In a move that I will call unconscionable, the New York Transport Workers Union walked off their jobs in protest. They have brought the City of New York to a screeching halt. The strike began at 3:00 am EST Tuesday. Citing an inability to reach a contract.

The union said the latest MTA offer included annual raises of 3 percent, 4 percent and 3.5 percent; the previous proposal included 3 percent raises each year. MTA workers earn between $47,000 and $55,000 annually. The MTA originally had demanded an 8 percent pay raise per year for their members.

Pension issues have been a major sticking point in the talks. The MTA wants to raise the age at which new employees become eligible for full pensions from 55 to 62, which the union says is unfair.

There is a law that is frequently referred to as The Taylor Law. This law states prohibits public employees from striking.

New York State Public Employees Fair Employment Act - The Taylor Law

What Is It?

The Public Employees Fair Employment Act, commonly known as the Taylor Law, is a labor relations statute covering most public employees in New York State-- whether employed by the State, or by counties, cities, towns, villages, school districts, public authorities or certain special service districts. It became effective September 1, 1967 and was the first comprehensive labor relations law for public employees in the State, and among the first in the United States. It is the legal foundation used by GOER in its negotiations with New York State's public employee unions.

What Does It Do?

The Taylor Law:

* grants public employees the right to organize and to be represented by employee organizations of their own choice;
* requires public employers to negotiate and enter into agreements with public employee organizations regarding their employees' terms and conditions of employment;
* establishes impasse procedures for the resolution of collective bargaining disputes;
* defines and prohibits improper practices by public employers and public employee organizations;
* prohibits strikes by public employees; and
* establishes a state agency to administer the Law- The Public Employment Relations Board (PERB).

I have never been a big fan of Mayor Michael Bloomberg. But I admit, he nailed it with these comments:

Mayor Michael Bloomberg had some harsh words for the 30,000 members of the TWU. Union President Roger Toussaint, as well as other union leaders and strike participants, "shamefully decided they don't care for the people they work for and that they have no respect for the law," Bloomberg said during an afternoon press conference.

It is robbing people of their opportunities to earn a living and provide for their families," he said.

He added that the TWU leadership has "thuggishly turned their back on New York City."

More than 7 million people in and around New York City were forced to walk, find a cab, drive into work or work from home Tuesday after the strike began at 3 a.m. EST. The strike affects not only Manhattan but the other city boroughs as well — the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island.

"People there are being hurt and inconvenienced. It's not just Manhattan," Bloomberg stressed.

"All of this because of an illegal strike," the mayor said. "Let me repeat: This selfish strike is illegal. We live in a country of laws where there can be severe consequences for those who break them. Union members are no different … we will use every available tool under the law to get the transit workers back to work."

When you are a public servant or employee, you take on additional responsibilities. I understand that these people deserve good benefits (as if they don't already get them), but that's why have a union. Let the union work out the details. I would support the firing and immediate replacement of all union employees that took part in the strike.