Back To Work

The provincial legislature had a special meeting today at 1:30pm and passed bill 55 which legislated TTC union workers back to work. This was accomplished in a record time of 31 minutes. Imagine what could be accomplished if we had this kind of unity in government on other issues. Normally, it takes months or years to get legislation passed, if ever sometimes. Amazing! The system will be up and running Monday morning. Not that I'm disagreeing with this, but I'm just wondering, what is the point of having the right to strike if we can get legislated back to work so quickly? Don't forget, this was a LEGAL strike. Our contract expired April 1st and there is no legal requirement to give any notice to the public. They did that last week as a courtesy. Basically they are saying we don't have the right to strike, but are not willing at this point to make our service essential. Aren't they saying in effect, it is essential?
I have to say I did not agree with the way in which the union pulled the plug so quickly on service Friday night. They should have allowed the drivers to finish their shifts and make sure everyone got home, then cancelled Saturday service. I think that would have been more responsible and better understood by the public than what happened.
What happened? Why was the offer voted down?
Basically, the operators got a good deal. The maintenance people and mechanics feel they did not, and many drivers voted NO in solidarity with them because they have supported us in the past when we did not get a fair shake.
The issue with them is not about money, but job security. What was happening is that with all the new buses the TTC have been purchasing, they have been bringing in mechanics from the factory into our shops to repair them under warranty, threatening our mechanics job security. Also cleaning work has been threatened to be contracted out, putting those jobs at stake. Also they were not included in a new clause called " The GTA clause " which states that TTC operators would always be the highest paid among all the transit services in the GTA. They wanted to be included in this clause too. The result was a division in the union executive and among union members.
An arbitrator will be appointed by the government IF the two sides cannot agree on a contract, which at this point looks like what is going to happen. There will be time limit of 90 days for the arbitrator to dictate the terms of the contract.
I am wondering now if we will be asked to work to rule. What is that? Basically enforcing all the rules of the TTC. What will that do? Basically shut the system down again. How? Somebody pays $2.00 instead of the $2.75 fare. WE have a fare dispute which can tie a bus up for an hour. If everybody does this, the system doesn't move and we are just doing our jobs. We will get assaulted, drivers will be off on compensation. No drivers, buses don't move.

Silly isn't it? Let's hope things get back on track soon. No pun intended.

STRIKE !

Make a long story short. The contract was voted down by 65% of the membership. We strike in about 37 minutes or midnight tonight. Probably will be out over the weekend and possibly into next week until we get ordered back to work. There are going to many unhappy people. This has never happened before in the history of the TTC. Essential service here we come!

VOTE TODAY !

The new agreement gets voted on later today. I honestly don't know how it will turn out. The Maintenance workers are not happy with it. The operators part looks good to me. Unfortunately, I'm hearing negative comments all over the place. City council is meeting next week to discuss if they will go to the premier and ask him to make us an essential service. The mayor was on the radio and made the mistake of admitting that if we are made an essential service that our wages will go WAY UP just like it did with the police. Now the membership want us to become an essential service. Isn't that a little weird? We have to go on strike to have the right to strike taken away permanently. I didn't have this problem when I was in the insurance business. Although it made just about the same amount of sense as this does at times. Oh well. Gas is going up to $2.25 per litre by the summer of 2009. The HSR is looking better and better every day. One tank of gas would make up the difference in wages, minus the hassle of the commute. I think I will just close my ears and enjoy the ride. It's clearly out of my hands.
................................................................................................................. to be continued.

NO STRIKE !

We were able to avert a strike. A tentative agreement has been reached. It just has to be ratified by the membership with the recommendation of our union executive. In the agreement we will receive a 3% wage increase per year for the next 3 years. There were no concessions made. We gained some ground on benefits as it relates to work related injuries. That's all the details I have, but it looks fairly good on the surface. Praise God! I'm sure there are many relieved commuters. As far as TTC being declared an essential service, that remains unknown at this time. The premier is in favour of it. I'm not sure about the commission. Everybody knows it is an essential service in Toronto. I think eventually, in time, it will be made official. It has to, because striking, in my opinion, is really no longer an option, and I think everyone, including the union, recognises that fact. TTC? HSR? TTC? HSR? The jury is still out on that one too.

STRIKE !

Well, it looks like we will be on strike come Monday morning at 4:00am if we do not have an agreement by 4:00pm Sunday. It's unfortunate we have to play these silly games to try and manipulate the other side. Both sides are equally guilty of this. It's almost like this thing has a life of it's own and is on automatic pilot or something. I have a funny feeling we will have a contract before the deadline. Why does it take a threat to get the other side to do something? It's like let's not fix the thing until it's broke. Haven't they heard of preventative medicine? I think the only thing the public really cares about is getting to work or school or wherever they are going and being able to afford the ride. They really couldn't give a rip what we are paid or what benefits we have as Long as the service is working. Do you blame them? I don't. If I wasn't involved, I wouldn't give a rip either. I think if we do go out, it may be good in that the upper levels of government will have to do something. Either come up with more subsidy or perhaps make us an essential service? Let's hope so. Then the threats can stop and we can get on with our business.

Bulletin Bloopers by Anonymous

Taken from the book " Help, I Can't Stop Laughing"

* Jean will be leading a weight-management series Wednesday nights. She's used the program herself and has been growing like crazy!

* This afternoon there will be a meeting in the South and North ends of the church. Children will be baptized at both ends.

* Tuesday at 4:00pm there will be an ice cream social. All ladies giving milk will please come early.

* Wednesday the ladies liturgy will meet. Mrs. Johnson will sing " Put me in My Little Bed" accompanied by the pastor.

* The service will close with " Little Drops of Water". One of the ladies will start quietly and the rest of the congregation will join in.

* The ladies of the church have cast off clothing of every kind. They can be seen in the church basement Saturday.

* The Lutherans men's group will meet at 6:00pm. Steak, mashed potatoes, green beans, bread and desert will be served for a nominal feel.

* Eight new choir robes are currently needed, due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.

* The senior choir invites any member of the congregation who enjoys sinning to join the choir.

* At evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be
" What Is Hell?" Come early and listen to our choir practice.

* Today........ Christian Youth Fellowship Sexuality Course, 8:00pm. Please park in the rear parking lot for this activity.

* The eighth graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the church basement on Friday at 7:00pm. The congregation is invited to join this tragedy.

* The associate minister unveiled the church's new giving campaign slogan last Sunday:
" I Upped My Pledge- Up Yours."

* A new loudspeaker system has been installed in the church. It was given by one of our members in honour of his wife.

It's going to be a great sunny weekend! Have a good one. BBQ Time!!
What is your favorite food cooked on the BBQ? Mine is steak, potatoes, corn on the cob and roasted vegetables ( onion, red and green peppers, carrots and zucchini) YUMMY!