Category: The Current Situation

Here’s the word from the folks at CP24:

TTC Union boss Bob Kinnear has laid out the terms of avoiding a TTC strike: land a deal by 4pm Sunday or his members will walk off the job at 4am Monday. A disruption would shut down all buses, streetcars and subway cars for 1.5 million riders.

He’s pleading with Mayor David Miller to get involved to avoid a crippling walkout, and admits “most of the public won’t be on our side.”

Damn right most of the public won’t be on your side, Kinnear. With steadily worsening service and lame union propaganda, even your most ardent supporters are fed up.

If There’s to be a Strike, We’ll Hear About It Very Soon

The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113, the union of workers for the Toronto Transit Commission, is expected to make some kind of announcement today, and the current news reports say that it’s likely they will strike. The union promised 48 hours’ notice for a strike, which means that if a strike is announced, the real traffic chaos will happen on Monday.

Some news reports for your perusal:

• Toronto Star: TTC Union Set to Announce Monday Strike
• The Globe and Mail: TTC Union Eyes Monday a.m. Strike
• Toronto Life: Enough from Bob Kinnear. It’s time for the TTC to speak up
• Toronto Sun: TTC strike watch continues
• National Post: Time to cut a deal, guys: A TTC strike would be a disaster

A Very Telling Statement About the Union

The most telling statement about the union appears in the first paragraph of this article in yesterday’s National Post:

Amalgamated Transit Union 113, which represents about 9,000 employees at the Toronto Transit Commission – 3,500 maintenance workers, about 4,500 bus, subway and streetcar drivers, plus ticket collectors and others – has invited the press to the Sheraton Hotel in Richmond Hill tomorrow for an “update” on its contract talks with TTC management. When I asked why the union negotiates, and meets the press, at a hotel not served by the TTC, a source replied, “There is lots of free parking.” What that logic tells you about both sides’ belief in public transit is a matter I will leave up to the reader.

The missus has been watching the Toronto Transit Commission’s press conference on CP24 and took notes on Twitter. Here’s the scoop:

• They say that they are not paid too much.
• TTC fares have gone up at a rate double that of TTC employee wages.
• The TTC is the least subsidized urban transit system in North America.
• They are NOT giving their notice for a strike.
• They are asking Adam Giambrone to step in and take over negotiations, and talks will continue through next week.
• Apparently, they hate Gary Webster and think they’re more likely to reach an agreement with Giambrone.