Home Asides Arbitrator upholds Meehan dismissal

Arbitrator upholds Meehan dismissal

by Benjamin Kabak

Remember the story of Edward Meehan? He’s the bus driver who has been suspended 15 times by the MTA for a series of infractions including speeding and running red lights. The MTA finally moved to fire him two weeks ago after he was caught using a Staten Island express bus for less-than-wholesome meetings with local women, and of course, his union filed an appeal.

Well, the story ends well: Meehan’s firing has been upheld by an arbitrator. Meehan, says the arbitrator, engaged in “outrageous behavior.” “Discharge is the only appropriate penalty,” the decision says. Justice, after 15 suspensions. Seems like a sound process to me.

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4 comments

JP June 29, 2011 - 4:19 pm

It should be a three strikes rule. There’s no sense letting unions continue to run the city. They have enough power as is.

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Joey Osmond Billberg June 29, 2011 - 5:18 pm

But hosting prostitutes on company/city property is good enough grounds for dismissal, how can ANYONE defend that???? It sounds like justice does not apply to this schmuck! 15 strikes is too much, 1 strike is enough.

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Anon June 29, 2011 - 6:32 pm

15 sounds exorbitant
but lets say this guy is on the road 280 days a year for 5 years…
that’s 1,400 days on the Road and 16 infractions…
let look into this some more…
he is on the Road for about 7 hours a day I assume..
Lets call that an even 10,000 hours driving in 5 years (and thats

not counting his personal driving habits).

How many hours do *you* drive a week? 5 Years?

15 sounds like alot but probably not if you are a professional driver.

What’s the average number infractions per year?

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Bolwerk June 30, 2011 - 2:58 am

What does it take to have the TWU back away from defending an employee? Child molestation?

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