If pandering to public-worker unions is Bruce Blakeman’s idea of how he’s going to beat Gov. Kathy Hochul next year, expect her to win in a blowout.
The Nassau County exec just blasted Hochul for vetoing a Transport Workers Union-pushed bill that required two operators on every subway train, even if advancing technology means only one (or none!) is needed.
“The hardworking men and women of New York state have been at a disadvantage because they’ve had a state government that doesn’t understand their needs,” Blakeman pontificated to The Post about the veto.
The Republican vowed to work “alongside union leaders” and “ensure that every worker earns good pay” and benefits, and even claimed New York “can afford to pay them more.”
Huh? TWU members already get excellent pay and benefits, compared to their counterparts in other cities.
Besides, Albany faces tens of billions in budget gaps over the next few years; the MTA’s own budget woes are awful, too.
How can government “afford” to pay workers more — let alone employ unneeded crewmen? Where would the money come from? More taxes? Another fare hike?
Higher “congestion” tolls, Bruce?
Blakeman blusters of getting the cash by paying less for illegal immigrants. But that hardly seems to cover what would be needed; and it would balloon the budget for years with increased salary and pension costs.
Most NYC subway trains already have two-person crews, even when only one person (at most) is needed: NYU Marron Institute’s researchers this year found that, of the train systems used in the numerous cities they surveyed, “fewer than 6.25%” use two-person crews.
Bad enough MTA officials, heeding governors’ wishes, repeatedly OK union contracts with the wasteful practice.
But Blakeman would take the issue off the table completely and force two-person crews by law, even if the union would agree to one person, in exchange for, say, a larger pay hike.
By the way, not only would one-person trains save money; they’d also allow the MTA to run trains more frequently — so commuters would benefit, too.
Kudos to Hochul for vetoing the bill. Truth is, both she and Blakeman should be demanding more one-person trains, not codifying featherbedding.
Blakeman needs to realize that governors represent all the people, not just special interests.
That’s Lesson No. 1, if he really wants the job.
This story originally appeared on NYPost
