TTC workers about to hit the picket lines by Monday
After intense negotiations between the TTC and their union ATU local 113, it seems that they have finally plotted a legal strike position: starting on Monday morning.
Amalgamated Transit Union local 113 president Bob Kinnear told in a press conference that all of his members are prepared to walk off the job by Monday if something does not get settled by Sunday Afternoon. Then the ripple effect will happen, leaving many people trying to find ways on how to get around Toronto. With the majority of riders are college/university students preparing to write their exams, it seems that they have to live against the odds.
“If no such offer is forthcoming, we will begin to notify our members not to show up for their scheduled shifts,…We are giving nearly twice as much time because we know the mayor is in China and we want to give him some time to step into this situation and do what is fair. There is still time for the mayor to stop this action.”
The union had promised that 48 hours will be given to all passengers. GO Transit has written up a contingency plan but their system is operating way beyond capacity. Feeder transit systems such as Mississauga, Brampton, York Region and Durham Region has yet to provide some plans, but they are often similar to GO’s. Back to the TTC, the ATU local 113 are not the only unions to go on strike. CUPE Local 2, representing the 500 signal and electrican workers are trying to negotiate with the TTC as well. Another union, the IAMDL local 235 are on the same bucket as CUPE and the ATU. It’s sheer ultimatium going on in the round of negotiations.
(don’t try to) Hold on to your breath. You may never know if they will succeed or not….Stay tuned for further updates…
To finish this blog off and to fit this setting, I’m leaving you a music video by a band called Paramore. Their music video is called, “Misery Business”. Now the reason I selected this music video is that the TTC couldn’t make their mind for the unions involved. If you were to view my post now and are a worker for the TTC, give yourself a second thought – by watching this music video, you will see the challenges you had faced everyday. I hope this helps.
Paramore – Misery Business:
References:
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_21788.aspx
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_21804.aspx – alternatives on using the TTC during the strike
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080417/ttc_strike_080417/20080417?hub=Canada
http://blogto.com/city/2008/04/get_out_your_walking_shoes_ttc_strike_to_start_monday_april_21_2008/
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/415382
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601082&sid=aTfLJjvSxVh0&refer=canada
[...] many riders are scrambling to find alternative ways in the event of the possible TTC strike this Monday, the City of Toronto has implemented a traffic contingency plan. Most streets will be [...]
riders brace for impact as the TTC strike looms near « Simon Tonekham’s Blog
April 19, 2008 at 9:20 am