Toll collectors

[Raider Ronnie]

How the hell are they worth $70 per hr ??????????????
What kind of skill does it take to collect $$$ and make change ???
:n ailem:

[spence]

From what I've heard they on average earn about $70K a year, not 70 dollars an hour. A big difference, although still a lot of money.

Didn't Duval approve the firing of most of these people last year in an effort to save money by replacing them with automated pay stations?

-spence

[Swimmer]

Many were due to be laid off, but weren't. Recall Deval...............

[JohnnyD]

The amount of money they make is a joke. Takes less skill than working at Dunkin or McDonalds.

[TheSpecialist]

they on average earn about $70K a year, not 70 dollars an hour. A big difference, although still a lot of money.

Personally I am sick of the union bashing on this site, who are any of you to say how much money a blue collar person earns is too much. The whole object of working for a living is to provide for your family, I am sure that all of you are making just enough though.

[spence]

Originally Posted by TheSpecialist

Personally I am sick of the union bashing on this site, who are any of you to say how much money a blue collar person earns is too much. The whole object of working for a living is to provide for your family, I am sure that all of you are making just enough though.

And just exactly what did I say that was "union bashing".

Do they make on average 70K a year? Yes, it's a fact.

Is 70K a year a lot of money? I think most people on this site would agree that's not chump change. In context of the service they provide, I think most would also agree that it's a highly compensated job considering the skills necessary.

The idea of a Union is to help keep business from taking advantage of workers, not for the workers to gain an unfair advantage themselves.

-spence

[TheSpecialist]

Is 70K a year a lot of money? I think most people on this site would agree that's not chump change. In context of the service they provide, I think most would also agree that it's a highly compensated job considering the skills necessary.

The idea of a Union is to help keep business from taking advantage of workers, not for the workers to gain an unfair advantage themselves.

So what they should be working for 35k a year? Most people can't afford to buy a house today making 100k a year, and raise a family as well. All I am saying is that no one is saying that white collar people make too much coin, it's always the jobs that are considered blue collar.


If they made more money, then maybe there would be more stay at home moms, and less crap in this world.

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by TheSpecialist

Personally I am sick of the union bashing on this site, who are any of you to say how much money a blue collar person earns is too much. The whole object of working for a living is to provide for your family, I am sure that all of you are making just enough though.

When did anyone say anything about Unions?

When they stop raising the rates *I* have to pay at the tolls because the state doesn't have enough money, then *I* will stop being concerned with how much people being paid with *my* tax dollars receive.

But since you decided to bring it up, I find no coincidence that expenses are always higher when Unions are involved, even though the quality of work doesn't improve.

[TheSpecialist]

When did anyone say anything about Unions?

Lets see first you guys blame the Auto workers for the demise of the american automobile industry, now you complain about toll takers who are earning a decent living.

Let's see the toll takers put up with verbal abuse, possible cancer causing pollution, environmental hazards, and the rish that some idiot will plow into their booth.

On the other hand you have State senators taking bribes, per diems for reporting to a job ( show me a person working in Boston who commutes in the private sector aside form ceo's and gets per diems), pension rules that are a joke and you guys complain about the little guys. It's not the toll takers fault that your pal Deval is raising tolls and taxes. Didn't he promise you lower property taxes, no new taxes, and no higher tolls when he was running??? Why not bitch about the cushy jobs he has been giving to pals, jobs that have not been needed in years?

[fishbones]

Originally Posted by TheSpecialist

So what they should be working for 35k a year? Most people can't afford to buy a house today making 100k a year, and raise a family as well. All I am saying is that no one is saying that white collar people make too much coin, it's always the jobs that are considered blue collar.


If they made more money, then maybe there would be more stay at home moms, and less crap in this world.

So their jobs are harder than the social services worker helping individuals who live in group homes that make less than $35k? Why don't you defend the non-union people who make half of what the toll workers make?

Union or not, they have a job that pays them much more than they would make at other jobs that require the same skill set.

As for the complaining about white collar jobs; did you happen to read any of the comments about the AIG employees?

