An arbitrator has reinstated a pair of outrageous perks that had been swiped from a group of Port Authority retirees after they fought back, claiming they were guaranteed free tolls and airport parking for life.
It’s painful to say, but returning those freebies was the right call.
Last week, the arbitrator ordered the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to reinstate two retirement benefits — toll-free driving on the authority’s bridges and tunnels and free parking at its airports — and reimburse the retirees for tolls they’ve paid since the perk was revoked in January 2011.
The perks cost taxpayers roughly $1.5 million a year.
The ruling, for now, applies only to union electricians, but could be expanded to other retiree groups who lost the same perks. The Port Authority plans to appeal.
These perks drip with excess. Free airport parking and bridge tolls for life? That’s a benefit worth thousands a year, unattainable for most of us. That retirees would lawyer up to reclaim their right to free tolls is audacious. So much for sharing the sacrifice.
Toughest to swallow, though, is that these retirees — selfish as they are — are right. They had contracts that guaranteed the lifetime handouts.
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5 Responses
They don’t cost the taxpayers a penny. It is only lost revenue. There is nothing selfish about these people to get what they worked hard for many years to earn. The only selfish one here is the writer, who can’t fargin some hard working people that enabled him to use the system. I wonder how much this sanctomonious writer gives voluntarily from his income to support the cashed strapped public.
I agree 100% with BaalSechel.
My wife was a cashier in a store for about 12 years. She stopped about 10 years ago & we still get the discount.
r they hiring?
You better believe they should “lawyer up” to get their perks. They worked hard knowing that this is a part of their benefits package, no different than medical insurance or paid vacation days. I don’t understand the grounds to have rescinded these benefits to begin with.
It wwas a lavish perk nonetheless. It should not have been in the contract. But the union was greedy and management was lax in its negotiations. Now we’re stuck with it. However, the actual revenue loss is probably really half what is stated. Without the free passes, these retirees would use the costly services less.