"Septic" Strike
By Wyatt Earp | November 2, 2005
For those who haven’t heard, the city of Philadelphia is now in Day 3 of a crippling mass transit strike. SEPTA (the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority) drivers, as usual, are walking the picket lines and holding my town hostage. I say “as usual” because it seems that SEPTA strikes (or threatens to do so) every year. The last work stoppage in 1998 lasted over 40 days.
I have little sympathy for SEPTA – which is universally regarded as the worst (and most expensive) mass transit system in the nation – primarily because police officers are forbidden by law to strike . . . and we usually get screwed more than Paris Hilton.
Which brings me to my beloved employer. Every night since the walkout, the top brass have been ordering officers to work an Emergency Response Team (ERT). This idea is ridiculous during my shift (11pm X 7am), where the chance of a picket line riot is non-existent. As a result, the cops assigned to the ERT spend eight hours sitting in a district HQ twiddling their thumbs, awaiting a radio call that probably will not come.
Now, I’m no genius (obviously), but wouldn’t it be more productive to keep the officers in their district to answer 911 calls, instead of having them warm a bench somewhere? Just a thought.
Editor’s Note: Yours truly is scheduled to work the wagon again tonight. Under my not-so-supervisor’s “fair” system, this will be my third time in seven days. My loss is your gain, since post-wagon writing usually generates the most positive response. I’m not sure if you guys are laughing with me or at me, but . . .
Topics: Uncategorized | 8 Comments »
November 2nd, 2005 at 12:57 pm
you leave Paris Hilton out of this, she is just a misunderstood, sweet, kind, upstanding, scared little girl!!
Wow, I said that with a straight face and without cracking up!
I hate mass transit, It is a huge waste of Taxpayers money!!
November 2nd, 2005 at 2:35 pm
Hey I’m one of those bench warmers you mentioned and I’m hoping Septa doesn’t resume talks at least until Monday. I requested the detail for Sunday so I can watch the football game instead of having to push the car all night on 4 x 12.
Besides Wyatt, the cops the supervisors are sending to the ERT (in your squad) are cops that generally wouldn’t do any work on the street anyway.
November 2nd, 2005 at 3:21 pm
I always laugh WITH you. Well, OK maybe not always, but usually:)
November 2nd, 2005 at 4:37 pm
Here you go:
http://rightwingnation.com/index.php/2005/10/31/370/
November 2nd, 2005 at 5:47 pm
Paris Hilton eh? Should I be buying stock in vaseline? Wait…don’t answer that! No answer is a good answer. Oo
November 2nd, 2005 at 6:21 pm
Too bad you have the wagon tonight. It’s a bring-down night too. It get’s worce Wyatt. Come January, Bring-downs will be 3 days a week. Promotions soon I heard though. Good luck.
Partner#1 is right. The guys that got sent last night are total bums.
November 2nd, 2005 at 6:25 pm
BTW…
I’m sure you’ve figured out who I am by now. Call my cell tonight. I’ll tell you a secret about the bringdowns.
November 2nd, 2005 at 7:06 pm
Steve – I think you can get crabs by ust mentioning her name. Use caution.
Partner #1 – Hey!!! ‘Bout time you commented here. Oh, and thanks for the crack – they told me they were thinking of sending ME there tonight before they stuck me on the wagon. (Of course, I don’t do anything anyway.)
SK – I’ll take “usually.”
Prof – Giddyup!
Uber – Must . . . resist . . . wiseass . . . comment!
Wagon – Hopefully, I’ll be outta there by then. And I’m not a smart man. Call me on MY cell and tell me who the hell you are! I think I have you narowed down to three people, but I need a better hint!