To ATU Local 279
This has been a difficult few days for Ottawa residents and I am sure it has also been very tough on the drivers and their families. Nobody seems to want this strike and I can assure you that Council wants it to come to an end as soon as possible and we urge the union to allow the members to vote on our offer.
To the citizens of Ottawa, I want to thank you for your continued patience as we deal with this major inconvenience. I hope that you will continue to reach out to your neighbors and co-workers to find ways of offering assistance to those less fortunate and that you continue to increase the amount of car pooling in Ottawa.
This blog will focus on some technical issues and is intended to inform everyone so we can get a better idea of the offer around scheduling. These answers are a direct result of questions posted on my blog or sent directly to me, members of Council and OC Transpo. I hope it helps you understand the City’s position.
I would guess your question would be: What is so important about scheduling? The wage and benefits offer is easy to understand. Less so on the issue of scheduling and that is what this blog is about.
Alain Mercier from OC Transpo has prepared answers to your questions and has sent them to ATU leadership. I thought I would share them with you today. Please click here to view the details.
December 14th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Mr. O’Brien,
I’m very torn. On one hand I’m unbelievably shocked that the leader of the AUT is so cold-hearted, and stonewalls any difficult questions with poorly thought out and under experienced answers.
Its extremely frustrating as a citizen of Ottawa who commutes using public transit to sit back and watch this joker be at the helm of something that impacts so many peoples lives, even against their will from some of the drivers feedback I have read.
On the other hand Mr. O’Brien it seems that ever since you have taken over the Mayor ship in Ottawa, bad decisions and broken promises have been frequent. I agree, this city needs to be run more like a business however, an ethical business that is committed to meeting its commitments, not one that takes any means necessary to sway its customers into voting them into office by making promises that are borderline impossible to keep.
I pray for a speedy resolution to this transit issue so that I can regain some faith in our City’s management and in the necessary stability that a transit system (in a city with a population of 1 million people) needs to have.
I believe that your citizens are quickly losing any remaining trust that they have placed in you and your council. I find it sad that only one person (Mr. Bloess) had the insight to recognize that transit needs to be an essential service, and after this mess is all over I hope that this insight comes to fruition in order to protect Ottawa’s citizens and economy from future unnecessary turmoil caused by OC Transpo and their Union boss.
Concerned Citizen,
Steve M
December 14th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Explain to me Mr Mayor why you putting the peices together vs us putting peices together from a list you provide is going to make this difference you promise?
Currently you say the union controls scheduling and I the driver tell you that I pick 2 pieces from a board that the city provides? How am I wrong?
Please explain why if this deal is good for everyone - why did you offer us 1400$ to accept it? Why after rejecting it unanimously did you up your offer to 2000$. Why do you need to have cash incentives to accept a deal that so obviously improves our quality of life? improves the city? Does seem reasonable that it would be necessary.
In your bulletin you state “improve the drivers quality of life“. Please define quality of life for me? For me personally my quality of life has my wife, son and expected new born on the top of the list, then the food and home for them to be safe in. Please tell me how keeping me away from that for longer periods and for more days will “improve my quality of life“? Simply doesn`t add up sir. Tell me please I beg you how you are going to improve my quality of life. Did you improve my quality of life when you took 6 sick days away from me? How about when you send me letters at home questioning my physician for the time off he suggested? How about threatning my job because I didn`t give you a note for one of those 6 days? Please Mr Mayor answer this for me.
I Thank you for the opportunity.
Noah.
December 14th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
By increasing the amount of long 6`s as you state - does that not also mean drivers will be forced to work 20 hrs over 2 wkds to make up their hours in a 80hr pay period? 6hrs x 10 = 60 hrs (need 18 more min.)
December 14th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Can you guarantee us that you will not split night runs to create a new approach to relief runs?
Can you guarantee that you will not cut any of the already straight runs?
You suggest you simply want to work on peiced runs so will you guarantee to have more or the same amount of straight run work?
December 14th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Currently on the Saturday peiced together boards that you are touting, we are paid through if the split is less than an hour. Will you keep this in or better yet will you offer us the same on your daily proposal? Or am I correct in thinking that it won`t matter because you will put the splits as far apart as possible to maximize having us work your 13.5 spread? Please clarify.
December 14th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
you say that members will still be able to pick thier days off so it is not block booking.
please clarify for me - If I can only work 6 hrs a day, peiced together by you the city, how will i get days off? for every day off - I would need to replace 6hrs somewhere else in the week, so that would be on weekends? with 6hrs days I already need 20 hrs on the weekends to get my 80hrs - how do I get days off other than one or possibly 2 sundays? I don`t understand this point?
December 14th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
“How would Operators benefit from management’s proposal?
By having management organize the workdays that go on the board at Bookings, it
becomes possible:
• for Operators to build for themselves:
- more consistent work schedules (no one left with too little work time in a day);
- a 3rd day off every two weeks for those who were doing mostly Short 6’s;
- a 4-day week for those who decide to pick 10-hour work days.
-
• and for management to set up:
- guaranteed minimum recovery time between trips;
- guaranteed eight (8) hours of rest in a row in every 24-hour period;
- much reduced unpaid travel time between runs (relief on the street).“
We currently can have all of those benefits while picking the pieces ourselves Mr Mayor. You are not offering anything new to us here. NOTHING.
Please clarify reduced unpaid travel time (relief on street) - This means rather than allow us to finish or start at the garage - where we parked our car to take your bus out - we will have an increase in peices that finish on the street?
You want drivers to accept a deal that states we will be relieved and finish/start - wait for etc on the street and make us travel back to the garage for our vehicle? You want us to accept this under the condition that you will pick where that happens ie: I live in Orleans but I should just hope that you don`t have me releived at Terry Fox?
December 14th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Most importantly Sir - how is it fair of you as a human being to offer the public access to a letter written from Mr. Mercier directly addressed to Mr. Cornellier?
Why is that public record sir?
December 14th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
So you can better appreciate what transit riders are going through (share the pain) are you prepared to give up your limo for the duration of the strike? It’s a pretty short schlepp from your condo to your office. Maybe you could even make the limo available for people who would otherwise miss critical medical appointments.
December 14th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Your worship,
How about taking a step back, realizing that you are not in a corporate boardroom and that bullying tactics don’t always work.
Negotiate the booking issue, and we’re back to work.
But that’s not good enough. For you it’s all or nothing.
Guess I’m back on the picket line tomorrow.
December 14th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
How can we trust anything you or the management has to say or want to do to our work, I (we) do not have any faith or trust in any of you. I have seen over the years the management let drivers dangle with no regard to they’re personal lives or health! So tell me Mr. Mayor, How can we trust you????
December 14th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
And please, stop the madness with “the union controls the schedules”. Give me a break.
December 14th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Noah
Have you given any thought how your strike has effect innocent citizens.There are people who can’t get to work/school/shopping.There are some who can’t get to see sick family and friends because of the strike.
December 14th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Hi Mr. Mayor,
I will start out by saying I do not work for OC transpo or the city in any capacity. I do (did) ride the bus daily to and from work at a local tech firm.
I have asked various questions on here and a few other forums about the two booking systems and have gotten a few explanations that roughly agree…at least on the core ideas. I was not able to get good enough understanding to suggest some great compromise between two systems of scheduling.
What I do see is this: One of the biggest problems with selling the new system is that no one is 100% exactly how it will play out. Consequently the rumours and questions fly.
So here is my idea:
Perhaps during the next booking (I understand these take a few months for everyone to make their choices), each operator can make two schedule selections: One from the new system and one from the old system. At this point each operator would have two work schedules and be able to see in real terms what their schedule will look like and what is better or worse about it.
After the booking a vote on the two scheduling systems could be held and whatever schedule the majority chooses will be the system going forward (and the corresponding schedule will be used)
This would leave all the power with workers individually, rather than with the city or the union. Each operator would be able to vote in their own best interests based on a real work schedule that they will actually be working for the next go-around.
There is only one small issue: cost - the old system may cost a bit more - 3-4 million has been reported.
According to OCtranspo.com
There is about 95.6 million passenger trips a year
This means the 4 million in savings would amount to 4.1 cents per trip.
I am sure most transit riders would be happy to pay an extra 5 cents per trip to have their transit system back. Looking over at my penny jar in the corner of my desk I can certainly say I would be in that group. All this trouble isn’t worth saving 10 cents a day!
December 14th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Your Worship
Can you explain to the residents of Ottawa why the City refused to go to arbitration with the Union early on in the contract negotiations? Is it because the drivers would have gotten a more equitable contract than what’s being offered?
Can you please explain to the residents of Ottawa and the membership of ATU 279 why the City flatly turned down the federal mediator’s proposal to compromise with the Union on the scheduling issue on the evening before the strike? The Union accepted these terms, why didn’t the City?
Can you explain why details of this proposed scheduling system are only being distributed to the Union and the membership now? (5 days into the strike). Why wasn’t this plan brought to the membership and the Union executive during the early stages of negotiations? Perhaps if the membership and the union were able to participate in the “mock booking”, this proposal could have been subject to successful negotiation without the need for a work stoppage.
Do you blame workers for not voting for a scheduling system that was shrouded in mystery? Do you expect them to vote for this new scheduling system, full of language loop holes, without the Union having a chance to see how it works or negotiating any amendments too it?
Can you explain to the Union membership and Ottawa residents how increasing a bus operator’s hours of work for the same pay, reducing the number of straight runs while increasing the number of split shifts improves quality of life for bus operators?
Can you explain how bus riders will benefit from increased interlining of routes when schedule adherence due to unrealistic running times is already a problem? A local bus in Kanata 20 minutes late because it got stuck in traffic downtown on it’s previous route…now that’s efficiency! Can you give a dollar figure on the fuel wasted annually on unnecessary deadheading due to interlining?
Can you explain why the City isn’t simply looking at eliminating a certain percentage of the overwhelming amount of fare fraud that occurs on the system to gain revenue instead of trying to save peanuts on the driver’s backs?
Can you explain why the City continues to refuse to go back to the negotiating table when the Union has already expressed a willingness to compromise on certain outstanding issues?
Thank you
Joe Best
December 14th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
“I want to thank you for your continued patience”… ? I don’t know if you noticed, but the people of this city are infuriated. The very last thing you’re going to get from us is patience. You owe this city a resolution to this problem, a problem you share the responsibility for causing. Is the union blameless? Absolutely not. However, the people of this city didn’t elect the union representatives - they elected you.
I wouldn’t expect that to happen again unless you SORT THIS OUT.
December 14th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Why does the city not simply accept some form of arbitration.
The Drivers have, why can’t the city?
Find a neutral arbitrator and just do it.
You are ruining peoples lives here.
December 14th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Your Worship
Can you explain to the residents of Ottawa why the City refused to go to arbitration with the Union early on in the contract negotiations? Is it because the drivers would have gotten a more equitable contract than what’s being offered?
Can you please explain to the residents of Ottawa and the membership of ATU 279 why the City flatly turned down the federal mediator’s proposal to compromise with the Union on the scheduling issue on the evening before the strike? The Union accepted these terms, why didn’t the City?
