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No Fairness in Job Loss

(The following letter to New York City Transit President Howard H. Roberts is reprinted here at its author's request.)

Dear President Roberts, We received your letter regarding the MTA Budget dated November 19, 2008.

NYC Transit employees have been affected by the nation's economic and financial crisis like everyone else in our city and nation; and we are struggling to make ends meet.

We in Transit have performed under many budgetary strains and emergencies such as events after 9/11 and the subway flooding, promptly responding to many challenges professionally, selflessly, and with sacrifices which have been recognized and acknowledged by the MTA and the general public. This is quite consistent with the way we have delivered large and complex projects on time and within budget.

The incoming Administration in Washington is making serious and significant pledges that there will be a major economic stimulus package to create jobs and help working people. We ask why are the MTA and NYCT jumping into this situation with an attitude that goes against the substance and perception of that direction? Your letter instills unnecessary fear and anger among [transit] employees.

Again, the substance and spirit of your letter is at odds with proposals coming from the incoming Administration to stimulate the economy by investing in the nation's infrastructure which includes mass transit. Why do you want to jump the gun?

I think you would agree that the history of the MTA/NYCT having had [two] sets of budgets has not been particularly noteworthy. In fact, there is every reason for workers and their unions to be highly skeptical of those budgets.

Paul Krugman, [the] 2008 Nobel Prize winner [in economics], made the point more directly in terms of infrastructure needs, "To pull us out of this downward spiral, the Federal Government will have to provide economic stimulus in the form of higher spending and greater aid to those in distress." Other leading economists agree that this kind of spending must be done in basic infrastructure of cities across the country. Surely, the MTA is seeking that support.

We wish, and still hold the hope that as a matter of urgency and in sheer propriety, you will consult the unions in this important matter.

Your letter appeals to our members with thoughts of compassion, but in reality there is no compassion that is [useful] to a laid-off worker.

BEHROUZ FATHI, Civil Service Technical Guild, Local 375, Transit-Chapter 2 President