Despite Halloran’s allegations, the sanitation department continues to deny that there were any “organized or wildcat actions being taken” by workers or supervisors. But questions remain, including why the city did not step up snow-removal enforcement until Sunday morning. “The proof is in the pudding,” he said. “The storm last year had a higher snowfall accumulation and we had no idea it was coming. Within 24 hours, all of the primary and secondary streets were cleaned up.”
On Thursday, the New York Times’ Paul Krugman labelled the situation “Bloomberg’s Katrina” and the New York Post labeled the sanitation department’s union workers as “abominable snowmen.”
Though Mayor Bloomberg initially stood by the city’s response, he admitted Thursday that he did not know whether such an organized effort to slow down the snow removal process existed. “We‘re going to do an investigation to make sure that it didn’t happen,” Bloomberg said. “It would be an outrage if it took place, but I just don’t know.”
While the workers allegedly protested budget cuts, The Washington Examiners’ J.P. Freire notes that the city’s sanitation workers are pretty well-compensated:
…[T]he top salary of $66,672 is only the tip of the iceberg for active sanitation worker compensation because it excludes other things like overtime and extra pay for certain assignments. For example, one worker in 2009 had a salary of $55,639 but actually earned $79,937 for the year.
Sanitation workers don’t pay a dime for premiums on their cadillac health care plan, which includes prescription drug coverage along with dental and eye care for the whole family. Many continue to receive the full benefit upon retiring after only 10 years. And then there’s the matter of their pension:
…Nearly 180 retired [sanitation workers] make over $66,000 year — in other words, over and above the maximum salary of currently working employees. In fact, 20 retirees make upwards of $90,000 in retirement, up to $132,360.
Keep that in mind when reading lines like this:
…[M]ultiple Sanitation Department sources told The Post yesterday that angry plow drivers have only been clearing streets assigned to them even if that means they have to drive through snowed-in roads with their plows raised.
And they are keeping their plow blades unusually high, making it necessary for them to have to run extra passes, adding time and extra pay.
One mechanic said some drivers are purposely smashing plows and salt spreaders to further stall the cleanup effort.
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Comments (93)
mcFirst
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 8:22pmif an ounce of this is true, we need a to remember what we did with the AirTraffic Controllers.
Unions think they are untouchable now. They need to be put in there place.
Report Post »SJJB
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 1:23amIn the eyes of the democrat party, they are untouchable. The democrat party is in the back pocket of the Union Bosses. The City of New York is a democrat controlled City and this was the Union Bosses protesting the budge cuts. Not only are the people of New York and New York City getting taxed everytime they turn around, they sure didn’t get their money worth with this snow fall. The people must enjoy getting shafted because they keep voting the democrats into office.
Report Post »Hickory
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 8:21pmThe union bosses should be stood up in public by the mayor and then he should tell the chief of NYC police to book ‘em.
Report Post »rwsasinger
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 8:16pmI concur with those who ask, “why anyone would be surprised”. “Yo, if the union don’t want the snow moved, it don’t move; even if a few babies who need help die…long live the union body. Yo.” Guess they didn’t get the memo from Guido. The “thuggery” must end; the day for the need of the union is over!!! My dad, grandfather, and those before them were all union, Teamsters all. Back in the day, when wages were near poverty for skilled labor, unions were necessary; the business world needed a wake up call for equitable pay for services rendered. Now we have a nation of rules and laws to protect the worker; is that not enough for the pampered union workers? Some might think unions are necessary; maybe. Where I used to work there was a union for the janitors, the security guards, the nurses; even the physicians had a union. Unions have their roots in Socialism. When my dad realized that the union philosophy was anti-American, he renounced his affiliation.
Report Post »Rn mom
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 8:07pmI was a fool for defending these idiots yesterday.
It just goes to show you that it doesn’t matter what you pay a person to do a job, these guys are well paid and benefit packages the private sector would die for… and last weekend some of us did. Greed and complacency are the biggest perks a union gives! Thanks for mucking this one up sanitation department- I hope ya all rot in jail. You all need to be fired, stripped of your pensions, and your jobs given to someone who appreciates it.
And for Bloomberg: I know it was a holiday weekend, but here’s a novel idea….WORK, it’s your job to oversee the city. Where were you…at that Spiderman play? Your elitist snobbery is rubbing off on the rest of the city workers. Nurses work all the holidays, and if we chose not to go in to work we are guaranteed to be fired upon arrival at our next scheduled shift.
Report Post »Rickfromillinois
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 7:58pmWhy would anyone be surprised? They’re unions. They do things like this.
Report Post »CNK
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 7:43pmThis doesn’t surprise me at all, I remember years ago when I lived in Queens, the Subway Workers did the same thing because they wanted a raise and they were turned down.
Report Post »powedj
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 7:32pmIf the unions were involved in the slowdown, they should be held to account for the deaths that were caused by this travesty.