Can you explain why details of this proposed scheduling system are only being distributed to the Union and the membership now? (5 days into the strike). Why wasn’t this plan brought to the membership and the Union executive during the early stages of negotiations? Perhaps if the membership and the union were able to participate in the “mock booking”, this proposal could have been subject to successful negotiation without the need for a work stoppage.
Do you blame workers for not voting for a scheduling system that was shrouded in mystery? Do you expect them to vote for this new scheduling system, full of language loop holes, without the Union having a chance to see how it works or negotiating any amendments too it?
Can you explain to the Union membership and Ottawa residents how increasing a bus operator’s hours of work for the same pay, reducing the number of straight runs while increasing the number of split shifts improves quality of life for bus operators?
Can you explain how bus riders will benefit from increased interlining of routes when schedule adherence due to unrealistic running times is already a problem? A local bus in Kanata 20 minutes late because it got stuck in traffic downtown on it’s previous route…now that’s efficiency! Can you give a dollar figure on the fuel wasted annually on unnecessary deadheading due to interlining?
Can you explain why the City isn’t simply looking at eliminating a certain percentage of the overwhelming amount of fare fraud that occurs on the system to gain revenue instead of trying to save peanuts on the driver’s backs?
Can you explain why the City continues to refuse to go back to the negotiating table when the Union has already expressed a willingness to compromise on certain outstanding issues?
Thank you
December 14th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
I being a senior operator and being eligible to retire next year, didn’t bother voting on the first offer, yet was happy about the 98% refusal because of the idea of block booking. I heard nothing but horror stories about it. I believe the reality of the issue was that we had no idea about what it would look like. After reading your explanation Mr. Mercier it doesn’t sound that bad. It’s too bad that explanation was not made availble to us as members of ATU 279 prior to the first vote.
December 14th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Dear Mr O’Brien,
I find it quite funny that the original argument that the city was standing for was saving some 3-4 Million dollars per year. A noble endeavor for sure, but your statements this weekend now only argue about improving the quality of life for drivers.
This seems to me to be a blatant divide and conquer strategy, that being that the “people” think you are trying to save money, and that the union members whom you are now appealing to it is a matter of “Improving Quality of Life”.
Frankly I do not see how both of these conditions can be met. So, what is the real purpose of all this. As numerous people have suggested, why the $2000 pay off ?. Why won’t you let an arbitrator get a fair deal for both parties ?. Why was the new scheduling plan not laid out in full earlier in the year when the previous CBA expired.?
Thank you for your time sir.
December 14th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
To the transit to workers
Why do you feel the best way to get your point across is to block students from getting to their final exams?
i really don’t understand why you have to do that its really quite sickening to think that people who came up with that idea are allowed to drive the public around.
December 14th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
I fail to see how does going on strike improve someones quality of life. I truly hope all ATU members feel their time on the pickets and the pain caused to hundreds of thousands inhabitants is worth it.
December 14th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
Dear MR. Mayor,
It states in Mr. Mercier’s letter “Management simulated a Booking using your member’s preferences from the September 2008 Booking”.
Have this simulated booking posted on the Driver’s web so we can do a comprehensive analysis and make our own decisions on how this may improve my quality of life. I am sure the definition of quality of life is as varied as life itself and I find it rather presumptuous of City Council to try and define it on my behalf.
I find the media campaign from both the Union and the City more than a little disturbing. It has branded the membership as uncaring, greedy, along with with calls from the public for retribution including firing us, suggesting violence towards us (a certain CFRA talk show host), the list goes on. To disclose offers that are being negotiated to the public certainly has not helped.
The media behavior of our Union President certainly has not helped and I am very offended by his comments during the early days of the strike. I am sure the membership will deal with him once the strike is over.
I am one of the driver’s that enjoys my job, I am polite to the passengers and greet each person as they board the bus. I go the extra mile to assist my passengers.
I look forward to getting back to work but not to the abuse we are surely going to be subjected to.
Regards,
Dave
December 15th, 2008 at 3:49 am
Noah -
I highly doubt that the Mayor is interested in improving your quality of life. Should that happen as a result of trying to bring costs of operating OC Transpo under control, lucky you.
If you aren’t happy working as a “driver” for a living (which you darned well should be considering the hourly wages and benefits you earn) do what I did when I got sick and tired of not being able to get home for days and sometimes weeks at a time, having no benefits, being forced to work illegal hours - quit and find another line of work.
Apparently you folks at OC Transpo don’t know how good you’ve got it. My wife works for a telecom firm in the city, hasn’t seen a raise in almost 4 years and worries daily about losing her job due to cutbacks. Take your 7.5% and $2000 signing bonus and get back to work you bunch of greedy thankless…..
Mr Mayor, I’m an unemployed ACZ licensed driver who would love a nice cushy bus driving job. Drop me an email and we’ll talk. I’d be quite happy to make $50g’s annually plus benefits and know that I’ll be home to sleep in my own bed everyday.
AJ
December 15th, 2008 at 4:18 am
dear mr. mayor,
I think what the oc transpo want is absolutely rediculous. I think you should not give in to what they are asking for and by doing this I’m sure you will have most of the city’s support. What they want is not resonable and its just wrong. They want a previlege that no other bus service gets in the entire world. They are currently better off than a lot of government workers in the midst of the economic reccesion. They are holding the entire city hosstage like a bunch of terrorists all because they want their senior drivers to make their own schedule. A right that no other employee has. That is insane!! They even went so far as picket the bus shuttle to get Carleton Universty students to our exams! Come on, keeping a bunch of students from goin to their exams and trying to get an education, had absolutely nothing to do with their demands! Mr. Mayor, I support your desicion, and I think that you should not give them anymore offers until they decide to give they city an offer. They cant strike forever. They too need to work in order to make money! They are already privilaged like crazy, now they want more! I say give them absolutely nothing! They will cave! When the buses stop this strike, i will do whatever i can never to ride the bus! I will have nothing to do with them making profit! Not after what they pulled with the Carleton bus shuttle!
Thank you Mr. Mayor,
Lena.
December 15th, 2008 at 6:49 am
I have only my friends to use as examples. None of us are in support of the drivers. Many of you make more than we do. You didn’t get a university education to do your job. My dad did similar work and he was never paid similar wages.
I don’t know why more young drivers don’t vote against it. I think they are the ones getting disproportionately hit.
If the union wants to gain support they need to get their message out. That message better explain “the buddy system” because water cooler talk pegs it as common scamming.
I wouldn’t be surprised if management’s offer is based on common acceptance that this goes on and its offer tacitly accommodates that.
I suspect a good many in management came up through from drivers. They know about these tricks.
For the record, my politics are left of centre but, when it comes to this issue, this is one of the cases where unions get a bad name.
December 15th, 2008 at 7:38 am
Shame on you Mayor for trying to sell this offer as being beneficial to the “vast majority of drivers”. Let’s be honest, this offer may improve the quality of life of only the very junior drivers while taking away the hard earned scheduling benefits of those who have done their years of service, i.e. my husband, for example, who has almost 20 years of service. I would ask why the City has offered a $2000 signing bonus if its “final” offer was so fair and reasonable? What’s in it for the City for you to want to give a signing bonus when you have never done so in the past. The PR machine of the City of Ottawa is hard at work and is banking on the public’s lack of understanding of the scheduling system and their frustration at the current transit strike. Although, I don’t expect the public to support the transit workers, a small dose of honesty is warranted. Perhaps you could explain to the public that it is the City’s Planning Department that creates the pieces of work that are chosen, based on seniority, by the drivers. If this system is inefficient or too costly, as you claim, perhaps the blame lies with the City’s Planning Department and not with the Union. Why too, did the City reject a federal mediator’s middle ground proposal? And finally, Mayor O’Brien, please explain to the public what you will do with the millions of dollars of salary that the City will be saving at the expense of the drivers, mechanics and dispatchers, who incidentally are taxpayers in this City as well for the most part. Will we see a reduction in the proposed 4.9% increase in our property taxes? I doubt it.
December 15th, 2008 at 8:05 am
Noah, at least you have a job.
I was working for at half at most of whatever you possibly make to provide for my family.
I am now only mobile by use of a cane.
In fact due to anxiety I can’t even board a bus now.
Why is that?
Because in a period of 6 months I was involved in three accidents, all as a passenger on OC Transpo.
I was not able to return to my job because of drivers actions as much as I was hoping to someday.
I now use a cane for mobility, I’m only in my 30’s and should still be active but this was taken away from me because of drivers actions.
My son’s birthday was yesterday, he got nothing from me because I have no income, my children are facing the same for Christmas… where’s our quality of life?
All I get is “send us your medical receipts”. Oh how nice, I don’t have money to purchase the medicine prescribed… let alone to pay bills, buy groceries etc… Where is my families quality of life, Noah?
Noah, Merry Christmas to you and your complaining co-workers.
Dear Santa, all I want for Christmas is quality of life for my family too.
December 15th, 2008 at 8:24 am
Are you saying we will still be able to choose our own work for Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays? They will not be combined? If this is the case, then what you are proposing is not block booking. You just want to combine the weekday work yourselves? Is that right?
December 15th, 2008 at 8:30 am
Hey Noah is right… the City should be in charge of the schedule and DO NOT give any more incentives for the Union members.
I am at risk of losing my job over this strike (which is of course of no concern to the Bus drivers) but I still support the City… The Union members have NO clue how good they have it.
I have 2 university degrees and make nowhere near what they make… I also cannot choose my own schedule.
December 15th, 2008 at 8:51 am
I read your letter Noah, and although I obviously do not understand all of the complexities of the job and scheduling, I would like to ask if you could present a quick rundown of your monthly net income, and expenses to see how much money you do make, and see how that is being spent.
That is of course personal information, but as an example, I know some people who have three or more children who earn less then $30,000 a year and they are managing. Maybe there are some other priorities which can be adjusted in your budget, or maybe there is no need to do so at all, if you just were to look around the world and see the levels of poverty people are living in, and be happy to have a well paying job. There is a show on TV where a lady teaches people how to budget. You can get some great tips there. Also the next time you see a single parent with three kids, ask them how their budget looks and see if you can get some tips from them as well.
Credit cards are not good to have either as they eat up money when you purchase items that you don’t really need to survive and then have to pay interest on that money and so on.
As for losing 6 sick days … how many do you have left each year now that you have lost those sick days? Are you ever really sick that many days each year? Why is it a problem to get a doctors note to prove you were sick?
Since you are a tax-payer, and you pay “the salary” for people on Social Assistance, do you think they should get as many sick-days as you get so that they don’t have to look for work on those days or attend training and other tax-payer paid services?
I sincerely hope that you have an opportunity to travel abroad some time soon to see just how hard it is for people around the world to even get a job, or to eat each day and be greatfull for what you have.
December 15th, 2008 at 8:51 am
I bet if the union was actually allowed to read and vote on this proposal it would be accepted. This is simply a power play by a Union Boss who is trying to justify the ridiculous salary he is making. If he is confident that his membership would refuse it, then what’s the harm? You all have lots of spare time right now to go cast your votes..
