The Mass Transit Authority (MTA) announced that it will not make additional concessions to an offer that was rejected by transit workers on the morning of August 8, 2008 following an overnight bargaining session.  The contract proposal offered a nine percent raise over three years, but seeks to increase the retirement age for new hires from 55 to 65.  Officials from the Transport Workers Union (TWU) rejected the offer and imposed the threat of an eminent strike.

The union is seeking a higher raise in wages, a lower retirement age, and maternity leave.  In addition, the TWA is pushing for a 20-year pension that has no age limits due to the serious health concerns that work conditions pose to employees in the transit industry, one of the biggest being the elevated risk of asbestos exposure.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was once considered a “miracle material” due to its durability and versatility, as well as its fire-retardant and friction-resistant qualities.  Before the discovery of it’s more hazardous properties, asbestos seemed a very useful and effective insulator and was utilized in countless homes, schools, ships, appliances and products.

Asbestos is still especially present in the automotive and transport industries where, even today, it is incorporated into the production of subways, railroads and brake pads.  When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed or damaged, they release a dust filled with microscopic asbestos fibers into the air.  Breathing in asbestos dust can lead to asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Individuals who have been exposed to asbestos may not develop any related diseases until 15-40 years after their initial exposure.  As a result, it could be decades before a person discovers the extent of damage to their health caused while working on jobsites throughout their transport industry careers.  Individuals affected by mesothelioma develop malignant cells within the mesothelium, the protective lining that covers most of the body’s vital internal organs, including the heart, lungs, and abdominal cavity.   Currently, the only proven cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos.

On August 8, 2008, many of New York City’s 7 million commuters woke up wondering whether they’d have to walk to work, but were relieved to find subways and buses still running.  However, hours after announcing that they were pushing back the strike deadline, the TWU said that they would not accept the MTA’s contract proposal and instead would begin a series of small-scale strikes to put pressure on the city if an agreement is not reached by Tuesday.  If the job action proceeds as planned, it will be the city’s first transit strike since 1980.  City officials say a full-fledged transit strike would debilitate the city and cost billions of dollars.  But for many workers, this dispute is not just about money and benefits; it’s also about getting respect from the MTA.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 13th, 2008 at 4:55 pm and is filed under Asbestos Exposure, Mesothelioma. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed. Responses are currently closed, but you trackback from your own site.