TTC Strike
Thursday, April 17th, 2008
Unless an agreement is reached by 4 p.m. on Sunday between the union and TTC negotiators, TTC drivers and operators will not report for work starting at 4 a.m. on Monday.
Fortunately for me, I can walk to work, as well as the grocery store, but it will cramp my social life somewhat. Either I won’t be able to attend certain events or I’ll have to pay for a cab - if I can get one to even stop for me!
The last time the TTC went on strike in May 2006, I was working in Ottawa, but still lived in Toronto. I was home for the weekend and expected to take the first subway train to Union at 6 a.m. on Monday, so I could get the 6:55 a.m. VIA train to Ottawa and go straight to work. Of course, the door to the subway station was locked, so there I was at the corner of Yonge and Bloor with my suitcase and a crowd of other hapless commuters trying to hail a cab. Because I had luggage, I finally got one to stop for me, but when the driver realized I was going to the train station and not the airport, he said, “Sorry, I’m not going that way.” I’m not going that way? You’re a taxi driver, you’re going wherever I’m going! But no, he didn’t deem the $10.00 fare worthy of his time and sped off. I was in shock. I finally managed to get a taxi to stop for me and I tipped the guy handsomely because if it hadn’t been for him, I would have missed my train and work that afternoon.
What are your thoughts on the strike? What impact would it have on you? Even if you drive to work, you’ll still be affected because there will be more cars on the road and fewer parking spots. It’s going to be ugly. For a list of the streets downtown that will not permit parking in order to accommodate the extra traffic, check out our sister station’s website at www.680news.com. Today’s Jack Nation bonus code is TTC and it’s valid until April 19th.