And to the guy above (Noah), if your agreement says you have to provide notes from your doctor when requested, then abide by it and get a note from your doctor. If he did recommend you take days off, why are you so defensive about following the requirements of your agreement? If your doctor did tell you take some time off, then I don’t see why it would be so difficult to get a note from him. Just because they don’t ask everyone every time doesn’t mean you have a right to refuse. There was probably some perceived abuse here that made them decide to request the note, thats usually the reason. I’m sure if the city refused to live up to one of their stipulations you would be all over them, executing your rights, just like they could have executed their right to terminate since you were refusing to abide by the agreement you signed. The rules apply to both sides of the table, not just when they are convenient to you.
December 15th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Noah!
You’re an idiot. Grow up and and look at the larger picture. This is not about you and your so called “quality of life” It’s about saving the city money at time of economic crisis. Look at Nortel. Do you care about them? I am sure you do not. Stop being selfish and start thinking how this affects other people. People are not able to make it to work to support their family because of people like you. There are people in this city that are barely surviving with two full time jobs. And you are so concerned about loosing 6 sick days and proving that you are actually sick. Sir, do you not aggree that people take advantage of sick days? So, someone prior to you ruined the trust of your bosses. Get over it!
The Mayor is trying his best to please everyone. The tax payers. Honestly, I think he should fire all 2300 of you and hire the people that just got laid off from Nortel. I am sure they would appreciate having a job.
Bob
December 15th, 2008 at 9:10 am
Don’t give in to those greedy drivers! It’s them who will be losing all their overtime and holiday pay this holiday season!
December 15th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Dear Larry O’Brien:
A few comments about Alain Mercier’s letter to ATU 279:
First, hire an editor or at the very least a proofreader to put your letter into plain language, especially if you’re going to share your letter with the public! Second, hire a proofreader or any able-bodied, literate 8 year old to remove the dangling dashes, extra periods, blank bullet points which so graphically indicate what points the letter-writer has laboured-over or removed.
On the other hand, the poor communication skills demonstrated in this letter tell me what’s really is at the heart of this strike; poor communication between management and the union. I suggest you put aside the scheduling issue for discussion at a later date (as the union has suggested) and get the buses rolling again within the next 24 hrs. Give Christmas back to the families of Ottawa Mr. O’Brien; the bus riders, the retail business owners and employees, OC Transpo management and ATU 279 union members. Set aside the contentious issue of scheduling and re-open discussions in earnest–and in good faith–in the New Year. A hard line approach begets narrow-minding thinking and yields NO creative solutions. Surely if management and the union really thought hard about coming up with workable, creative solutions–instead of bashing eachothers’ proposals in the media spotlight–this strike could be settled quickly and amicably. Who knows, Ottawa might actually become a trailblazer in coming up with a new model in transit employee working relations? Most of all, I suggest you hire a mediator with plenty of experience in settling or averting municipal bus strikes in Canada…these issues are not new but they might be to a federal mediator. Harmony, takes listening, talking and patience and hard work. For the sake of Ottawa this Christmas, please, please get to it!
December 15th, 2008 at 9:37 am
If the Union wants absolute control over scheduling, drop your wage demands to 1% a year, and reduce the requirement of un-documented sick days. Find the $3-4 million in savings PER YEAR, present the amended offer to the city, and let’s end this strike. I want to be able to get some xmas shopping done.
December 15th, 2008 at 9:52 am
Noah,
I work and guess what, I need a doctor’s note if I am sick over 5 days in a year. The cash incentive if to get you guys to accept it and move on. Whether or not it improves your quality of life is irrelevant. It’s a great offer with great job security. Take it! You have it good at OC Transpo, a lot of people would take your job in a second. If you ask me I would get rid of the union. They’re are nothing but trouble and protect the slackers. Try operating like a regular business, let the good employees rise to the top and fire the bad ones.
Stick to your guns Larry, I don’t think there is more than 200 people in the city that agree with that fool of a union boss.
Eric
December 15th, 2008 at 9:57 am
Mayor O’Brien said:
“I can assure you that Council wants it to come to an end as soon as possible and we urge the union to allow the members to vote on our offer.”
“Allow the members”? The members gave a 98% strike mandate after your second-to-last offer; the “increase” you offered afterwards was so little an improvement that their reps did what they’re paid to do and rejected it as no improvement (afterwhich you went over the reps’ heads and offered it to the union members yourself anyway).
How is “the union” (which is made up of members, not a thing in itself, much as the city of Ottawa is made up of its citizens and not you yourself) preventing its members from voting?
No doubt the union will vote when you give them something worth voting on, instead of simply the back of your hand.
December 15th, 2008 at 10:00 am
To Noah:
I find it disingenuous that you speak of quality of life, when the hurt that you cause by voluntarily choosing to strike is clearly affecting tens of thousands of people far worse than your loss of a perk that bus drivers across the world do not have either.
When you terrorize the public like this, you are trying to make them pay for your right to continue to waste money. So far your tactics are not working and you are making a lot of enemies. Most of them you will have to face when you eventually go back to work in the real world. Maybe you should have considered that before you decided to wipe your feet on those who need the services you provide to survive.
You and the union executive are all morally bankrupt and you should be deeply ashamed of yourselves for the hurt that you are causing by choosing to abuse the right to strike and hurt people who cannot defend themselves.
You are a bully.
December 15th, 2008 at 10:31 am
Enough.
Mayor O’Brien, just give in. Get the buses rolling so people can stop suffering. You said you could run a city with your private executive business background… now PROVE IT.
Then propose meetings with the union over the next 3-6 months to discuss what needs to be changed. And both sides will have to learn the graceful art of compromise.
My advice to the union reps: Tell them the public has never be so pissed off. Tell them they are blowing it. We have no sympathy left. This is not the 19th century. Get with it.
December 15th, 2008 at 10:55 am
While I agree that the city shouldn’t back down on this one, I really don’t think you have much concern for the average person inconvenienced by this strike.
It’s all well and good to ask Ottawa residents to rideshare and carpool, for some of us that’s just not feasible. Want to let me know where I find people who carpool in the middle of the night when I get off work? They’re just not out there. I’ve had to give up half my work shifts to another employee. Nice - losing half my paycheque with Christmas coming up. At least one Rideau Centre employee was fired on the first day of the strike because she was unable to make it to work. Any plans to fix things like that when you’re through breaking the transit union?
But the OC Transpo scheduling issue? From the comments I’ve heard, the drivers seem to think that control of their schedules is their right. It’s not. It’s a privilege. If I dared to try and dictate my work schedule to my boss I’d be fired without hesitation. Hmm… there’s an idea. Fire the lot of them. Get rid of the union completely. I’m guessing there’s a lot of people who’d want to drive buses or a lot of drivers who would come back and drive anyway. Better than no job at all, isn’t it? They should consider themselves lucky to have decent jobs when so many don’t. Maybe they should try the life of an average retail employee - close to full time hours but 80% of us are part-time employees with no benefits, low salaries, no sick days and definitely no say-so in our scheduling. And you know what? A lot of us love our jobs! I think OC Transpo workers should just suck it up and deal with the fact that they have it much better than a heck of a lot of other people that they’re inconveniencing!
S.T.
December 15th, 2008 at 10:59 am
Noah, can you please provide a workplace that allows for more than 3 consecutive sick days without a doctors note? Private sector requires a doctors note for 3+ days, and Federal Government employees are also required to provide a sick note for 3+ days of sick leave. Requiring a note for more than 3 days of sick leave is STANDARD in Canada.
The Mayor is trying to propose changes into the contract to fix ongoing issues with the transit system which are resulting in extra costs which we as taxpayers have to pay for, and which have also resulted in rider dissatisfaction.
The reason the mayor has probably putting these changes as requirement into the contract is because the union isn’t putting it in. The existing system does not work, and if the union made no effort to fix it when rider satisfaction was at an all time low of 30% last winter, why would they do it now once they get their new contract? But if its in the contract, that means the riders should at least be able to expect some sort of improvement.
If the city had just signed the unions offer, we (the riders who OCTranspo’s sole job is to service) would still be stuck with a broken scheduling system that is currently in place.
The very senior drivers probably seriously dislike the proposed change but i would imagine some of the new drivers would LOVE to have more days off and better choices than they get right now as the “little fish” in the pond.
December 15th, 2008 at 11:12 am
Dear Mayor O’Brien,
I think it is time that the city shut down OCTranspo and restructure it. Ottawa will never have a good transportation system as long the union continues to make unreasonable demands at the expense of the taxpayers. I think the bus drivers are over-paid and the services as it stands is very poor.
Restructuring the company will not only improve the public transportation system but can also reduce the cost of operation.
/…phil
December 15th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Hi Noah,
Keep in mind that by no means do I represent for the mayor or work for the city of Ottawa.
My understanding is that the letter was a way to clarify possibly misunderstandings. Can you agree that any attempt at clarification can be a gesture of help and courtesy? Instead of an attack on the egos and intelligence of transit staff? Thanks, I’m glad you can see it that way.
I knew you would see it my way, you’re a smart guy, aren’t you Noah?
Allow me to shed some light from a daily transit rider’s point of view. The transit strike affects the lives of thousands of people, it affects the businesses and growth of Ottawa. Can you see how it might be in the city’s best interest to end this strike? Instead of viewing the monetary offer as something malicious intent or a something that can be read between the lines, what if you saw it, like you said, as an incentive to end the strike for the benefit of the people of Ottawa? Thanks again for seeing it my way, I didn’t think for a second you still abide by your self-centered point-of-view after such a compelling argument on my part.
I figured your sympathy card shouldn’t be the one I’d address since I don’t think for one second you care about the mentally ill, financially insecure, students, and families like your own that depend on transit who are suffering through this holiday season because of incessant haggling and selfishness on both accounts. I get such a fuzzy when I live in a society where scheduling and sick days rank among your biggest concerns in life, and this hoopla is all worth it to them.
I must be a simple guy, I woke up this morning, and, I didn’t wake up to gunshots. There was enough food on the table, and I didn’t have to worry about my well-being or the well-being of my family when I went to work. I’m particularly thankful that when I do get home tonight, there will be a bed in a heated room waiting for me.
Have a Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays.
-Patrick
December 15th, 2008 at 11:20 am
I commend Mayor O’Brien for standing up and not backing down with these issues. The bullying methods used by this union president are childish and unacceptable. The transit workers would get their fair share based on the current proposal and should take it.
Noah, anyone can answer your questions, not just the mayor.
- you choosing your own shifts vs. choosing based on a list provided for you = consider yourself lucky you get to choose your shifts at all! Many of us don’t have that luxury and yet we all have the same priorities that you do. This strike has only worsened the quality of life that we all want and transcends across more than just riders but also merchants, tourists, those who are ill, etc. Not having public transportation has taken me away from my family for an additional 3hrs a day.
- $2000 offered once you take the deal could possibly be to cover the lost wages you will have incurred while on the strike. At this time of the year, there are likely many of your own union members who would find this lump sum very helpful. I have personally spoken to drivers who don’t agree with their own union president and would liek to be able to voice their opinion and vote again but they are being denied that right.
- it is not overstepping boundaries when your employer asks you for proof of illness. There are many who take advantage of sick days which is why there is no public support for a union asking for increased sick days when these sick days will simply be banked for a nice little pay out at the end of the year. I am not saying this is what happened in your case but it does occur and far too frequently.
