Hmmm . . . according to Metcalf, the solution to Muni's problems lies in empowering the transit workers union even more. Because, if the transit workers realized they were running this "company", they would limit their own wages and benefits, so that the "company" would grow . . . like unions have done for companies in Sweden. (????)

The analogy to Swedish companies is false. Why? Because private companies anywhere have to make a profit. But public departments like transit do not have deliver better service at a better price in order to stay in business or grow. The transit workers have no incentive to deliver better service now, and they will have no incentive to do so in the future, unless we uncouple them from their union.

I say, bust that union. There are several ways to do this. It would be politically very difficult to do so in a face-down. But it doesn't have to be done in that way. Just stop resisting MUNI and deflect its force instead.

One of the most potent wyas to do so would be to introduce and subsidize alternate forms of transportation -- bicycles, electric bicycles, scooters, carpools, ride-sharing, walking, private jitneys, shared cabs, etc. The sooner we can spread out how we all get around town in non-noxious ways, the sooner we can dispense with one bus and rail system trying to meet the diverse needs of all. We don't have to turn into a city of private automobiles and congestion. But we do need to turn away from mass transit in buses as the answer. And that means getting rid of a dysfunctional union at the same time. Cool.

"Guest wishyouweredead" comments about overtime are not actually true. The proposed rules do not go against any labor laws. Instead, they would prevent drivers from gaming the system. For example, currently a driver can be absent for a couple of days and then take on extra shifts at an overtime rate. They work fewer than 40 hours a week yet get overtime pay! Not only does this greatly increase the costs of drivers but it also motivates drivers to be absent for their regular shifts which of course causes missed runs.

And then there are certain holidays like Martin Luther Kind day where things are really out of hand. It is not an official holiday and the city runs regular service. So far so good. But the drivers forced Muni to make it Saturday service (so they get overtime) but then backfilled with additional runs so that there is actually regular weekday service. So the drivers get overtime even though it is regular service!

The agency say's they have a 455 million dollar budget and 128 million dollar short fall,well did you know the cost to pay for operations after doing the math with numbers the agency gave to the media to pay for operations that includes everything about operators the total comes to 190 million,stay with me now the agency say's that the budget is 455 million plus the short fall of 128 million,I'm not a math teacher but the operating budget for operations is 190 million and there's a 700 million dollar budget overall can somebody please ask Mr Ford where is the 500 million going to be spent.This is interesting that of all the talk about the hardworking operators is keeping the public distracted from looking at the real numbers once again there's a 700 million dollar budget and agency has tricked the public in to a debate on operators pay,wow someone please look up and see through the agency's tricks.

Am I reading the San Francisco Examiner or the Bay Guardian? It is irresponsible of the Guardian to give its pages to the pen of an Anti-Union establishment, SPUR par excellence. The first paragraph by Mr. Garbriel Metcalf, in his open letter, is so concentrated in propagandist misinformation that its intent is to pit people against the ranks and file of MUNI. If SPUR is such an intelligentsia organization why doesn't Mr. Metcalf give some figures? Why not mention that the city of Paris spends on its public transit more than the whole U.S.? Did Mr. Metcalf read the new budget for 2011 by Obama? Why does the Pentagon gets 738 billion dollars while Mass Transit gets 8.36 dollars? How about the highways, they get 44 billion dollars? Also Mr. Metcalf keeps talking about the worst economic crisis without saying that it was not the making of the working class. It was manufactured by these big corporations especially in the banking system. Then while punishing the guys who are responsible for the mayhem we rewarded them instead with more than a trillion dollars of the working classes tax money. It is an affront to attack the weak while bow to the powerful. The Bay Guradian should guard against such unintended consequences.
Nafiss Griffis

it's the damn union thats killing the city Mayoral candidate Harold Miller is a Teamster and he still sees how the muni union is choking the city...

Assuming the earlier comments explaining the overtime issues are correct, there seems to be a simple solution. Don't pay overtime for a long day if the employee volunteered for the long day and the employee missed a shift some other day of the same week. That eliminates the gaming, while maintaining standard CA labor laws.

festivus, 4 Harold Miller to become San Francisco's next MAYOR.. (www.haroldmiller4mayor.com)