Comments on: Unions put the brakes on rail deal

By: gary shipley

gary shipley — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 02:39:45 +0000

i don’t say put the brakes on deal i want to know who’s responsable for the job protection buyouts and how much they’re going to be worth to workers losing or having to re locate thier jobs with csx.

By: gary shipley

gary shipley — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 02:32:11 +0000

Who is responsiable job protection buyouts for workers in south flordia should this go through

By: gary shipley

gary shipley — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 02:29:47 +0000

If this should go through who is responsable for the job protection buyouts that the employees in south florida that will loose ther jobs should they choose not to stay with and move with csx are entitled to

By: Unions dig in against rail proposal | Post on Politics

Unions dig in against rail proposal | Post on Politics — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:29:30 +0000

[...] labor unions blasted state transportation officials for refusing to back down from a proposal to do away with union workers on [...]

By: Time for a change

Time for a change — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:54:26 +0000

Dont need them.
Dont want them.
They have ruined the country. That is why we now produce much of what we use offshore. Get rid of unions before they finish the destruction of the United States

By: Floridian Vote

Floridian Vote — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 11:37:19 +0000

I cant believe this BS! Thats why Iam voting for new conservative leadership with Armando Gutierrez running in Orlando. http://www.GoGutierrez.com

By: seantwright

seantwright — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:57:26 +0000

Dear Savant,

I’m a licensed accountant, I’m also a nationally recognized rail historian. In my career or research, never once have I run across a passenger line that was considered to be for profit.

In 1833 my GGG Grandfather Nathan Carruth did not consider passenger rail to be a for profit venture. Passenger rail has always, since the beginning, been about smart community development, which is why since the 1840s economic development has been proven to follow behind passenger rail, which pays for rail. South Florida has had this same practice since Henry Flagler’s FEC Railway.

By: savant

savant — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:20:56 +0000

Passenger rail lines are a perpetual cash drain on taxpayers and they are unprofitable wherever the exist. Building more of them only guarantees higher and higher taxes.

By: Biill Neubauer

Biill Neubauer — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:57:41 +0000

1.Rush Limbaugh’s researchers have produced data indicating that none of the more productive industries have union restrictions. If true, that should tell us something.
2. The rail line from Tampa to Orlando to Miami is the wrong approach anyhow. TRAINS RUN ONLY ON SPECIFIC SCHEDULES. A more convenient system would be a fleet of small commuter planes at each of the terminal cities. A traveler could just go to the departure point, select his destination and have a plane taxi out for IMMEDIATE departure ANY TIME OF DAY OR NIGHT. And there would be no need to tear up real estate or build overhead track to establish.

By: seantwright

seantwright — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:52:01 +0000

To James,

James, please prove by posting a link to any kind of supporting information that can be verified, for your position.

James, I’ve attended FDOT workshops for several years. I’ve never once heard a FDOT District Rep. state that.

Tri-Rail in the last several years has been recognized nationally. And just for the amount of new ridership. People in South Florida have proved from 2004 to now that they will try it.

By: seantwright

seantwright — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:40:18 +0000

Atwater, U need the unions here. Lawson needs them to much. Orlando S. Senator who voted no, is in the same boat. Me personally, in NE, unions do invest further along TOD lines. I’ve watched personally one take a bath, but still they invested some $30,000,000.00 into 1 area. I could argue the pros & cons on them, but in this 1 case, the answer is simple.

AFL-CIO, I’d consider being at the table to be flexible. Consider, that you, may well cut your nose off despite your face. I will assure you that funding for all transportation is in danger. Repayment to the federal government will come from transportation dollars first! Then in the next several years, I assure you the federal matches will be hit.

By: Citizen

Citizen — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 12:48:28 +0000

The time for unions is waning especially if employers were smart enough to offer the same benefits that a union would insist upon. But Florida is a “right to work” state with a minimum of benefits required. I say…Employer be smart, wise up and compete with the promises that unions offer and there will be no union. Take care of your employees and they wont need a union.