For all the other demands this union wants (pay raise, scheduling, sick days, benefits, etc.), I would like to ask the members, try to find another job that offers you as much as this one does with the same qualifications you have. You won’t find it which is why you stay and do the work. Many of you are high school graduates making more and having many more perks such as benefits and sick days than I do as an individual with 6 years of post-secondary. However, I am not complaining as I believe what I get is fair and what you are asking for is simply GREEDY.
December 15th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Mr Mayor,
As a taxpayer of the city and someone who works in the private sector, I am tired. I’m tired of hearing about these entitled jerks insisting that it’s just fine to grow fat on these crazy deals the unions made with the city once upon a time.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the deal the city put to the union. They are simply too greedy to know any better.
Why not reduce the signing bonus by $200/week? Why not get rid of the scheduled salary increases? Why not investigate the union members for fraud regarding their sick days/overtime scheme over the past number of years?
There are more tax payers in this city than there are bus drivers. Try to think of us first this time.
December 15th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Mayor Larry O’Brien I have one question for you;
Why do you not want to take the Federal Mediator’s recommendation to council and have them vote on it?
You keep on saying that you and council want this strike to come to an end but you are not willing to take this to council for a vote. You asked for a Federal Mediator and you got one. Now that you don’t like what he has to say, your taking your pail and shovel and going to play in a different sandbox. The union has already stated publicly that the buses would be running in 24 hours if council accepted the mediators recommendations. Are you just trying to save face? Be the bigger man Mayor O’Brien and end this strike today. I am a frustrated taxpayer who wants a resolution.
December 15th, 2008 at 11:41 am
What I find both disgraceful and disgusting about this strike are:
a) You have had months (since March or May?) to get these negotiations completed. Instead feet were dragged until almost Christmas when the so-called Union decided to strike. Service has been going to hell and yet nothing has truly been done for the most part.
b) When the motion to make public transit and essential service came up, no one seconded the motion. Why on earth would anyone not deem public transit an essential service? Could it be that the powers that be all own vehicles and could care less for those of us who are stuck relying on public transit? I’d have to say yes. When you look at the number of people who rely on public transit, you can see that it is a huge number. Public Transit IS essential for the majority of Ottawans. Our politicians are failing in their duties to those whom they represent, and that is the biggest shame of all. I have to feel sorry for those single moms, students and elderly people who are stuck at home, who may lose their jobs or have to repeat courses because the powers that be had their heads up their collective arses when the issue of making public transit an essential service.
c) and this section if for the No See Transpo idiot union reps who could care less about the public because, and I quote “Why do we care about public opinion, when we are here for our drivers”. Working to rule would have been a better option. Delayed schedules, holiday schedules, reduced services even, would have been better than an absolute strike. You idiots should be fired for your inconsiderate behaviour and publicly flogged. Instead, once the strike ends and the drivers have to deal with yet more hostility than before, you idiots will stick up for your drivers no matter what. Kind of like when that driver drove off with that poor woman’s 2 year old. Instead of being charged like he should have been, you turned the tables on the lady and called her a bad mother. Conmplete jackasses is what you union reps are. Thugs and bullies.
While I have to sit here and look at the City of Ottawa and shake my head at how slow and inept you are, I also have to look at the No See Transpo employees and union reps and think about how crass and idiotic they are for deciding to strike just before Christmas. Neither side will recieve much if any sympathy from those of us who have been affected by the strike.
The economy is already taking a beating from the recession, and now it’s been kicked in the family jewels just for good measure by both sides of this strike. Joe Public has been pretty much been shown that we don’t matter. Unbelievable.
Hang your heads in shame (although most likely both sides will have a good laugh at the chaos they have caused) and take a look at the damage this strike has already caused. Look at the loss of jobs, and the loss of freedom that this strike has taken away.
The one thing I have learned from this strike is that I will get my driver’s license and never use No See Transpo again. Screw the environment, at least I’ll be able to go where I want without much hassle.
Sean Patrick
December 15th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Hello Larry, I am a mechanic at OC. The City changes our schedule in the garage and there doesn’t seem to be a problem. Small out cry but not to much happens. I don’t understand, the schedule should have been changed through a booking and that way the drivers could be use to it before a contract is up. Is that not possible? Just wonder if you could change the wording in the contract since the statement is made that it’s not really block booking. And then change the schedule with the explanation that management has the right to manage.
I hope this will help in a way,
Thank You
Pat
December 15th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Mary Koch:
You say: “Mayor O’Brien, just give in. Get the buses rolling so people can stop suffering. You said you could run a city with your private executive business background… now PROVE IT.”
How does this make any sense whatsoever? Allowing employees to set their own schedule and ABUSE the privilege is not good business. Keeping extra staff on because members can get away without working full days in not good business. Buckling to exorbitant salary demands in an economic downturn is not good business.
I”d say that Mayor O’Brien and the council are doing something right for a change and yet here you are complaining up a storm.
You also say:
“My advice to the union reps: Tell them the public has never be so pissed off. Tell them they are blowing it. We have no sympathy left. This is not the 19th century. Get with it.”
You bet the public is pissed off…… but aside from the odd employee/spouse posting in comment forums, everyone is pissed off WITH THE DRIVERS and the union. They’re not winning the PR battle because they are so clearly in the wrong.
I believe that the majority of inconvenienced Ottawans will be willing to suffer through the strike so long as the city doesn’t buckle, and the union is forced to back down. Wages must be kept in line, full control over scheduling must be regained. No compromises should be accepted on either of these points.
December 15th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Noah. He “improves the quality of life” by providing better “financial security” to you and your family! Meanwhile… you are taking the “QUALITY OF LIFE” way from other’s who have to work their butts off just to make rent, groceries, and get stupid transit pass just to get to and from work. (which you people took away from us after we paid our hard earned dollars for it) by playing such immature and childish games, you should be grateful to have an employer who gives you sick days, pays you 2-3x’s minimum wage and includes a signing bonus. Just so you… OC transpo drivers can sit on your rear ends all day and laugh at us minim wage workers trying to earn a hard days pay. I make $9.00 an hour, ($67.5) a day minus taxes, it would cost me $30.00 one way in cab fare from the west end to downtown (to and from work) times that by 2 ($60.00) that’s all the money I earned in one day going to the taxi company, when I paid for a transit pass to accommodate my income, just so I can pay my rent and feed myself. Meanwhile, you make $22.00 a hour ($165.00) a day minus taxes. (Probably more) You OC Transpo driver’s are ruining the lives of many students who are trying to graduate… what about their quality of life, there education, it’s obvious you don’t have an education… that is why you are driving a bus!! What about the needy and the poor peoples, quality of life who are losing their minimum paying jobs just to survive, cause of these childish games. Suck-it-up!! We all do!! Life sucks doesn’t it. But you don’t see all of us people crying “Oh Mr. Mayor, Gimmie!! Gimmie!! Gimmie!! ” DO THE MATH!! Pathetic, crying over sick days! Do what we do… LEAVE WITHOUT PAY!! Maybe Mr. Mayor should offer the drivers $9.00 an hour and 20 sick days. That should make up for it all!! & give the scheduling to them, so they can fight over it among themselves!! (See where that gets them! fighting among themselves over the same shifts.)
December 15th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Mr. Mayor,
I strongly encourage you and council to stand firm and not give in to the drivers.
Two other matters that I would like to see addressed:
1) Have any employees at OC Transpo that are not on strike been laid off? Taxpayers should not have to pay people if there is no work for them to do when the buses are not running. This is what happens in the private sector if the main part of the company is not operating.
2) Council has to find ways to lessen residents’ depence on the OC Transpo monopoly. As a start, I recommend that you begin a public process to examine how the city can introduce competition into as many aspects of public transit as possible. Ask for submissions from individuals and entrepreneurs. Look at what other cities have done. The recently approved transit plan has a fundamential flaw in that it projects billions of spending on making residents even more dependet on the OC Transpo monopoly. Spend some of that money to bring in competition to OC Transpo.
Michael
December 15th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Mayor O’Brien, I am the wife of an OC Transpo driver. If you do not mind I have a few questions for you. All I hear in the media is that the drivers are heartless and greedy. People can not be more wrong. God knows my husband and all his driver friends are not happy to be on strike. They are ready to go back to work but at what cost? While it is obvious that the media is ‘in your pocket’ and they get their information from YOU, why is it you are not allowing them to publicize the amount of money the city is saving by the drivers being on strike. Hmmmm … could it be because you like the extra income that is going into YOUR pocket while the citizens of YOUR city pay the price. The bus drivers are not holding the citizens hostage sir but YOU are. The only thing ATU #279 is guilty of is having a spokesperson that does not have a spin doctor who can write his speeches and lie to everybody like you do. One thing I have to applaud you for though is your pre-election promise that “zero means zero” on the tax issue. Oh yeah, I forgot about that nasty little 4.9% increase in land taxes. Guess that means that you have done nothing to be admired for. Get your head out of the clouds and do what is best for the citizens of Ottawa (who actually pays your salary) not for what is best for your wallet. One last question for you….ARE YOU CARPOOLING?????????? I hear you limo seats seven. If not, then shame on you Mr. Mayor and have pity on the citizens for having a buffoon for a mayor.
December 15th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Mayor O’Brien,
As an Ottawa resident and tax payer who uses the bus I must say that I’m a bit frustrated with what I’m reading in the papers and hearing on the radio. Management putting forth there “final” offer and the union head NOT communicating!?!?!?!
Even though this isn’t legally considered a mandatory service - it is. It’s very important to have order in our city and on the roads. It’s important to reduce pollution and so forth. We pay taxes and want this service and it’s your job as mayor to govern and manage these operations with the best interest of tax payers.
If we need an arbitrator to resolve negotiations, let’s do it. If an arbitrator can’t resolve this than we need a contingency plan. Another transit operation??!??
Waiting this out should not be an option!!! We want to read and hear about progress.
December 15th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Mr. OBrien
The transit strike has limited my leisure activities that include going to the movies, hockey games, and the malls that are further away. I can manage to walk to work, which is 25 minutes and be able to walk to the nearest mall (merivale mall) and the plazas across. This is the first transit strike that has effected my daily life. I was around for the 1996 strike, but was before i started taking OC Transpo on daily basis.
Thank You for you time
Ryan
December 15th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
In my opinion, I think this whole strike is very selfish. They obviously didn’t think about other people when they made this decision. Way too many people depend on the buses for school, work, family visits, grocery shopping, shopping in general. It is nearly Christmas and my mother can’t do her Christmas shopping because we ae very unfortunate. We do not know people with cars. We have been going through our whole lives with taking the bus. A lot of people are very unfortunate and cannot do their Christmas shopping. And about the strike continueing into the new year… This is absolutely SELFISH! These drivers make enough money. No other career out there offers the benefits that they recieve. They make enough money, I mean, come on. They ONLY drive buses. ITS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE! If anything, if they don’t take the offer, they are idiots. We need to find a different solution and just give these extremely selfish A-HOLES what they want. Because, like I said, this is hurting everyone. Hire liadlaw school buses to do the job until they decide that this whole thing was rediculous. I can’t even go visit my dieing grandmother. They just didn’t think of the feelings of other people. All they thought about was themselves, and thats not fair. AT ALL.
December 15th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
@Kim:
Everyone I’ve talked to is infuriated with the Union, not the City.
