TTC headed for a strike?

[The Bandit]

Here we go again, the TTC holding the passengers hostage because the Union has told their members to reject the offer.

Drivers and ticket collectors make on average $26.48 an hour, and are being offered a 2% increase(0.53cents).

 

[basketcase]

Maybe the union is just trying to be green and encourage people to walk. So what if it tkes a couple hours.

 

[carguy34]

$26 dollars an hour to sit in a glass booth and watch people walk by and drop coins into a little glass container .... fuck, you can get a homeless person to do that !! and once in awhile they have to make change for someone, for this they get paid 26 dollars an hour ?? For 26 dollars an hour these lazy fucks should also be cleaning the dirty washrooms in the subways!! This is what's wrong with the TTC, these ticket collectors actually make more money than many people who have a university education ! Fuckin union !!! No wonder the TTC is falling apart. The TTC should be run by the provincial government !

 

[1HandInMyPocket]

I believe the Union recommended rejecting the deal because of some benefits they would lose. I don't agree with the strike, and didn't they just strike recently or at least threaten to?

 

[a 1 player]

The TTC should be run by the provincial government !

If I'm not mistaken they are unionized as well.

 

[Corey]

First, TTC drivers say their work environment is equal to rape, war conditions and natural disasters.

Now, the union says each employee is worth $1 million.

http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/332062

"Meanwhile, three TV ads are asking riders to consider what Toronto would be like without public transit. The ad campaign is based on a report that puts the TTC's value at nearly $12 billion annually – or about $1 million for each of the system's 10,000 employees."

I am now for busting their union.

 

[a 1 player]

First, TTC drivers say their work environment is equal to rape, war conditions and natural disasters.

They should try being a supervisor for a CAW shop then.

Now, the union says each employee is worth $1 million.

Based upon a $50,000 per annum job, and working for 20 years they would be correct.

"Meanwhile, three TV ads are asking riders to consider what Toronto would be like without public transit. The ad campaign is based on a report that puts the TTC's value at nearly $12 billion annually – or about $1 million for each of the system's 10,000 employees."

The only reason a business is in business is to make money. Weccome to capatalism. If they do not like the wages or the working conditions, one is free to look for a new job. (assuming the working conditions are in accordance withe the OHSA of course).

I am now for busting their union.

Keep in mind union positions are elected positions, in essence the stewards are politicians. They have to fight and make a stink to show the membership that they are doing 'something', in order to get themselves reelected. It's part of the game.

 

[carguy34]

First, TTC drivers say their work environment is equal to rape, war conditions and natural disasters.


No one is forcing them to be bus drivers, they are the ones that chose to drive buses for a living, if they don't like it find something else !

 

[stinkynuts]

For all that they get paid, the majority of ttc workers have really bad attitudes. I've had to deal with so many rude drivers and ticket collectors.

 

[Brookstone]

For all that they get paid, the majority of ttc workers have really bad attitudes. I've had to deal with so many rude drivers and ticket collectors.

Right on!! Thats my point all these years. If they want more money, at least be nice to people. Its just common courtesy. Every so often they cry about being underpaid etc, but you go on a subway the same day, and you can still see people with bad attitudes or i guess some with anger issues.
I used to like taking the subway, but in last couple years, i've actually tried to avoid it.

If anyone needs a raise its the people that are in the mid-income range. Minimum wage gets raised, people who gets more money and with a union wants more money every so often. Just the 9-5 person making mid range salary and without a union cant say/do anything.

I say get rid of them all and start fresh!
This issue is never going to stop. Every so often you hear about TTC going on strike, and it will never end.

 

[Dick Starbuck]

Unions have outlived their usefulness, too much corruption (much like every other facet of society). They make lazy slobs even lazier (is that a word?), and should be outlawed, every man for himself!

I don't like my job much, but I ALWAYS have the option to look elsewhere, no one's forcing me to stay, and I certainly don't want union support.

My dad was a truck driver in a union. Every few years, they'd go on strike, even though he didn't want to. He'd end up losing a few weeks pay, just to get 20 cents more an hour! He used to tell me it would take years to earn back what he'd lost by walking out, and he was more or less right. Oh, and he would get paid by the union to walk the picket line, something like 10 bucks a day (don't spend it all in one place!).

Those who want and support unions are generally slackers, IMHO.

 

[Rockslinger]

The ad campaign is based on a report that puts the TTC's value at nearly $12 billion annually – or about $1 million for each of the system's 10,000 employees."

$12B annually! Let's sell the TTC to a private equity firm and the City of Toronto can collect $12B every year. It is not the TTC employees that are worth $1MM each, it is the passengers that are worth $1MM each.

 

[Keebler Elf]

... and are being offered a 2% increase (0.53cents).

Which is less than inflation and less than the average increase in the last published MOL highlights for November 2007: http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/lr/highlights/cbh2007-11_1.html

Note that 2% is even less than the private sector increase. So much for being greedy union bastards...

 

[Keebler Elf]

No one is forcing them to be bus drivers, they are the ones that chose to drive buses for a living, if they don't like it find something else !

The hypocrisy.

Making a statement like this and then saying it's the TTC employees who are being rude.

 

[Keebler Elf]

Those who want and support unions are generally slackers, IMHO.

Someone without a clue.

 

[Keebler Elf]

So before all the union bashers/haters decide to add me to their hate list, I'll make a couple comments.

Firstly, I'm not in a union. In fact, I work for management. I have been in unions before and I know what they're all about. I know the politics. I know why things are done and why "unreasonable" positions are taken. I also know that the majority of union bashers are ignorant pricks that are the sorts of people who are the drivers for why unions exist.

The bottom line is that if you're a fair and reasonable employer who doesn't treat their employees poorly, chances are you won't be unionized (unless, of course, if you're in a heavily unionized sector).

But if you're some classical management prick who thinks unions are out of date and do nothing but protect slackers, well guess what? It won't be long before a certification drive starts up at your workplace and I have absolutely no sympathy for you. In fact, I'll laugh at you when the union bends you over a barrel and fucks you up the ass. You deserve it for not being smart enough to treat your employees reasonably.

Employers get the unions they deserve. Remember that.

 

[toughb]

Strike?

Let's hope it's a long, say six months, strike. I bet we get by and then who needs these overpaid union types.

Bust them up they way the post office union was.

 

[Keebler Elf]

In regards to the OP's question, this is just an early move in what amounts to a game of chess. Undoubtedly the city is crying poor (as they always do) and lowballed the union with an offer of 2%. Pfft, if I was the union negotiators I'd be telling them to go fuck themselves too. Take a look at all the other city settlements. They're not 2%. Then take a look at average industry increases and just general increases across the economy. It's higher than 2%. So this is just a lowball initial offer from the city that is expected to be rejected.

We're a long way from a strike. There's a lot more negotiating to do. And in the end you'll see a wage increase that's perfectly in line with the TTC's comparators.

The TTC is well known for having horrible labour relations with its union. Why? Because the TTC continues to be run like an employer from the 1950s. They haven't grown up and evolved. And guess what? The union responds in the same manner. Result? A shitty labour relations environment.

 

[Keebler Elf]

Let's hope it's a long, say six months, strike. I bet we get by and then who needs these overpaid union types.

You obviously don't take public transit. The city would practically collapse after a 2-week strike, let alone a 6-month strike.

 

[Stradler]

If they do go on strike I feel for people who make minimum wage who have to take the TTC to work. What are they going to do take a taxi. Instead of striking they should first work to rule.