RIDER ALERT: METRO WHINES ABOUT ONE DAY OF BLUE FLU AFTER IGNORING BUS DRIVER CONTRACTS FOR SIX YEARS

Please also see this post: http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/bus-drivers-are-sick-of-metro-too-blue.html

From Metro's website at 13:27 today:

Service Delays Possible on MetroBus

Some MetroBus routes are experiencing major delays as a result of some operators not reporting to work. They know that a work action violates Missouri law. We apologize for the inconvenience this is causing our customers. It is unfortunate that our operators are choosing to disadvantage taxpayers and the riding public who depend on us to get to work. We expect our operators to report to work as scheduled. We are involved in contract negotiations with the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 788, which represents our MetroBus and MetroLink operators as well as clerical workers.

Metro, you are a rip-off to your riders and your bus drivers.  And this entire city!  In 2009, after you mismanaged your federal funds and rider revenues, you cut 24 bus lines and 30% of services.  You keep congratulating yourself on what a great job you are doing, but you still have to jack up fares to keep the current system in operation.

You let your drivers work for 6 years (!) without a contract, and no raises-- not too mention cutting back full-time to part-time, and trying to erode the pension plan-- and you complain about ONE DAY OF SERVICE INTERRUPTION?!

SHAME ON YOU!

YOU NEED TO APOLOGIZE FOR YOUR TERRIBLE SERVICE, NOT YOUR WORKER'S DEMANDING THEIR DUE!

You have nothing to say about the fact that a public transit rider faces an average of ONE HOUR ON THE BUS for a trip that would take 15 minutes on city streets.  You have no apologies for the lack of toilets provided.  You have no explanation for why you consistently ignore the needs of the people that need you most, and your excessive consideration for people that only ride the Metrolink, and only ride it to Cardinals games.

SHAME ON YOU METRO!

Also, quite frankly, why EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYED PERSON IN MISSOURI IS NOT "VIOLATING MISSOURI LAW" is incomprehensible.  Missouri labor laws need to be violated! They need to be trashed!  WAKE UP AND GET YOUR REBELLION ON!

"Right to work" means "the right of employers to treat workers like crap and fire them for any reason" including going to the bathroom.  (There is no federal rule that workers are allowed breaks of any kind, including to use the toilet, and regulate how breaks are to be paid for if the employer, at his discretion, offers his employees breaks.   Only five states require employers to give employees break-time.  So basically, you can be fired for going to the bathroom, and if you ride the bus, you will need to use the bathroom when you get to work!)

"Right to Work" says they are about letting workers "choose" if they want to be unionized, but what it really means is "you better choose if you want to open your mouth about a union or if you want to be fired."

METRO YOU HAD BETTER NOT FIRE-- OR EVEN DISCIPLINE-- ONE OF THOSE 70 WORKERS!

THEY ARE RIGHT AND YOU ARE SO WRONG!