December 15th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
I am an OC Transpo rider who is not pleased with the level of service…when there IS service. I live in Kanata and usually have to stand on the bus like a sardine both to and from work. Not to mention the frequent times I watch the buses pass me by FULL at night. All this for over $100 month! Now..a bus strike..to add an addition two hours a day to my already busy life. What incentive is there for me to take the bus…All this sucks. You guys need to get your act together. Someone should be held accountable for all this mess. Settle the strike, fix the transit problems in this city…we are taxpayers and deserve better for our money.
December 15th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Privatize or make it an Essential service. Don’t back down. I have noticed that quite a few more people are starting to carpool, save on gas, parking and money. People are learning to adapt.
December 15th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Mayor O’Brien,
I disagree with you on so much that I find it odd that I am in staunch agreement with you on this issue.
Do not give in to the Union on this one.
This bus strike is seriously hampering everything in my life, but, I think you’re doing the right thing here.
Thank you.
December 15th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
To ATU Local 279 presedent and members
I am hope that you are Happy being on Strike. Disrupting traffic, creating kaos, having the season’s fund raising dropped because a lot of people realying onthe bus service. I give that head of theunion a challenge. If you want my respect that you lots by creating this strike, GO AND PRESENT THE OFFER TO THE MEMBERS. In case that you did not see the news on the weekend, a lot of teh bus drivers did not vote on the citt’s final offer and wouldliek to see it. You have lots all my respect tht you are trying to get.
December 15th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
The whole point of the holidays is to give to others. SO GIVE US OUR BUSES BACK!
December 15th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Virginia, the community finds the drivers heartless and greedy because they have allowed for this strike to happen, at this time of year, and are picketing to inconvenience the community. Not only that, but they wanted to picket the university shuttles…now that is shamefull! When I heard that, I completely lost any respect for OC Transpo, the ATU and the drivers. Then, add Cornellier to the mix and you can see why the citizens do not support the strike and encourage the mayor to stick to his offer. In fact, we hope he withdraws the $2000 deal offer, and lowers the raise offer. I should also mention that prior to the strike, at least 90% of the drivers were rude and unfriendly. Although I am completely inconvenienced, I hope the strike continues so that your driver husband and his buddies can endure the same Christmas that they have imposed on innocent citizens that pay their wages.
December 15th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
OC Transpo Workers: get off your greedy selfish asses and get back to work. You are a bunch of whiners who get paid very well for what you do. Those of us who may or may not LIKE our jobs or the conditions still have to make it to work and have a life and thanks to you all its even harder now, takes up more time, costs more money, and I bet Im not the only one that has to run faster and work harder during the day because Ive missed work sitting on the damn Queensway for 2 hours longer or more than usual each day.
If you dont like your job, then find a new one or shut up and try and appreciate that you have it a lot better than many.
You are not racking up any sympathy at all, you are making those of us who pay your wages more and more upset and angry.
December 15th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
I agree with the strike… even though I ride (used to) an average of 5-8 busses a day. My husband works night shift, so he must take the car to work, unless a picketing bus driver would like to get up and drive him. He start at 3am… didn’t think so. As for the sick leave, be happy with what you get. In private sector, you get half of what you talk about. Yes I could go and get myself another job, but I like my job and you don’t see me complaining about my sick leave. Also, your salary increases? What a job, most people get a raise based on their performance, not just cause. We have a yearly evaluation and if you didn’t perform very well, sucks to be you… So get back to work and stop blocking students from getting to their exams. They have worked hard all semester and now you have to go mess it up for them.
December 15th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Andrew, you, missed the point.
December 15th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
How come there are only a few picketing when there are 2300 of them? Goes to show you how embarrassed they really are.
December 15th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
I would like to clarify: My questions regarding “quality of life“ were based on Mr. O`Brien and Mr. Mercier`s CLAIMS that this contract improves my quality of life. I at no point said they owed me more or that I deserved more. I was asking THEM to clarify THEIR Statement.
****PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT I WAS POSING QUESTIONS - ME PERSONALLY TO THE MAYOR AND GM OF OC BECAUSE IF YOU READ THE TOP THAT WAS THEIR PURPOSE FOR THE POST******************
I don`t feel that I am not compensated properly for what I do, I enjoy my job and my wages. I AM FIGHTING TO KEEP IT THE SAME. FIGHTING TO NOT LOSE YEARS OF TIME SPENT HERE TO EARN A BETTER DAY OR SOME TIME OFF.
As for the “what about me“ or “try my life“ comments - Understand that the difference here is I have options and I am excercising them - I would be an idiot if I didn`t.
I don`t feel that we need to change the whole system to achieve what the Mayor is trying to acheive.
And lastly to Shawn - if you were injured on or due to an OC TRanspo bus you should have filed a claim. You would have been compensated.
I hope that this can be resolved quickly and with the least amount of hurt possible - you must understand that I personally can`t do anything to change it and that I was simply addressing the claims and points that Mr. Mercier and Mr.O`Brien were making in their Letter to me an ATU member.
December 15th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
To all of the “drivers” who are posting here (and Virginia):
If you’re all so convinced that this is a terrible deal, why are you so frightened to put it to a vote? Let your membership decide! Could it be that it’s the handful of “senior” drivers picking six hours worth of runs while being paid for eight that are making these grand declarations of city corruption and “paid-off” media? Hold a vote on the current contract offer, new scheduling and all, and THEN you can talk about driver solidarity and responsible union representation.
And Virginia… your statement that city savings are going directly into the Mayor’s pocket is absurd. You’ve brought up a number of issues that have absolutely nothing to do with the matter at hand. Property tax increases? That’s the best case you’ve got? Sure, so you don’t like the Mayor… What does that have to do with OC drivers being the only transit organization in North America in which the workers control the scheduling? City Council can’t decide where to build a bridge either. Are you going to tell me that has something to do with the OC contract negotiations as well? FOCUS!!! You’ve tried to make the drivers look sympathetic and you’ve failed, making yourself (and the drivers by extension) look foolish in the process.
December 15th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
A lot of passion today on the issues of the OC work stopage. I share with you the desire to get this strike settled ASAP. This is simply the most important job we have right now. We also want this strike settled quickly.
We will work right through the holidays if that is what it takes to get a settlement. But just in case, I continue to encourage you to offer help to those that rely on transit at this busy time of the year. As well if there is an opportunity for you to car pool please get involved.
The formula is simple:
less cars — less congestion
less cars– less delay to and from work
less cars — less polution/cleaner air
Together we can make it through the inconvienience of the strike. Let’s hope it is over soon.
Mayor Larry
December 15th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Did you read the letter? Apparently the difference between you doing the scheduling and the city doing the scheduling is that you’re doing it wrong, making it unsafe for yourselves and your customers. Could I also attribute this current scheduling to why some scheduled buses never show up?
Improved quality of life being that you’ll be near washrooms and food facilities more often. This shouldn’t have been an issue in the first place. More days off to be with your family, seemed like that was a concern of yours wasn’t it? Guaranteed 8 hours rest between 24 hour periods, this also shouldn’t have been an issue, I thought it was required. Less unpaid travel time, so what, more money? Who can argue can with more money for something you have to do anyway? What’s not to like about this deal? As for the cash incentive…take the money and run buddy!
I’ve made my share of complaints to OC Transpo about buses not showing up and drivers who have road rage issues or are rude to me and what has it gotten me? Buses are still not showing up, drivers still hate their jobs. At first I thought maybe you aren’t paid enough, but you are. If you’re picking your own schedule, then you can’t really complain about hours… From what I gather you still get a say in what you do if the city does the scheduling, and you get more time off and more money…so…what’s the problem folks?
If this system of the city doing the scheduling for you is supposed to benefit the staff of OC Transpo and their customers, then from what I can tell there should be happier drivers with more money who aren’t tired and cranky driving buses that actually show up getting respect from passengers who aren’t frustrated with you. Wow, what a terrible situation to be in.
And as for your sick days, I mean come on! Everybody has to deal with having to hand in a doctors note after a certain number of consecutive days if requested so get over it already.
I say put the motion back to make OC Transpo an essential service, enough is enough already. What do you need Larry? Signatures? I bet you could get all the OC Transpo riders to sign a petition to support essential services status and then some. I know your people think it’s a bad idea, but how bad could it be? Can’t be much worse if you ask me. Or better yet how do we replace OC Transpo? Can’t we get a better company to come in and deliver our transit? How many OC Transpo customers actually like the company anyway?
December 15th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Mr Mayor,
I am begging you to put the buses on Essential service please. I am going to lose my job because of it and I have no money…
Please Mr. O’Brien, please…..
December 15th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Noah, as an admitted OC Transpo driver, what are you doing posting all these comments … shouldn’t you be picketing somewhere?
December 15th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Dear Larry O’Brien,
It is a shame when 2 individuals (Mayor Larry and General Manger of OC Transpo Alain Mercier) show some much needed and appreciated backbone and business sense. The union reaction is typical of take allot and give little. The union executive realizes the current economic situation but chooses to ignore it and not let the working people of OC Transpo decide.
Never should a union dictate to management, the company, or the people who pay their salaries (the taxpayer) how to run the business to the union’s benefit instead of an efficient and profitable manner. As they show with their disregard over and over their motto is greed and get all you can at the expense of the less fortunate. Once again they validate this statement with their actions. Most large unions are in areas where large amounts of inconvenience is inflicted so they swing a very large hammer and get what they want.
I realize that unions can benefit the workers in certain areas but the path they are following will eventually lead to their demise. Look around and see that people are getting fed up with stories and exaggerations of how tough they have it. I guess a good defense is a strong offence whether it is true or not.
Can they not appreciate a decent wage increase, sick days increased from 6 to 8 days. After the 8 days with a doctors slip they receive 17 weeks at 90% of their wages. This is unheard of in the normal world with most having no sick benefits and some with 65% at best. They also have other improvements added that I don’t have to list but they still eat into the company’s profits. Most businesses struggle to give a small monetary increase with no improvements to benefits. People I talk to are thankful to receive this as others are receiving nothing.
I know some (mostly union members) are going to say “it is not about the money”. Well if scheduling is so dear to you give up all the other benefits on the table and maybe a few others gained in the past so OC Transpo can be run as an efficient company………I didn’t think so.
I apologize for the length of this letter but it is something I had to get off my chest. You see I have the time because I am unemployed and have not been able to find work in my field for sometime now.
In closing get back to work and thank your blessings you have a job with good pay and benefits. It can be ugly out here in the real world and it is getting worse. Just ask the people that rely on you for transportation to work, doctor appointments, chemo therapy, charities, shopping etc. There are people losing jobs because they can’t get to work. Give your head a shake please and open up your eyes, mind and heart to people and circumstances in the world outside of the union.
Anybody need a Maintenance Supervisor? I’m still looking.
Merry Christmas.
Take care,
Glen
December 15th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Noah Says:
December 15th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
“And lastly to Shawn - if you were injured on or due to an OC TRanspo bus you should have filed a claim. You would have been compensated.”
Noah, I have been trying to file a claim, however if you have ever tried this you would know that there are battles to deal with when it comes to insurance, medical appointments, etc. which has so far resulted in what I had already stated “send us your medical receipts.”