Report Post »JohnnyJT
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 7:30pmGo Get’ em Bloomberg
Report Post »powedj
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 7:27pmIf the unions are responsible for the slowdown, they should be held to account to the deaths that were caused by this travesty.
Report Post »ASteinhoff
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 7:26pmIt’s time to take out the garbage and privatize the sanitation department.
Report Post »hAndyman54
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 7:25pmWe got over 30″ of snow just across the river from New Jork, and our streets were a hell of lot better then what we are seeing on the news. If this is true, then murder charges should be brought, and Bloomy should resign..
Report Post »treshall
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 7:24pmBloomie was busy examining the menus of NYC’s myriad restaurants to ensure that no trans fats, butter or salt had escaped his notice. Who has time to make sure that the roads are plowed for the citizens when you’re otherwise occupied by dictating what they can and cannot eat?! Sure, that 22 year old college senior lost her baby and a seventy-five year old woman died because emergency vehicles could not get through the unplowed roads but at least New Yorkers’ dietary choices are carefully policed, right? It’s all about priorities, eh, Mike?
Report Post »Thighmaster
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 7:24pmSo Bloomberg was for them (workers) before he was against them. It’s typical to first take sides against voters right out of the gate.
Report Post »faires
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 7:21pmAnd a innocent newborn dies because the ambulance couldn’t get to the child, because of the snow pileup__A tragedy?_ or neglect?
Report Post »Takeoutthegarbagenov2
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 7:19pmMy parents were both in unions during the 60′s-70′s. If anyone says something negative about the union they go into a rage. I constantly tell them the union of their day is GONE. But they refuse to listen…..
Report Post »Spawnomite
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 7:16pmJust a bit of a dog and pony show.
Nothing will be done about this.
Nothing at all.
Report Post »Carl1
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 7:16pmCan’t be the Unions fault. Ask Obummer. He will tell you it‘s Bush’s fault!
Report Post »mrpips
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 7:15pmBloomberg isn’t going to do jack squat. If he had any balls he would have already fired every last Sanitation worker and be holding a massive job fair right now. Too bad for those who are out of work and no longer able to get unemployment, had they voted for a real man perhaps they’d be looking at having a job again and not losing their homes and livelihoods. It’s a shame really.
Actually, it’s not a shame, it’s ******* funny. New Yorkers, you did it to yourselves.
Report Post »spendthrift
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 7:14pmBest to fire all of them and bring in non-union workers to get the job done right.
Report Post »Diamond Girl
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 7:20pmSpendthrift…
I Second that!
A private business would do the trick as well, the Unions have to go.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 8:48pmExactly!
Report Post »Midwest Blonde
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 7:13pmWhat the hell is wrong with working for a living? I mean work – 8 hours work for 8 hours pay. DO YOUR DAMNED JOB!! There are plenty of us who would take your jobs if you got fired but the problem is your F—ing union won’t let you be fired. I hate unions! They’re ruining this country!
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 7:21pmNYC unions :
Report Post »Blowing snow
instead of blowing snow
( check urban dictionary :D )
Diamond Girl
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 7:05pmAbout time…Bloomie had to be forced into that as well.
Funny how the roads to his residence were plowed right off the bat…eh?
Yet two died…Mental Midget Leftist Monster knew the pressure was getting to be too much to keep ignoring the BS when two deaths were attributed to the Union Big-Wig tactics…the Commie Unions and their power have to go, right with this administration and their Czars we have RULING us …I’ve never seen anything like this…they will rue the day, pay backs are hell…the rest of the Sleeping Giant is awakening, the leftist enemies within ain’t seen nothing yet!
‘12 can’t get here soon enough.
Report Post »jburke4
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 7:00pmUnions are one of the only legal forms of organized crime that exists in the world. Extortion, thug tactics and the destruction of society are all part of their operation. If this is true these thugs need to be charged! They destroyed our manufacturing industry, our educational system and everything else that they have gotten their tentacles in. Now they are allegeded to endager the lives of millions of our citizens because they have driven one of our greatest cities into near bankrupsy. Unions should be illegal and as I stated before, if these allegations are true every person who participated should be taken into custody.
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 6:59pmWell ,
Report Post »snow removal rquires salt,
and we all know how Bloominidiot feels about salt !!
The unions were just trying to please the salt-nanny
Takeoutthegarbagenov2
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 6:57pmThe union gouging the tax payers? No way! Next thing you know they’ll be accused of supporting Oblunder and the Demonrats.
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 6:52pmCan anyone say Criminal Charges are on the way?
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 7:03pmMayor Michael Bloomberg called the city’s response “unacceptable” pledged to pursue a criminal investigation after workers accused union leaders of trying to slow the snow removal.
———-
Lemme finish the sentence :
Mayor Michael Bloomberg called the city’s response “unacceptable” pledged to pursue a criminal investigation after workers accused union leaders of trying to slow the snow removal, so that the union workers can be exonerated and the “ whistleblowers” prosecuted, for charges to be determined later by Trumka and Stern. .
