TTC Strike
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.
April 17th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
My thoughts, to tell u the truth i think they could go ____ them selves . what we as the people should do is get rid of them the buses the union and say good buy, bring in someone who will not suck the goverment and our city dry and hold them hostage. give them a wage that is resonable, were the fares are low enuff that people will use it, more buses and subway lines no more strikes and set wage incresses at a rate that is 2% each year as long as the city is standing. p.s.GET RID OF THE RED ROCKET
Carly’s Note: Well, I do see their point about disability. I’d be angry, too, if my boss was entitled to more in job-related disability compensation when I’m the one who’s most likely to be hurt on the job. I don’t think they’re making any friends by holding the citizens of the GTA ransom.
April 17th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
This space isn’t big enough for an anti-union rant, so I’ll try and refrain a little.
I too am in a blessed position because I can walk to work from where I live, although it’s not optimal in bad weather. Mind you, work has slowed somewhat, so even that’s moot. But nonetheless, I think it’s ridiculous the amount of strikes the TTC has been on in the last few years. The system is crumbling, the fares are rising and the workers only want more. In the past while there has been a major problem on the TTC every day. Enough to halt service in some shape. More than a few times has it taken me the same amount of time to get to work via TTC than it would have had I walked - all due to long waits.
After that 2006 wildcat (illegal!) strike you mentioned (that one cost me a job!) I was most displeased to walk into a subway station and see 6 of the union repair crew sitting around and not working on the obvious hole in the wall that needed repair. Maybe they were on a legitimate break, who knows? But the timing wasn’t good.
Everyone is always going on about their ‘rights’ in our society. But I don’t hear a single person mentioning responsibilities, especially not the unions.
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
I’ll stop ranting now.
-S.B.
Carly’s Note: I think they should have just stopped collecting fares. The TTC is going to lose money either way. P.S. Thanks for the Latin lesson!
April 17th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
I work in western Toronto but live in Whitby, so I drive to work. I bought five TTC tokens last summer and I’ve got one left, so that should tell you how much I use the TTC. I use it mostly when I’m going downtown, which is not often at all, but I’ll be downtown this Monday for the Jays game and to pick up a prize from the Jack Nation vault. I also have the day off on Monday, and I’ll just use the GO train from Whitby, so the TTC strike won’t affect me one bit, I hope.
Carly’s Note: I guess it depends how long the strike lasts and the time of your commute. The extra cars on the road could slow you down.
April 18th, 2008 at 7:01 am
Since you believe in conspiracies I am going to float this one out there for you. Wasn’t the TTC supposed to strike back last winter? Now that the weather is better, the mayor conveniantly is away till sunday. Looks like nothing will get resolved before the deadline. So the Union and the TTC have a 2 or 3 day strike. Create all kinds of Kaos on the roads, people especially the ones who live and work in the downtown core will now either bike or walk more to work. People who commute from the burbs where I live may perhaps jump on GO transit. Thus the plan is to see if more people will find alternatives to driving in this mess. The Mayor arrives home a deal is trotted out and the Union goes back to work and everyone slaps each other on the back for a job well done. Do you think this one has any credibility ?
Carly’s Note: The thing is, though, that it damages the TTC’s reputation. You’d think the goal would be to get more people to take the TTC. The people with the longest commutes may give the GO a try to avoid the extra volume on the roads, but people who normally take the TTC for shorter distances will be driving and might not go back to public transportation once they are reminded of the convenience of taking one’s own car.
April 18th, 2008 at 7:39 am
I guess the only affect it would have on me is yes the volume of traffic in the morning but I’m lucky enough to only live about 10 minutes by car from my office and we have free parking… so not to much there…. now how else would it affect me….. well my hubby works for TTC and truthfully the workers are not looking forward to a strike….. they have to do what the union advises which in alot of times is for their benefit. Believe me… the average TTC worker is so mis-understood….. All of these fair hikes and government funds….. really don’t trickle down to the average worker…. their benefits are good, but in some instances really suck…. I support the TTC… Hope they DO NOT go on strike, cause I’ve got some bills to pay and with him off……. it’s gonna be tough…. but not to worry….. I’m gonna say if it does happen…… it won’t last long… a day or 2….. just my opinion
Carly’s Note: Thanks for giving us another perspective.
April 18th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
they will just be legislated back to work……just a matter of how long before the government acts! and they know that!
Carly’s Note: You’re right on the money.
April 18th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Thanks to someone who will remain nameless right now, I have become an avid TTC rider and follower. Put aside all the issues and focus on one. As an employee of the city of Toronto I would like to know why they are not entitled to the same financial protection that a Police Officer or Fire Depaartment employee is entitled to if they are injured on job. Why are they being forced into accepting less money when they are recovering from an attack or injury on themselves by some worthless individual who couldn’t really care less about who or what thes people do. If a cop gets hurt while on the job, they still receive their full pay and the same is applicable to the Firefighters as well to other municipal employees. Drivers should be entitled to the same as should every other employee, but the drivers I have spoken too have all assured me that this is not the case for them if they are off due to an attack or injury. The city is financially compensated by the Compensation Board so why aren’t the employees being paid in FULL. I don’t like the idea of a strike or having to WALK anywhere, but if it takes the drivers walking off the job to get the attention of the TTC board and that David Miller guy who misrepresents himself as a leader, then I am 100% in support of the drivers walking out. I have no doubt that they will be legislated back to work, but thats fine with me, atleast the bargaining with peoples sick benefits will eventually stop. I don’t believe that an arbitrator would ever rule against these hard working individuals, who actually meet some of the worst people anyony person would ever have to deal with. One last comment, David Miller should keep his mouth shut while he’s out of the country spending taxpayers dollars if he hasn’t got anything productive or positive to say, he’s just inflaming the issues at hand.
Carly’s Note: Thanks for sharing your opinion. If we deem TTC workers equivalent to police and firefighters, then they should be compensated the same way when injured on the job. By the same token, that would make them an essential service and not permitted to strike legally.