And what are my losses? I could be better in a year from now, maybe 10 years from now, maybe never. Who knows how much my loses are so what do I claim? And insurance does not cover pain and suffering, not to mention the stress of not being able to go out and do things with my children, or hearing them say “Are you going to get me a gift this year?” What claim is going to remove that pain from my heart and out of my mind now that I heard that?
December 15th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
larrymayor, you’re not helping people who need buses. You could negotiate, or you could try for back to work legislation, but you seem unwilling to do either. I’m tired of you and your staff offering suggestions, but who have nothing to help me get around Ottawa. If you can’t think of anything to do, why don’t you keep quiet?
December 15th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
The strike is criminal.
I see so many people adversely affected, not just myself. I can only be grateful that my current contract is not like on a few months past where I worked at the airport. The walk might be long and hard, esp. on these very cold days since the strike started, but I, despite health issues, am still young enough to find the means to manage. How about all the people who absolutely cannot get around?? I don’t know how Paratranspo operates, but there must be rigid standards to be met for someone to be able to use them.
Pls, Mr. Mayor, do what it takes, without giving in to the unreasonable demands, to END THIS STRIKE NOW! We cannot have our lives jeopardized in this manner. It is difficult now to get groceries and to make our medical appointments, not just get to work, which goes without saying. On top of that is the sadness that already we’ve suffered from not seeing people over this past weekend for a planned Xmas get-together because neither I nor a friend had the means to travel. And we’re just a handful of days into the strike!!! And the rest of the Xmas/New Year season looks bleak!
Personally, the drivers have it so good, and many don’t realize it. I don’t believe that _all_ drivers are at fault. Like anything in life, the bad ones represent only a portion; but those are greedy, selfish people to let this happen! And I can picture then gloating and laughing at the rest of us poor slobs slugging it out under present conditions!
I don’t get paid sick leave at all and get no vacation. I have no job security whatsoever. I’m sure that there are many people in this city who would love to step into an OCTranspo job where the conditions are very good. Wouldn’t it be so very nice to boot out all the bad drivers and have people who would be grateful to have a good job, step in, get trained and do a great job! They wouldn’t be like some of those very nasty drivers I’ve run across over the years, I’ll bet! They’ll be like those other great bus drivers I’ve met who have been kind or made a difference on any given day like when I fell getting off the bus on a slick, sleeting day and they had the paramedic take me to the hospital! I can bet that driver wasn’t part of the nasty bunch picketing and making life difficult and dangerous, even!
Stop this strike immediately, Mr. Mayor BEFORE Christmas!!
December 15th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Stay the course Mr. O’Brien. What the City has offered the union is more than fair. No other transit company in Canada gets to choose their own schedule, and for good reason. 6 hours should pay 6 hours, not 8.
For those who question why Mr. O’Brien and Mr. Mercier made this letter public: Simply because the head of the union has deemed it unimportant to consult the people he represents. It doesn’t take much reading between the lines to figure out that is because a majority of the more junior drivers would likely support it.
The City and it’s budget can’t afford to cave-in.
December 15th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
P.S. Larry, I just spent $3,000 on Christmas Gifts in Kingston instead of Ottawa
December 15th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Virginia
Its odd i do not see mr mayor blocking traffic and trying to cause as much trouble possible.Another thing if a amulance or a fire truck is held up and people suffer because of that.I beleave criminal charges could be laid aginst those who held them up.
December 15th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
The buses are parked due to incompetence on the part of the city. If the proposed contract was half decent it would not need a signing bonus to tilt the vote. There is not enough real money in this contract for the city to extract concessions.
December 15th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
If someone doesn’t come to an agreement over this song and dance!! We the people of Ottawa that hold transit passes should pickette the OC Transpo drivers to get back to work!! Then you will see chaos!! Rally the Picketter’s and the City Hall to Get Back to Work!!! Settle this!! I don’t support either side, I get paid less than all of you and I don’t even have sick leave!!
December 15th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Please put the buses back on. This is so not fair for the innocent people who take the bus and depend on it.
December 15th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
put what to a vote? The membership was told that when they voted down the city’s “final” offer, the executive would not be back with another offer unless it was significantly better.
This whole game of “let your members vote” is really “make them vote on the same contract because I am sure that they are good and hungry now.”
I’d rather vote when there’s a real change in the offer.
December 15th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Ian - we are not in a position to put it to a vote. There is a process and whether you are familiar with that or not is not my problem. What you are proposing is the equivalent of me telling you personally that if you think that Rae should have been the leader of the Liberal party - just put it to a vote and see. It isn`t realistic and you aren`t considering that there are steps and a process.
As for scheduling - let`s make 2 things very very very clear to everyone.
1. We are not discussing the scheduling in the sense of the times the bus gets to your stop, the time it takes to get from point a to point b. We are not negotiating the runs, routes and times therein. Please stop making reference to how it will run better or more efficiently - the schedules themselves are not going to change. The only thing being negotiated is the amount of time I will be at work vs. the amount of time I will be compensated. Please keep that in mind.
2. NO ONE MAKES OR SETS THE SCHEDULES BESIDES MANAGEMENT AND THE CITY. - The union does not make any schedules whatsover. We negotiated with the City the rules in which those schedules are governed but we do not make any schedules.
On my day to book - I go in and choose from a wall of various pieces made up by management to create my day,week and/or weekend.
CLEARLY WE DON`T MAKE THE SCHEDULES - IF IT WERE THE CASE - WHY WOULD THE CITY BE OFFERING TO HIRE A ATU MEMBER FULL TIME TO HELP WITH THE SCHEDULING FROM NOW ON???????????????????????
Why would you want a union members input if we are actually the ones making the schedules. Mr O`Brien I challenge you to clarify this discrepency for the public so that we can set the record straight. Thank you.
Bear in mind people that there are two sides and at any time the negotiatiors on both sides can get back to the tables and fix this. I would not be opposed to going back to work while that happened, in fact I have informed my negotiating team of such but I AM VERY MUCH OPPOSED TO THE CURRENT PROPOSAL.
December 15th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
For the record, OC TRanspo is certainly not the only transit property using our current booking system. In fact they have had several properties visit and incorporate our system into theirs. When I say our system - I am speaking of the one that OC Transpo designed and negotiated ten years ago in an effort to raise employee morale shortly after the Lebrun killings.
I state again, change the rules and maximums within the current system but it is absolutely not necessary to deeply affect our seniority by changing the entire system.
If you will say it doesn`t affect my seniority explain to me why the parties you address in that letter mention very senior and the very junior, the 2 smallest portions of the membership and completely avoid mentioning the impact it will have on the largest portion - 5-15 yrs. ???????
After 7 years - your chart says clearly that I could be forced to do a long 6 split daily and would have to make up my hours on the weekends. This booking that I am in now - is the first time in 7 years that I have had my weekends off. I should blindly give that away for 2k? For those that don`t deal with seniority or a unionized position. I`m sorry, I am not better than you and I don`t deserve more than you, I am simply lucky to have my union and a system that respects my years of service. Mr. O`Brien and Mr. Mercier are asking me to put that aside and blindly agree to see what happens.
One gentleman mentioned a system of allowing us to book under both systems for one time in order to see what it would offer or change. Sir I believe that is genius and would welcome the opportunity. However I doubt that the City will accept that since it is very similar to what the Federal Mediator suggested.
December 15th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Why are days going by without anything happening at all? TALK TO THE DAMN UNION HEAD AND GET THINGS GOING! You two are like children playing stupid games! You are embarassing yourself, and, worse, you are embarassing the city.
I spoke to some tourists today who told me that they had all of their plans to explore our city ruined by this strike. Will they be coming back to Ottawa? Not likely. Will they recommend it to their friends? Not likely.
I second the challenge to you to give up your car for the duration of the strike. Walk to work! Or better yet, why not ride your bike? I’d also like to see you miss serious university exams when you are trying to apply to graduate school, or maybe have to cancel important medical appointments. Not going to happen though, is it?
Council should do nothing this week but focus on ending this strike. How can you possibly discuss other things when so many people are being inconvenienced?
December 15th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
I am an OC Transpo driver and I DO NOT agree with my Union management, and we were never allowed to vote on the latest offer. Sometimes I am ashamed of the tactics that my Union leadership uses - I just want to get back to work - we are paid very well for what we do.
Peter
A Concerned Citizen ( and an OC Transpo driver )
December 15th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
I really am annoyed with the drivers. I have no respect for people that poormouth when they have it so much better than so many other. Face it drivers. You do NOT have public support.
December 15th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Binging arbitration anyone?
December 15th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
I don’t know about the rest of you, but as a bus rider, I am failing to see “the difficult job” of the drivers. They receive a fair wage for what is largly unskilled labour. Sure they don’t make as much as some in private industry, but then private industry is not a “job for life”, private industry faces wage rollbacks and job losses due to the economy, and typically no generous pension plan at the end of it. They decided on this tradeoff when they joined OC. I consider it a good decision on their part, as they will be comfortable in retirement after 30 years.
Now, as far as “Mayor Lar” is concerned, why are you so reluctant to accept to mediators recomendation. I am sure he recomended some “middle ground”. All the gains you want can’t be achieved within one contract period. I suspect it has more to do with the fact that you have failed at almost everything you have tried to do so far, as Mayor. You want to be able to pojnt at something at election time, that has gone right for you. Both you and Andre Cornellier should stop pouting and get back to buisiness. Stop thinking about each of your respective next elections and get this contract settled.
December 15th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Mr. Mayor, bring the city back to the negotiating table. This strike is hurting the city and the drivers, and will not end until the city agrees to negotiate again. Furthermore, there has been too much rudeness and hostility on both sides, and it is only making matters worse. Please get the buses back on the road, and come to a fair deal with the drivers.
-A concerned citizen
December 15th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Mayor O’Brien
Please stand firm against the union.
Being in the private sector, I, like most other in the private sector are disgusted by public sector unions making ridiculous demands just because some in the unions will never be happy and always want more.
They have better benefits, more vacations, job security, pensions and yes, higher average salary. While at the same time private sector companies have either frozen or reduced salaries.
To bad private sector salaries are not going up at the same rate as our property taxes.
Stand firm, the majority of Ottawa wants the union to fail.
December 15th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Mr O’Brien:
Why have yourself and councillours refused to second a motion to make transit essential? Why have you declined to accept the proposal of an arbitrator to take scheduling off the table and deal with it seperately? Why was the alternate scheduling plan not proposed in the first 9 months without a contract? These are all things that you -yes, you Your Worship - could have done to prevent the strike. While I do not agree that the union should do their own scheduling, I see no issue in ending the strike with a proviso to discuss the scheduling at a later date. Right now, you are saving 3 million per week. The bus strike has gone on for one week. Guess what? You bought yourself a year with the existing scheduling practices at no additional cost - get the drivers back on the road now!!! People have already lost their jobs, their freedom, and businesses have lost customers. STOP THIS BEFORE IT GETS WORSE!!!
