680News - Lisa Brandt

Where were you when the TTC stopped rolling?

Several would-be transit riders sent me passionate emails about getting stranded by the surprise strike at midnight Friday. They walked long distances. They hoped in vain for cabs to come along and if they did see a taxi, they paid dearly for a ride.

Perhaps the worst part of the situation was the confusion it caused. Many people were caught totally unaware and stood out on the streets waiting in vain for red rockets that never launched. It must have been a very eerie feeling. The last they had heard, the union would give 48 hours notice before any strike action and predictions that the three-year deal would be ratified. Neither proved to be the case.

Now they’re back to work. Transit rolled as usual this morning, albeit with concerns about worker safety. Some feared they would be held responsible by angry riders, and spit on, or worse. It’s pretty disgusting that people would actually have to be reminded to be nice to drivers. Holding an individual responsible for the actions of a union isn’t just foolhardy, it’s wrong and it’s futile.

If you were inconvenienced, write a letter to union head Bob Kinnear or TTC chair, Adam Giambrone, who says he will have details on a Metropass rebate later in the week. Meantime we’ll watch the talks closely as they continue with an arbitrator.