By: James

James — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 11:05:32 +0000

This 3 billion doallr bailout for developers and freight is not about high speed rail, high tech rail or unions. Its a 61 mile rail buy. for 3 billion .See the number $3,000,000,000.00 No one will use it and even FDOT reports say it wont put a single Flroidian not already using mass transit onto the train!! ITs a bailout plain and simple!!

By: JD

JD — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 10:59:24 +0000

To all you idiots that hate unions
remember this ( TOGETHER WE STAND,
DIVIDED WE FALL) Republicans are against
unions because they can not control
people who stick together. Do we want
a dictator?

By: J.S.

J.S. — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 04:15:16 +0000

God, Floridians are so scared of the government spending money and the corresponding tax dollars. One thing you guys have got to get through your head is that, if we don’t invest in our state, Florida will go nowhere. Think of the jobs, the new high-tech businesses in support of the new train system, and the new viability of tourism with the ease of transit. This puts Florida in a position that has opportunity, new ways to grow, and reflects the demands of a changing world. Don’t get your panties in a bind every time you hear the ‘t’ word. Besides, we’re getting this at steal with all the federal money that would initiate the project. And screw unions, they always ruin things thinking about their own fat selves, take a look at Detroit.

By: ERIC QUINN

ERIC QUINN — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:47:21 +0000

Unions are the only way workers dont get screwed over! Ya Ya i know right to work state bla bla fact of the matter is that with a union they keep jobs here in america to us the AMERICAN people!!!!

By: proud to be union

proud to be union — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:42:03 +0000

weekends and the middle class are products of united work forces. if companies did the right thing there would not be a need for unions. but guess what?

By: Co-Ruption

Co-Ruption — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 23:31:45 +0000

I for one do not believe things actually begin with ill conceived notions in the minds of the organizers. When folks were working the docks for 35 cents a day and Hoffa come along and got them more money and a little respect that was a good thing. However, as with any pecking order the bigger the pecker, the more the demands. Florida is a right to work state. Meaning workers can stand on their own two feet and refuse to join the union and still have a job. I don’t care the reason the unions are against this boondoggle we the taxpayers can’t afford. Even in the case of the unions (of which I have never joined one) my saying has always been; the enemy of my enemy is my friend. I accept their help and the help of any persons or organizations that will come forward and help us defeat this monstrosity that we do not need and can not afford. We are watching every politician that supports this effort. They will be defeated at re-election time. You can write that on the outhouse wall. We are tired of this crap. It is over politicians, if you like your cozy paycheck and your free health insurance and all those other freebies you think you are getting legally, go ahead put you name on this one and watch the millions flow to your opponents in the next election.

By: Good Citizen Bill

Good Citizen Bill — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 23:31:08 +0000

Support the Union movement.

By: Nick

Nick — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 22:15:20 +0000

There has been a need for unions, but they have gone too far.

As long as working conditions are safe and reasonable the craziness of unions need to stop. They are breaking the backs of America.

By: Sally Newberry

Sally Newberry — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 22:09:06 +0000

Hill and Lawson need to get all of the Democrats on board to vote down this horrible deal for the third time. It keeps coming back to the Legislature, and although they have voted it down twice, they are trying once again to bring the expensive, bad deal train back for one last show down. Between the unions needing job protection, the outrageous liability demands of CSX, the large sum or money that Florida taxpayers will pay upfront to a for-profit company, the burden that will be placed on Floridians should there be an accident and the back room, secret dealings, this is the most horrible and corrupt deal that Florida has probably ever seen. We do not need to be wasting any more taxpayer dollars
bringing them to Tallahassee when they don’t have the votes for this and probably never will.

By: screwunion

screwunion — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 22:07:05 +0000

Screw Unions.. they have screwed this country and keep screwing this country turning it into a cesspool of malice ad greed!

I am a low middle class worker and I believe in the rights of workers to strike and right to work; but Unions are controlled by Maffia, Communists and special groups.
To solve the problem: amendment to constitution with rights for all workers!