[cheferson]

Originally Posted by Raider Ronnie

How the hell are they worth $70 per hr ??????????????
What kind of skill does it take to collect $$$ and make change ???
:n ailem:

They probally get paid that , so they keep there sanity! I would go nuts sitting in a booth all day , basically doing nothing.

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by TheSpecialist

Lets see first you guys blame the Auto workers for the demise of the american automobile industry, now you complain about toll takers who are earning a decent living.

Let's see the toll takers put up with verbal abuse, possible cancer causing pollution, environmental hazards, and the rish that some idiot will plow into their booth.

On the other hand you have State senators taking bribes, per diems for reporting to a job ( show me a person working in Boston who commutes in the private sector aside form ceo's and gets per diems), pension rules that are a joke and you guys complain about the little guys. It's not the toll takers fault that your pal Deval is raising tolls and taxes. Didn't he promise you lower property taxes, no new taxes, and no higher tolls when he was running??? Why not bitch about the cushy jobs he has been giving to pals, jobs that have not been needed in years?

So the correct answer to my question about when the subject of Unions was brought up is "never".

Almost any Union work I have seen is shoddy and significantly more expensive than non-union. And I have worked with dozens of different Unions throughout the country.

That's what happens when a whole organization is run with scheduled raises and seniority as opposed to merit-based pay. Doesn't matter if you suck at your job, as long as you do the absolute minimum required, the employer can't fire you.

[JohnnyD]

Also, I deal with verbal abuse at work every day. "Possible cancer causing pollution" and "environmental hazards" are the same thing and has never been proven.

When was the last time a toll worker was killed or even injured in MA because "some idiot plowed into their booth"?

[likwid]

Originally Posted by JohnnyD

Also, I deal with verbal abuse at work every day. "Possible cancer causing pollution" and "environmental hazards" are the same thing and has never been proven.

When was the last time a toll worker was killed or even injured in MA because "some idiot plowed into their booth"?

Not MA, but they're pretty common
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&q=...-8&sa=N&tab=wn

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by likwid

Not MA, but they're pretty common
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&q=...-8&sa=N&tab=wn

Please correct me if I missed something, looking at that page does show a couple accidents all within the last few months. However, I didn't see one case of a toll collector being killed or even injured in any of those incidents.

I have no doubt that accidents are common. I've driven by at least a half dozen of them at tolls on the Pike over the last couple years.

But I'm curious when the last death or even injure to a toll collector was. Those booths have massive, reinforced barriers in front of them. A semi traveling at high speed *might* break through it, but any car would bounce right off.

Unless the incidence of injury is high, or there is a significant level of *proven* hazards (not some idiotic assumptions), then I see no reason why these people get paid over twice the average US citizen's income for a job that is essentially easier than working at McDonald's.

With the pathetic mismanagement of resources like this, it is no surprise that the Mass Transportation budget is hemorrhaging money.

[TheSpecialist]

Please correct me if I missed something, looking at that page does show a couple accidents all within the last few months. However, I didn't see one case of a toll collector being killed or even injured in any of those incidents.

I have no doubt that accidents are common. I've driven by at least a half dozen of them at tolls on the Pike over the last couple years.

But I'm curious when the last death or even injure to a toll collector was. Those booths have massive, reinforced barriers in front of them. A semi traveling at high speed *might* break through it, but any car would bounce right off.

Unless the incidence of injury is high, or there is a significant level of *proven* hazards (not some idiotic assumptions), then I see no reason why these people get paid over twice the average US citizen's income for a job that is essentially easier than working at McDonald's.

With the pathetic mismanagement of resources like this, it is no surprise that the Mass Transportation budget is hemorrhaging money.
Today 01:24 PM

Obviously you are smarter than everyone in the country, maybe you should look into political office.

[Jenn]

$70,000 a year? Where do I apply?

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by Jenn

$70,000 a year? Where do I apply?

You have to be in bed with a high level MA politician...

Unless we have a lot of Sen. Craigs in MA offices, you probably have a better chance than most of us.

[Raider Ronnie]

Originally Posted by TheSpecialist

Personally I am sick of the union bashing on this site, who are any of you to say how much money a blue collar person earns is too much. The whole object of working for a living is to provide for your family, I am sure that all of you are making just enough though.

