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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.
Adam Riff checks in on the television show Degrassi: The Next Generation and stumbles into this scene:
Emma: My home life sucks!
Damian: Check this out. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers. He’s my favourite author.
Emma: Wow! You’re the first guy I’ve met who even has a favourite author.
Damian: His life goes haywire and he just…deals.
Emma: I could learn a thing or two from that!
Damian: Call me later. I’d love to hear what you think of the book.
Damian: Still working on the book?
Emma: I’m STAGGERED by its genius!
Damian: Clever…
Emma: Eggers! Eggers! Come!
A dog approaches.
Damian: You got a dog?
Emma: Yeah. I found him on Craigslist. I named him “Eggers.” Maybe we can walk him together!
Two thoughts:
- Someone should notify Dave Eggers. I think he’d get a kick out of this.
- The character of Emma perfectly illustrates the depth to which most people engage literature.
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.
Nerrrrrrrrrrrrrds!
When I accepted the position of b5media’s technical project manager, Jeremy Wright said “come up with a less-formal sounding title”. I did a little Googling and figured that I could “own” the term “Nerd Wrangler”. It’s happened — I pretty much own the first page of results for the search term “nerd wrangler”, with and without quotes.
Photo courtesy of Miss Fipi Lele.
According to a Globe and Mail written by Jeff Gray, my old editor at the Queen’s Journal, things aren’t looking good in the current labour negotiations with the TTC:
Talks between the Toronto Transit Commission and its largest union are about to reach a “boiling point,” one source says, as the union – which has promised the city 48 hours notice before it walks off the job – ponders holding a news conference tomorrow.
While sources on both sides said continuing talks at a Richmond Hill hotel have been less confrontational than the last round in 2005, union and management have been largely mum since Bob Kinnear, president of Local 113 of the Amalgamated Transit Union, gathered reporters last week to list demands but commit to continuing talks until as late as today.
Mr. Kinnear, who is at the bargaining table, was not available for comment yesterday. But sources said the union was contemplating holding another news conference tomorrow to provide an update, although as of late yesterday afternoon, no decision had been made. More talks were scheduled for today.
As Torontoist puts it, “It’s this kind of thing that makes you glad to have a powerful, decisive mayor around to intervene at a moment’s notice.” Alas, the mayor’s on a trade mission to China. So continues David Miller’s descent from well-meaning Bob Rae-like leader to mega-lame-o Michael Scott-like leader.