Now that we know bus drivers can get up to two months of paid sick time after suffering the "assault" of being spit upon, what other perks have slipped into the city's union contracts? The Post dug up some strange rules about everything from overtime to classroom assignments, some of which rival the absurdity of the MTA's spitting policy.
For instance, unionized workers are guaranteed "special excusals" for things like “Moon Landing Observation Day," firefighters are guaranteed 96 hours of overtime a year, and transit workers get to celebrate their birthdays as paid holidays. Also, all those reckless bus drivers may be driving that way on purpose, because drivers who receive traffic summonses on the job get four hours pay if they appear in court and are exonerated. Many contracts also guarantee pay increases for longevity, and mortuary technicians even get an extra $636 a year to deal with rabid animals.
The "spit-leave" falls under the category of assault, and bus, train and subway operators are entitled to two years off for “injuries incurred on duty as a result of physical assaults.” The contract doesn't define assault, and doesn't mention spitting anywhere.