Report Post »12 gauge
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 7:05pmfire them all, but no, the mayor will whine and NOTHING will change
Report Post »dwh320
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 7:12pmAs the Unions screwed the people of New York I am sure Obama was laughing his butt off. First he takes tax dollars and gives it to Unions then he allows them to refuse to do the job they are paid for.
Report Post »Cemoto78
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 7:20pmThat would be nice for all the union leaders. Maybe they can unionize the inmates on Rikkers Island.
Report Post »John 1776
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 7:21pmPeople died. This is a case of manslaughter.
Report Post »Cobra Blue
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 7:22pmBasically a slap on the wrist. Bad little garbage collectors. Shame…shame. Mayor had to say something so he did. This is a big NY union so you know nothing will happen to these guys. They are all in bed together. Once the city gets back to normal you will hear nothing more about this in the media.
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 7:24pmAs the Unions screwed the people of New York
————-
So NY got a BJ instead of SJ ?
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 7:29pmWe‘re going to do an investigation to make sure that it didn’t happen,” Bloomberg said.
Sounds like he already knows what the verdict is on this one. Maybe tweak some noses to shut up the accusers.
Report Post »The Monster
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 7:37pmNo, you weren’t paying attention:
“We‘re going to do an investigation to make sure that it didn’t happen,”
Note that wording carefully. He didn’t say they would investigate to find out the truth.
Report Post »They are going to investigate “to make sure that it didn’t happen,” which means they will whitewash the truth and MAKE SURE that “it didn’t happen”.
AmericanSoldier
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 8:01pmAnd so the automatic response to facing several cut backs such as firings and cuts in salaries is to work less? If I were facing a possible cut back, I’d want to work harder, stand out as someone who should keep their job not slack off and purposely slow-down in protest. If they saw the need to do this slow down, I have a perfect place for you in the unemployment line. Tell me if that’s slow enough for ya. Do your job or expect to not have one by morning.
Report Post »Bob Holland
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 8:04pmOne mechanic said some drivers are purposely smashing plows and salt spreaders to further stall the cleanup effort.
Lets not forget some drivers are purposely smashing SUV’s as well.
Report Post »lee48md
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 8:14pmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kt_r-jO3lKE
Report Post »this deserves a repeat…esp. now. it’s the video of the car being totaled by the union driver.
8jrts
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 8:28pm@ AmericanSoldier You are so right!! That is the big problem with unions….they live under a different set of rules…not like here in the real world.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 8:47pmTheir better and should be criminal charges .. these union thugs are running and ruining the whole country .. enough .. and BLOOMBERG should have not had his head up his “you know what” and noticed that things were NOT being CLEARED! He is just as responsible for NOT doing his job also.
Report Post »guyperram
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 8:54pmWhat a waste of time. Bloomberg won’t do anything. The unions could care less. The workers are used to screwing the taxpayers. Situation= normal.
Report Post »Uncle Sambo
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 7:17amIf true pink slips are in order to all those involved. Also the union must be decertified and heavily fined. Fines should range upwards of ten-million dollars.
This could be a great opportunity NY City to cut labor costs. It could also give the progressives a chance to show how big hearted they are. Just think of all those snow removal jobs that could be offered to the homeless, unemployed, and under employed at a reasonable wage. I think people would be lined up for miles to apply.
Report Post »JKN
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 8:13amSounds like the unions may have played foul, which tragically caused two unnecessary deaths; but Mayor Bloomberg is just as guilty.
This failure of a “mayor” should be held accountable and fired and then investigations of the unions involved should be pursued…
Report Post »heyjim55
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 1:33pmI think when we stop and consider what the left is doing to this country and has already done, we should be beyond angry. The recent refusal to remove snow in New York by Union members at the expense of human life should be enough but it doesn’t stop there. Remember the central valley in California? those peoples lives have been destroyed by the left , that once bread basket of the world is now a dust bowl and those people living there are beginning to go hungry. This episode reminds me of the State authorized famine in the Ukraine in the 1930′s led by Stalin and their new policy on collective farming. Then there is Detroit what once was a productive town is now half dead and a dying due to the Lefts policies, any lives ruined there? How about the black communities around the country the Left sure gave them a hand up didn’t they. Food safety Bill anyone? can’t wait for that to take affect one could only guess that we will be at some point arrested for growing your veggies in your back yard. These people deserve no respect by anyone good intentions as a excuse has long been proven to be murderous by these Marxists, Communist‘s never change it’s the same play book only the names have changed, I would suggest not to tolerate them in any way, treat them with no respect kick them out of your place of business if you can, refuse service to them. People who claim to be Progressive or Liberal or no I am just a democrat are ALL COMMUNISTS don’t believe them for one second . Many people have smuggled or managed to video footage of these creeps during meetings openly reminding their audience to not admit they are Communists to say they are progressives. I have met many Communists in my life and I always ask them the same question how many people do you want to kill? lets not fool around just tell me how many you need to kill before it’s okay to be alive.
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