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@David Alpert, I'm a financial analyst and can tell you that private sector benefits, including FICA, are way under 43% of base pay as they are for Metro, largely because there are no fluctuating defined-benefit pension costs as Craig alluded to, and because private sector workers pay a much higher share of health ins premiums than Metro workers currently do. Additionally, most private sector workers make well below the $69,688 average base pay of WMATA workers.

I don't care if Craig is the man on the moon or Jimmy Hoffa. We haven't discussed how dangerous being a bus driver can be as many are assaulted by unruly passengers. I have no problem compensating them fairly whether they belong to a union or not.

Nonetheless, as taxpayers, we are already responsible for 42% of Metro's budget through state and local taxes (not even counting Federal) before the first fare is collected. If Craig wants to come here and ask us for more money while his members are getting pay hikes, then you should expect we will recommend alternatives to his cost cutting proposals with our elected officials, regardless of whether he's a union boss, or just an innocent transit geek who doesn't mind empty buses and trains.

by Kyle on Mar 3, 2010 1:26 pm • link • report