tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689506078297112665.post7651015043690812747..comments2023-10-08T08:33:55.549-04:00Comments on Unsuck DC Metro: Seen this Show BeforeUnsuck DC Metrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02752056661298716293noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689506078297112665.post-84037263494829225832010-04-26T12:28:33.379-04:002010-04-26T12:28:33.379-04:00Fire half the worthless Metro employees, and cut t...Fire half the worthless Metro employees, and cut the wages of the remaining ones.<br /><br />Budget crisis solved.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689506078297112665.post-40389001769670220672010-04-25T21:56:53.458-04:002010-04-25T21:56:53.458-04:00anon 9:59: This Union will not come to the table....anon 9:59: This Union will not come to the table. The leaders are short sighted and more interested in spending massive amounts of money taking Management to abitration after arbitration. Members are only interested in short term gain. Union dues have gone up exponentially due to the cost of arbitration. They will not settle anything.<br /><br />Attending a union meeting is surreal. The leaders have no control. Roberts Rules of Order? I don't think they even know what they are!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689506078297112665.post-20310477771258005452010-04-23T11:50:53.555-04:002010-04-23T11:50:53.555-04:00One of things they can do is increase fare for spo...One of things they can do is increase fare for sporting events and specials events.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689506078297112665.post-60378574115519472532010-04-23T09:59:31.803-04:002010-04-23T09:59:31.803-04:00Unions can be brought to the table. See DC teacher...Unions can be brought to the table. See DC teachers union. Why that hasn't happened at Metro is anyone's guess.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689506078297112665.post-38372884445303851872010-04-23T09:58:08.504-04:002010-04-23T09:58:08.504-04:00Pulease people. Most of this mess is Metro's ...Pulease people. Most of this mess is Metro's lack of management and budgetary skills with a union-backed employee structure who have no reason to care about doing a good job, thus, choosing to do as minimal a job possible. I think the originating post has some valid points. Before everyone starts whining for the missing answers to the above, try posting your solutions. Bet you come up short like the rest of us suffering souls. (Remember- they hired an expensive communications consultant who does not use cell or email. Progress?)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689506078297112665.post-81884389319433221582010-04-23T09:56:37.598-04:002010-04-23T09:56:37.598-04:00The public wants the service, they just don't ...The public wants the service, they just don't want to pay for it unless it's sold to them as a crisis fare hike. Try calling it taxes and see what kind of support it would have.<br />Metro is run by politicians who want to be seen as providing more service to their constituents. The rub is paying for the increased service. Metro has been stretched year after year by this kind of dynamic.Unsuck DC Metrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02752056661298716293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689506078297112665.post-26129282879652361352010-04-23T09:21:30.538-04:002010-04-23T09:21:30.538-04:00I'm not sure how you can think that "mism...I'm not sure how you can think that "mismanagement" and an "avoidance of tough decisions" are the only reasons that Metro is in the hole. <br /><br />What are those tough decisions that have been avoided? I agree that salaries should not be increased but the reality is that a huge part of the increase in labor costs has been health care costs - and that's not because Metro is handing employees better and better gold-plated health care plans, it's because health care costs overall are skyrocketing.<br /><br />So what is your solution? I'd be interested to know what service you think never should have been offered in the first place.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689506078297112665.post-33992519491593914892010-04-23T08:44:54.169-04:002010-04-23T08:44:54.169-04:00Think you've misinterpreted the post, Michael....Think you've misinterpreted the post, Michael. Service cuts, fare hikes and raiding other piles of money are the only "solutions" left after decades of mismanagement and the avoidance of tough decisions. Perhaps some of the service that's out there should have never been put in place but Metro's not set up to say no.<br /><br />These measures are unpalatable, but it's hard to see another out in the short term. <br /><br />The post does reject the yearly psychological warfare Metro wages on already stressed out riders. It does no one any good.Unsuck DC Metrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02752056661298716293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689506078297112665.post-40947669705574286902010-04-23T08:36:59.988-04:002010-04-23T08:36:59.988-04:00Michael,
There is no solution.
Metro is terminal.
...Michael,<br />There is no solution.<br />Metro is terminal.<br />It has x years to live.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689506078297112665.post-62360816085668315552010-04-23T08:27:59.374-04:002010-04-23T08:27:59.374-04:00Seriously, in this post you've rejected servic...Seriously, in this post you've rejected service cuts, fare increases and jurisdictional funding as solutions.<br /><br />Uproar and public hearings are a necessary part of the process. Metro can't cut service or raise fares without a hearing, they need to advertise more than they need so they have flexibility in what to change. <br /><br />Since Metro doesn't have an operating reserve, they always need to budget conservatively, which means their deficit projections typically turn out to be worst case.<br /><br />If Metro did have an operating reserve, the unions would argue that Metro's financial position is good enough to support a larger pay raise.<br /><br />Metro must continuously plead poverty or else the unions will be able to argue that it has the money to raise pay more.<br /><br />Look at the lawsuit Metro has filed against the arbitration panel. Their claim is essentially that Metro is too poor to pay the raises awarded. Would Metro be able to claim that if they were able to balance the budget easily every year? No.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15057113283154126104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689506078297112665.post-44278845788725546212010-04-23T08:27:24.780-04:002010-04-23T08:27:24.780-04:00At this point, perhaps that most American of solut...At this point, perhaps that most American of solutions, a Metro Czar!Unsuck DC Metrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02752056661298716293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689506078297112665.post-1937698945893549872010-04-23T08:21:39.461-04:002010-04-23T08:21:39.461-04:00So what's your solution?So what's your solution?Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15057113283154126104noreply@blogger.com