Apparently, Gov. Pataki didn’t learn much from the December transit strike.
At a presser today, Pataki once again said he is not getting involved with the contract talks between the MTA and transit union.
When asked if the pension refunds — which he vigorously opposed — could be put back on the table, Pataki said:
“I’m going to leave that to the MTA to work out. The basic premise of what I’ve believed from the beginning is you do not resort to an illegal act, and the strike was an illegal act, but they will negotiate. They will reach, hopefully, an agreement.”
As New Yorkers remember, Pataki refused to get involved during the lead up to the Dec. 20 strike.
He said that it is best to let the “professionals” handle the negotiations.
And then he was supposedly shocked and angered by the pension rebates in the post-strike contract.
Now once again, Pataki is telling New Yorkers he isn’t getting involved.
So, once this contact does get settled, can we expect the governor to be shocked again?--
-- Chuck Bennett
