A local media frenzy:1. Who, what, where.
2. Follow Matier.
3. Union and management spin cycles up the ying-yang...after a few cooling-off days.
4. Potentially one of the most explosive local stories with a boatload of sidebars. Potentially.
5. How will SF media treat this? (I mean, there's a lot to chew on, right?)
6. Both sides come to reason, meet, and settle --with the tragedy an unintentional game changer.
Huge, tragic game changer, indeed.
ReplyDeleteMight not be such a game changer, since the two who died were simply doing their jobs, and happened to be there at the wrong time. At first I thought they were protestors or union loyalists who refused to yield the track to the management operated trains. But I don't think that was the case. If there is any effect, it could be that the wind of defiance has gone out of those in the union. The workers may just wish to return to their jobs and their formerly predictable routines. I think Management should not obligate to pay any more.
ReplyDeleteI can tell you right now that the unions will not bend, as this tragedy is exactly what they warned managers NOT to do. And to think, this whole debacle could have been avoided had Mgmt. just bargained in good faith from the beginning. Instead, they paid huge taxpayer dollars to SF PR firm, Singer & Assoc. to demonize their own workforce, paid for a high priced, Ohio-based "negotiator" famous for causing strikes, while stalling talks at the bargaining table until the last final hours. Then in their ultimate act of hubris, they make the very unwise and very unsafe decision to train paper-pushing high-level managers to run trains with limited training and "seat time." I suppose we should be thankful they didn't try implementing their"contingency plan" on a regular weekday commute! So a Train Operator's job is just "pushing buttons," eh? WRONG!! Wake up people, this is YOUR BART. Your tax dollars at work - - will now be squandered on "damage control PR", fines, lawsuits, and restitution to the victim's families. Tragic indeed, for all concerned. Karma is a M/F I guess.
ReplyDeleteThe SF media will spin it exactly as the Bay Area Council lobbyists want it. They will downplay Bart Managements role, and blame it on the union strike.
ReplyDeleteNTSB has told BART to STFU about the accident. We can be thankful for that.
ReplyDeleteAnon 6:42: You hit the nail on the head. BART demonized their own employees in a shameless way. BART won't be able to BS the NTSB.
It's too bad we no longer have a real working press because no one is asking the right questions. Bay Area press still calls train operators conductors. Sal Castneda is the closest thing to a transportation reporter besides the guy Gary at the Mercury. I hope Tom Vacar does a story on this because like Obi Wan Kenobi, he's our only hope for intelligent coverage. Everyone is riding in the clown car.
"Clown Car" . . . ha ha ha ha as Bugs Bunny says, http://youtu.be/C_Kh7nLplWo
DeleteNot a game changer. It appears to have nothing to do with the strike.
ReplyDeleteStop kidding yourself. BART trains are strictly pushing buttons and no skill whatsoever. No tragedy has ever happened due to the "saving money don't back down to the evil powerful unions". Oh, wait, yes there was tragedy.
ReplyDeleteThe tragedy occurred when management train operators ran over two people..How is that the union's fault?I thought, at least according to BART management, that they had veteran train operators who were now management who could run the trains perfectly well. You mean there are actual safety issues? seems like
DeleteKTVU has identified the 2 workers as Wi Bi Goo and Dat Gonh Huhoit
ReplyDeleteJust because you were a train operator for 2 years back in 1995 does not mean you can jump back into the driver's seat and operate safely. BART's fleet has been modified so many times, mechanisms added or removed over the years, it's NOT the same as 18 years ago! This is why BART TO's must re-certify every 3rd year. Make no mistake - BART cares about $$$ and it's bottom line. On time performance means big bonuses for those top level managers. It's MONEY first, Safety second.
ReplyDelete