And to the ATU Executive, drivers, relatives, and supporters: as of 8:43 PM on 15Dec08 there are well over 1000 signatories to an online petition: http://www.fireottawabusdrivers.com . Your tactics (Striking during exams, during Christmas, preventing students fortunate enough to have cars from getting on campus to write exams) have already resulted in 2 incidents of ramming to your members. The public can accept picketing - the public cannot accept blocking access to property not involved in the strike (i.e. universities, colleges, elementary schools, private property). You have lost the respect of a city - an entire city - in 1 week through your draconian tactics. I get that you want to make the most of your options. Do you get that the people hurt most by this strike are the people making minimum wage, or less, and these are the people that will be seeing you on the bus when you finally get off your high horse, accept that you are workers, and that management has the right to schedule your efforts? If you don’t like the schedules you are offered, there is a lovely 9AM to 5PM position in the EI line waiting for you. You are fortunate enough to have a job that pays you a better than living wage - the starting salary is greater than twice what is considered living below the poverty line. Yes, you may need to work weekends. Yes, you may need to be away from home for longer - guess what - I leave at 7AM and get home at 6PM - on a good day. I didn’t like the conditions at my previous job - I left and found one that worked better for me, I didn’t try to hold the city hostage. By the way, that petition: at 8:54PM, its now closer to 1100 signatures.
Thank you,
Michael Merry
December 15th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Mayor O’Brien,
Don’t give in. The union president gets the power from union members. He is selfish, greedy, and cold-hearted to those people relying transit services for daily life. He is even stopping people to access different services at City Hall. I can’t imagine how worse he will be if the union keeps the scheulding power.
In conclusion, if you give in, I won’t vote for you again.
December 15th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Mr Mayor,
Do not back down from the offer that was presented to these arrogant members of the ATU. They are acting like a bunch of little children who are not getting their own way.
News flash for the ATU..not all residents of Ottawa use transit. The majority do not. If the City is able to save my tax dollars by cutting inefficiencies out of the overpriced cost of transit, it needs to be done.
I hope the transit workers miss mortgage payments, miss car payments, and are unable to provide a Christmas for their family. At that point, they will understand what they have done to the innocent people of Ottawa and region.
I hope the transit workers stay out until they lose enough money to eat up their 2K bonus and their retroactive raise. They are all underserving of any increase.
I, and many thousands of Ottawa residents support you Mr O’Brien and I ask that you let the transit workers stay out until they accept the fair contract that was set out before them.
December 15th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Dear Mr. Mayor,
In light of the ongoing strike, perhaps it is time to re-visit the example Ronald Reagan set in 1981 when Air Traffic Controllers went on strike (from Wikipedia):
Only a short time into his administration, federal air traffic controllers went on strike, violating a regulation prohibiting government unions from striking.[81] Declaring the situation an emergency as described in the 1947 Taft Hartley Act, Reagan held a press conference in the White House Rose Garden, where he stated that if the air traffic controllers “do not report for work within 48 hours, they have forfeited their jobs and will be terminated.”[82] Despite fear from some members of his cabinet over a potential political backlash,[83] on August 5, Reagan fired 11,345 striking air traffic controllers who had ignored his order to return to work,[84] busting the union.[85] According to Charles Craver, a labor law professor at George Washington University Law School, the move gave Americans a new view of Reagan, who “sent a message to the private employer community that it would be all right to go up against the unions.”
If the drivers don’t want the jobs they have, that’s fine. Enough is enough. Good people who want to work would be willing to take those jobs — so call a spade a spade, fire those drivers who are on strike, and get us some drivers who actually care enough about the city to do the job they are supposed to do.
Oh and Noah, nobody cares about your “quality of life”… no sir, not when students are being forced to miss exams, people can’t get to work because of your selfishness and people who need medical treatments are missing them because you are defending your “quality of life”. Give me a break. Get back to work.
Mr Mayor: Get those pink slips ready for those drivers!
December 15th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Mr. O’Brien,
There has to be some middle ground that can be found with the ATU. The people of Ottawa are suffering under this strike. I am lucky enough to have a vehicle. I cannot imagine how folk that RELY on public transit are coping.
I feel that something *VERY* important is being overlooked. Who will be responsible if and when a tragedy occurs?
What if someone downtown requires immediate, life saving medical attention and the paramedics take 3-4 times as long to respond? What if there is a fire and emergency vehicles are unable to respond due to traffic jams?
You can end this strike quickly. Get the roads back to normal. Let people go about there business and get shoppers into the malls before it is too late.
Thanks for listening.
December 15th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
Mr. O’Brien,
Managment should control who works whichever shift on whichever route to maximize safety and effciency. Yes, seniority ought to count for something and the management should keep it in mind when creating schedules. But allowing the most experienced drivers “create” their own schedules leaves the younger drivers with horribly split shifts while wasting taxpayers money at the same time.
We elected you to run this city like you would run a company. Keep at it.
Jack
December 15th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
A question to all those who believe the union-members are “excessively paid” or “fat cats”: if you’re angry about the relative power this union has in securing good pay and benefits for its members, why don’t you form unions in your own workplaces?
December 15th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
Larry, please don’t back down.
People don’t realize how good they have it until it’s gone. Maybe after 12-16 weeks of strike pay the union will figure it out.
December 15th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
And where is this idea coming from that students were “blocked” from taking exams? If it refers to picketers enforcing their picket lines as is their right, they let people through after a brief wait. Should a student be late or absent for an exam (despite taking reasonable precautions to ensure s/he arrives on time), s/he has every right to demand that these particular circumstances be taken into account and a re-test or more time be given. That’s what’s been going on at Algonquin College, and I have no reason to doubt the same has been happening at any other accredited teaching institution in the city.
December 15th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
>> Linda Says:
>> December 15th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
>> How come there are only a few picketing when there are 2300 of them?
>> Goes to show you how embarrassed they really are.
Actually Linda, it’s union rules. They have to put in so many hours per week to collect their pittance of a paycheque in strike pay. And as union workers usually do, they are only doing what they have to in order to cash in on their due and not one tiny but more. They aren’t embarrassed, they are selfish.
The thing I find really intriguing in all of this is that the union (as unions always insist on trying to do) is determined to tell the city how they are going to run the system. The city is bang on in insisting that they will decide where the contracted staff (union membership) work, and when.
All I ask of the mayor is that in the future, snow removal equipment be prioritized to getting the downtown areas cleared COMPLETELY and that parking on any downtown area streets be banned during morning and evening rush hours. Do that Larry, and you can hold out against the union until the next blue moon for all I care. I have to admit I am confused as to why city council would refuse to declare city transit and essential service and put an end to this madness.
December 15th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
I feel the frustration from OC Transpo operator’s after reading the above comments. This frustration is likely due to the lack of support and sympathy coming from the citizen’s of Ottawa. It’s time you realize there will never be support or sympathy when the demands are so unreasonable. Who other than a bus driver has the right to make their own schedules? It’s absurd and it’s ridiculous and who agreed to this in the first place? Thank goodness Mr. O’Brien has common sense and wants to hand this task back over to management where it belongs. Remove this notion, get back to work and start rebuilding the respect you’ve lost by striking this time of year with the knowledge of how it would hurt the most vulnerable citizen’s of this city. And when you do settle, after how many weeks of lost income, I hope you blush when some elderly gentleman or woman climbs the stairs of your bus and gets close enough for you to hear him or her say “good afternoon dear, it sure is cold out there today”!
Then again, stay out long enough and we will all become accustomed to our alternate arrangements and be quite comfortable with them, making your job obsolete…..then you and Mr. Cornelier can schedule all your free time the way you see fit. Hopefully then you will be satisfied.
December 15th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
I really am annoyed with the drivers. I have no respect for people that poormouth when they have it so much better than so many others. Face it drivers. You do NOT have public support.
December 15th, 2008 at 11:48 pm
I live about 10 minutes (via bus) outside of Downtown. Last Wednesday was difficult but now I’m quite enjoying the new routine.
I can either walk (it takes me 40 minutes) or park downtown. There are plenty of lots provided I arrive before 8am which I do anyway. My employer picks up the parking tab provided I drive at least one other person.
Anyway, I hope the strike continues until the Union breaks and the drivers must accept a worse offer. There are lots of people that would do that job for between $10-$15/hr. You should be thankful to be paid as much as you do.
December 16th, 2008 at 12:59 am
FIRE THEM ALL!!
December 16th, 2008 at 7:11 am
Why should city workers be immune from what the rest of us are going through? There are layoffs and wage rollbacks everywhere in our economy, yet those whose salaries we pay with our taxes seem to think that they can demand increases, more benefits, more everything.
I TOTALLY support Mayor Larry in his efforts to treat city employees equally with the people who pay their salaries - sorry, but we must all tighten our belts in times like these. I would support even stronger measures to reduce costs - starting with a 20% wage rollback like the rest of country. At least you can then keep your jobs.
Strike if you must, but I will be disgusted if council again turns their back on the wishes of the citizens, and owners, of this city and simply raises taxes again to pay for union agreements we cannot afford.
December 16th, 2008 at 7:17 am
Mayor,
Whatever happens with the strike, let me lend you what I believe is important advice:
***Make absolutely certain that the owner of the LRT (if it ever even happens with you behind the wheel of our City) is NOT OCTranspo. ***
Look at how the city has been crippled by the transit strike. The city had absolutely no contingency plan, and somehow we are the only large city in Canada that does not list transit as an essential service. You need to have the LRT managed by a company entirely independant of OCTranspo, and ATU279.
This is, of course, assuming that your mismanagement will eventually lead us to be able to enjoy any sort of quality of life in this city.
December 16th, 2008 at 7:42 am
Many such as students and seniors are completely immobilized by the strike, but others have adapted. I now have to wake up an hour earlier to carpool with neighbours and colleagues, but that’s a small price to pay to ruin the holidays of the greedy little scavengers with an incredible overwhelming sense of entitlement that drive our 40ft. red and white limos. On that note, let the strike continue for as long as it has to. I’m sure the drivers will cave MUCH faster than the city.
Just a thought — how much money are you clowns losing as a result of this strike? Think about how much the city is saving! They can now give you all the scheduling and signing bonuses you want, and not lose a dime! Meanwhile, you’re using your life savings to pay for groceries and mortgage, you come back to a more hostile work enviroment than you have EVER imagined, and low income citizens have their lives ruined. Job well done, team!
And Larry, as others have asked, are you carpooling with your limo?
December 16th, 2008 at 9:51 am
Mr. Mayor, Sir!
I will crawl on my bare belly across a field of broken glass to work if I have to, but PLEASE DO NOT GIVE THESE PEOPLE A SINGLE PENNY MORE! Most of them are rude, unprofessional, unfriendly, unsympathetic, getting paid well over what they really qualify for. They’re DRIVING BUSSES for God’s sake! This job can be done by almost anyone!
In my opinion their current salaries are too high for people with no university education, absolutely no customer service skills and poor attitude.
Mr Obrien I’m walking to work 1.5hrs a day and I’m liking it. I’m actually noticing I’m getting rid of that beer gut of mine!
To all you bus drivers, the important people! Stop covering your greediness by your constitutional right to strike. If you can easily complicate lives of tens of thousands people just to get a few sick days (which you’ll be spending chugging beers in front of your TVs anyways) and change your schedules, then you shouldn’t come back to your duties. Screw that.
Otherwise get off you butts and get back to where you belong!