Hey Bill,
I know the company you work for and you are abviously toe the union line. I know quite a few other guys who work for the same company also.
There was a time when unions were needed in this country when workers were taken advantage of , but those days are long gone and the unions have taken things WAY too far !!!
In this state (Ma.) the most corrupt of them all are city and state unions.
I grew up in the city and personally know 100s of city and state workers and I can tell you 100s of stories of the scams that go on !
Most of those jobs you don't apply for.
You are either born into them through family and or you buy them.
For years in the city it was common knowledge that if you wanted a job with the T, you handed $$$ over to Bill Bulger.
The turnpike authority, Joe Mokley
Then we have the scam that is Boston police and Boston Fire dept.
Ever seen the stat of how many Boston fireman retire on disability , and it's usually at a superior's rate because he just happen to bang in sick the day you slipped on a banana peal, or hurt your back, and for that day he's out you move up in rank.
Why is it that we are the only other state (besides Hawaii ) that you need to have police details ?

[Raider Ronnie]

I stand corrected.
It is 70 k per year average, not $70 per hr
But that still WAY TOO MUCH.

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by Raider Ronnie

Why is it that we are the only other state (besides Hawaii ) that you need to have police details ?

This pisses me off. The amount of money wasted. Then, the state overturns the policy and the flag workers get harassed by off-duty cops. I wish I could find the news story but I can't at the moment.

[Nebe]

Unions are probably one of the top 5 reasons this country is going down the tubes..
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[fishbones]

Anyone see the little stunt the toll takers pulled today? Anyone who drives on toll roads in MA should get a transponder and then they can fire most of them.

[Raider Ronnie]

Originally Posted by fishbones

Anyone see the little stunt the toll takers pulled today? Anyone who drives on toll roads in MA should get a transponder and then they can fire most of them.

It's on the news now.
LOTS of them called in sick !

[BigFish]

You would have to pay me alot more than $70,000.00 a year to sit in that friggin' box making change all day.....thanks...NO!

[striperman36]

35 bucks an hour for a 50 week job, probably a little better with vacation etc.
However, it is a patronage job as I understand it.
If you were out traveling on the Pike this weekend past, there was a lot of traffic and alot of it was parked at toll booths if you didnt have a transponder.

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by striperman36

35 bucks an hour for a 50 week job, probably a little better with vacation etc.
However, it is a patronage job as I understand it.
If you were out traveling on the Pike this weekend past, there was a lot of traffic and alot of it was parked at toll booths if you didnt have a transponder.

Getting a transponder was on of the best commuting decisions I ever made. In some instances, it has cut up to 15 minutes off when I have to drive to Springfield from Mansfield, driving to Springfield from Boston saves almost a half hour sometimes.

Nothing was more upsetting to me than sitting in those long lines at the toll and watching people, one after the other, drive right past me.

[likwid]

Originally Posted by JohnnyD

Please correct me if I missed something, looking at that page does show a couple accidents all within the last few months. However, I didn't see one case of a toll collector being killed or even injured in any of those incidents.

I have no doubt that accidents are common. I've driven by at least a half dozen of them at tolls on the Pike over the last couple years.

But I'm curious when the last death or even injure to a toll collector was. Those booths have massive, reinforced barriers in front of them. A semi traveling at high speed *might* break through it, but any car would bounce right off.

Unless the incidence of injury is high, or there is a significant level of *proven* hazards (not some idiotic assumptions), then I see no reason why these people get paid over twice the average US citizen's income for a job that is essentially easier than working at McDonald's.

With the pathetic mismanagement of resources like this, it is no surprise that the Mass Transportation budget is hemorrhaging money.

Lets see how clean your pants are and how steady you're holding your coffee when a car comes to an abrupt stop about 10 feet away from you.

Ahhh, armchair warriors.

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by likwid

Lets see how clean your pants are and how steady you're holding your coffee when a car comes to an abrupt stop about 10 feet away from you.

Ahhh, armchair warriors.

I'm sure they would need some cleaning. It doesn't change the fact that injuries to toll worker are slim and far between.

Nothing at all warrants being paid $70,000 for a job that only requires the skills of a Middle School education.

[Brian L]

FAST PASS