Bassetluv
Well-Known Member
Well, this one has to do with OC Transpo, our public transit here in Ottawa. I rely on the bus to go to work every day, to go shopping, get groceries (sometimes), etc. On Dec. 10th the Amalgamated Transit Union representing bus drivers, mechanics and dispatchers voted to go on strike, issues concerning scheduling of drivers being at the forefront, I believe. Negotiations began, deals were offered, workers were being given adjusted schedules, pay raises factored in over the next 3 years (3.25, 2, and 2 percent pay increases), two more sick days added on per year, etc. (They already have a pretty good benefit and retirement pkg in place, and are already highly paid.)
Anyway, the city was in talks with the union but the union kept rejecting offers and walking away, holding out for more. Finally the city called in the minister of labor to intervene, asking her to order the union to take a vote to accept the latest offer...and she finally did. But the union is reported to be urging its members to vote not to accept the offer. If they do, the strike could potentially go on for months.
For me, I'm upset because this strike has affected countless thousands of people. I'm fortunate in that I can commute with my sister to work - we both work at the same place - but even if I couldn't, it is potentially within walking distance (about 50-55 minutes' walk on a summer day). But this strike is affecting others deeply. Within the first week of the strike commuters who normally would take 30-40 minutes to get to work via car were spending upwards of 2-3 hours on the road, traffic was so gridlocked. Some businesses are saying they are going to go under because of loss of revenue - many of their customers cannot get to their stores without public transit; others are losing jobs because they work shifts and cannot find rides to get to work every day; senior citizens who rely on public transit for drs appts, going to the grocery store, etc. are affected. In Toronto when public transit workers went on strike last year, within a week they were ordered back to work because they are considered an essential service. Here? Because one of OC Transpo's routes crosses the bridge and goes to Quebec, the law dictates that the service falls under Federal jurisdiction rather than provincial, thus they cannot be deemed an essential service under provincial law. (Insert another, bigger ARRRGG!!!) All I can say is, I hope they get this resolved soon. AND I really hope the gov't will be brave enough to get around political logistics to designate OC Transpo an essential service once and for all. In the 20 years I've lived here, they've threatened strike action at least 5 times, and this is the 3rd time they've walked off the job, thus crippling the city and hurting a great many citizens.
Okay, end of rant.
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Anyway, the city was in talks with the union but the union kept rejecting offers and walking away, holding out for more. Finally the city called in the minister of labor to intervene, asking her to order the union to take a vote to accept the latest offer...and she finally did. But the union is reported to be urging its members to vote not to accept the offer. If they do, the strike could potentially go on for months.
For me, I'm upset because this strike has affected countless thousands of people. I'm fortunate in that I can commute with my sister to work - we both work at the same place - but even if I couldn't, it is potentially within walking distance (about 50-55 minutes' walk on a summer day). But this strike is affecting others deeply. Within the first week of the strike commuters who normally would take 30-40 minutes to get to work via car were spending upwards of 2-3 hours on the road, traffic was so gridlocked. Some businesses are saying they are going to go under because of loss of revenue - many of their customers cannot get to their stores without public transit; others are losing jobs because they work shifts and cannot find rides to get to work every day; senior citizens who rely on public transit for drs appts, going to the grocery store, etc. are affected. In Toronto when public transit workers went on strike last year, within a week they were ordered back to work because they are considered an essential service. Here? Because one of OC Transpo's routes crosses the bridge and goes to Quebec, the law dictates that the service falls under Federal jurisdiction rather than provincial, thus they cannot be deemed an essential service under provincial law. (Insert another, bigger ARRRGG!!!) All I can say is, I hope they get this resolved soon. AND I really hope the gov't will be brave enough to get around political logistics to designate OC Transpo an essential service once and for all. In the 20 years I've lived here, they've threatened strike action at least 5 times, and this is the 3rd time they've walked off the job, thus crippling the city and hurting a great many citizens.
Okay, end of rant.
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