December 16th, 2008 at 9:56 am
I have a question for Noah. I noticed all your comments on this blog were sent in during the middle of the day. WHY ARE YOU NOT ON THE PICKET LINE?
I also read on the CBC website today how the city is going to start cracking down on illegal cabs. I remember reading on this blog how an OC Transpo driver was using the strike to drive people around for $20 per trip. The city should find this individual first and have hime fired immediately. Not only this driver helping to hold the city ransom, he is making money off other people’s misery.
MAYOR LARRY - DO NOT GIVE IN TO THE UNION. Take the $2,000 off the table. The drivers deserve a raise, but don’t give them a penny more than required. I hope this strike lasts a long time. I have made other arrangements that are actually better than when I took the bus every morning. Let the drivers start missing a few paycheques. We’ll see how much solidarity they have then.
December 16th, 2008 at 9:56 am
At this point one of the most reasonable ideas I’ve heard has come from Clive Doucet (of all people!)
Why not try a phased in approach to the new booking system?
That way the old boys club at OC can still get paid for hours they don’t work until they retire to a cushy DB pension.
December 16th, 2008 at 10:42 am
To everyone that has been affected with this bus strike, I would like to offer my services to anyone that needs to get their Christmas Shopping done. If you need a ride then please feel free to contact me and my family. And to those of you that agree with this bus strike should be ashamed. I will post my name and number on http://www.kijiji.com
December 16th, 2008 at 11:26 am
You know, reading all these comments and listening to the “drivers” phoning into radio shows and hearing that the ATU refuses to talk to media unless they promise to show the flowery side of things doesn’t do much to convince me you aren’t just a bunch of greedy, sniffling brats.
Get over yourself.
Yes Virginia, our tax dollars pay the mayor’s salary. They also pay your greedy husband’s salary and thousands of other municipal employees salaries. The point is, when you ask for too much for a job as simple as driving a bus, people are going to get annoyed and tell you “no”.
The drivers have asked for too much, plain and simple.
If the union supporting city councilors push this crap though like they did the 5% property tax increase, I’m going to be joining any movement I can to change the government as soon as possible.
The Mayor only has one vote. Stop acting like he’s doing anything more than the other guys on this. Claiming that he was responsible for the property tax increase is complete buffoonery. Claiming that the city hasn’t put forward an offer that deserves a vote is equally naive.
December 16th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
This strike should never have happened nor should the one that’s warming up in the wings. Drivers, with the new economic realities, the kind of perks you are holding out for will be a thing of the past.
Quality of life is an individual responsibility, and you work with what you’ve got, don’t expect your employer to provide it. For your service he gives you a pay-cheque and ensures a safe harrassment free work environment. What you do with that is your business.
Here is my suggestion. It is time to establish a new city controlled corporation, lets call it Capital Transit. Close OC Transpo, fire the entire staff, sell the assets of OC Transpo to Capital Transit for $1.00 and hire a new non-union staff. Offer a starting wage for drivers of $15.00 hourly, that would be every one since all the drivers would be new. Yes you would hire experienced drivers from OC Transpo, but at the new rates and with new conditions. Imagine the cost savings to tax payers.
Stress customer service and safety, as the most important aspect of the job and terminate anyone who doesn’t live up to the new standards.
This is perhaps the only way to avoid the flood of contempt and negative feelings which will be heaped upon OC Transpo’s drivers when they first return to work. Which may make the city’s requirement to provide a safe harrassment free work environment a challenge for a short time.
Mr. Mayor the ball is in your court, what are you going to do.
December 16th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
I would like to pass a motion to have the back to work motion tabled in the event tha the union does not respond this week
December 16th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Ever heard of the PATCO strike?
Probably one of the best damn ways a leader ever dealt with a strike that was effecting lives in such a detrimental way. You should all be ashamed of yourselves.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_Air_Traffic_Controllers_Organization_(1968)
December 16th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Nohah!! we must understand that you personally can`t do anything to change it … oh yes you can!! get a petition going to get the drivers back to work. SHAME ON YOU GUYS!!!!
December 16th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Mr. Mayor I think it’s about time you flex your political muscle to put an end to this strike!!! This has been one of the most damaging and frustrating things that the Citizens of Ottawa have ever had to endure. We as citizens are tired of being blackmailed by unions in a time of economic uncertainty. If you ever want to gain any respect back for yourself and your position in office please do what you were elected to do. Bend over backwards to get this resolved for the overstrained and mentally exhausted citizens that put you in office in the first place!!!
As for the union. You should be ashamed of yourselves. It’s time you thought of the damage you have caused and continue to cause this City. If you want to save any face or respect as a union in the future, resume work now and proceed with negotiations preferably with an unattached Arbitrator to remove emotions from the talks. Every day you continue to hold the city hostage hurts any premise for unions as a reputable body but rather more like a spoiled kid who refuses to cooperate without getting their Candy first. The choice is yours!!! Gimme, Gimme should never get!!!
December 16th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Why can’t we use the bus lanes on the Queensway and the rapid transit roads - they are clear and it would relieve alot of congestion - having several officers out at rush hour one every kilometer or so flashing their lights blocking the lanes on both sides of the Queensway - makes more sense than us sitting in our cars watching them as we don’t move? As you stated last night this strike will probably go into the New Year - why don’t you let us get home a little earlier? families have children to pick up and families to feed.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
I second ET’s comments about the level of service when the buses were running.
I take the D96 from Kanata, and for weeks before the strike the schedule was a mess. One bus didn’t come for a week and a half, even though it’s on OC’s schedule posted at every stop. When I finally asked a driver why the other bus never came he pretty muched yelled at me to not blame the drivers and to email my problems.
I did email, and the response was to phone the transit number with the stop number to see if it was running that day. This bus is always packed to the point of bursting, and when that one bus doesn’t come, people are turned away.
My suggestion to the picketing drivers during their “downtime” is to learn how to follow a schedule and work on customer service.
I’ll leave with my last heard comment from a driver before the strike. The bus was packed and the was no room to move. Someone was trying to get on the bus and the driver says over the speaker “C’mon people. Move to the back…it’s not rocket science!” So much for “Respect is a two way street” because as of now it’s a dead end.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
I urge the City to go back to the bargaining table.
It’s simply unfair that we are all forced to bear the cost of finding alternative means of getting around the city when the city’s population is one million. Our hard-earned money has gone toward a transit system that is not currently being used. It’s time we use it. Please.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
To the drivers posting here, picketing, calling in and demanding their “rights”:
I heard a caller phone in to 580 CFRA who said, we want to be able to be more in control of our scheduling because we have children and lives and sometimes its hard to get babysitters. I am one of the most tenured people in the department that I work in for my company, and I still work 12-8, 1-9, weekends, etc. A business is a business. You have to work based on the needs and demands of your service. If you don’t like the scheduling system, get a job that only operates from 9-5 Mon-Fri.
PS Noah - I love your quote that states “You want drivers to accept a deal that states we will be relieved and finish/start - wait for etc on the street and make us travel back to the garage for our vehicle? You want us to accept this under the condition that you will pick where that happens ie: I live in Orleans but I should just hope that you don`t have me releived at Terry Fox?”
Oh heaven forbid, you need to be stuck on the side of the road waiting to get back to the garage to get your vehicle? You mean like the thousands of people you have left walking on sidewalks, stranded downtown, waiting for rides? Wake up and smell the bus fumes. Act like an adult and don’t be a hypocrite. Its pathetic and if you are demanding respect this is the last way to get it.
December 16th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Its funny the union says its about respect.THe sure are not showing any respect to the people who pay there salarys.
December 16th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Mr. Mayor, please go back to the negotiating table and get this strike ended NOW. Nothing is going to happen in this stalemate situation, and while each side waits for the other to break, many many citizens’ lives are being ruined. Please show you care about the people who elected you and get the buses running again.
December 17th, 2008 at 9:21 am
Julie - you will have had to deal with it for a week maybe two - you are suggesting as a way of growing up I should accept this for the rest of my career. You clearly don`t understand what is being argued and fought for here. Happy Holidays.
December 17th, 2008 at 9:57 am
Hello Mr. O’Brien,
I support your stand on not caving on union demands! Even in normal
times these union demands would be ridiculous, let alone in these poor
economic times. OC transpo is a government enforced monopoly with very
well paid employees. As was published in the weekend newspaper, even a
2-year employee gets $50,000+ for driving a bus. Bus drivers have a
demanding job, but many other people work as hard or harder for much
less money. This is often without anywhere near the job security that OC
employees have. Many people don’t even have jobs. Imagine what the
senior drivers already get, and they are the ones that are involved with
this split-shift/sick-leave scam.
Other transit systems in other cities don’t allow this, and these
cities control scheduling - why not Ottawa? Caving on this will make
city council look weak, and raise the wrath of citizens watching over
$3m being flushed down the tubes while the city tries to cut hockey
rinks etc. After all, the union doesn’t “own” OC transpo, the citizens
do. Although inconvenient, it is remarkable how well commuters are
coping in the complete absence of buses. With the approach of the
holidays, commuting will decline, and shopping is much more spread out
during the day. Bargaining could easily wait until January.
If the strike becomes long, why not allow use of the transitway and
bus lanes for multi-occupancy vehicles? Vans, private buses, and even
autos with more than one occupant could use this system during rush
hour. Temporary signage and police at transitway entry-points would be
needed, (policing of bus lanes is already done), and this would be seen
as a green way to cope with the situation. That various curves or
corners are too sharp for autos sounds silly given that ponderous buses
seem okay on them. These principles are worth fighting for - so don’t
cave!
Eric Jackson
December 17th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Once again, Noah is posting messages on the blog. His last one was at 9:21 am this morning.
WHY ARE YOU NOT ON THE PICKET LINE? Everybody else had to fight their way to work this morning, yet you sit in front of a computer spewing your verbal diarrhea.
I have 4 words for you.
GET BACK TO WORK.
December 17th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Noah - first off, congratulations on your expected newborn with all sincerity.
Secondly -
I DONT EVEN TAKE THE BUS.
How are you planning to take care of your family while you are on strike? You expect the city to cave because of your needy and greedy expectations. Again, just because you provide a service that is needed by so many people, does not mean you can abuse that to get what you want all the time. I love how you don’t seem to understand that if you get what you want now, in a few years it will be something different. Oh we don’t get enough sick days, oh I have a family and don’t think its fair to work splits, weekends, evenings, blah blah blah.
If Noah, you don’t like it, GET A NEW JOB. Stop your complaining, no one is asking you to accept it, and look for something new. Did you know there are tons of different jobs that are being offered where you can work 9-5 and you probably wont get half of the benefits you are currently getting now. Open up your job space and I guarantee (or I would have before) that thousands would be jumping at your opening. Now that you have pulled this move (and when I say you, I mean the collective union) Im not so sure the same respect for your position or career will still stand.
Its unreal how disconnected from reality quite a few of your fellow drivers are. Just because you are part of a union you think you should be able to just stomp your feet and cry like babies in order to get your way and if you don’t, well then you’ll just screw everyone else over in the meantime. Well I’ll tell you something, Im driving friends to work that are stuck and who cant afford to pay $40 or more to get a cab to work everyday…what are you doing to help? - thinking of alternatives to come to an agreement? or is that not your responsibility as just a “number” in your company as you clearly don’t have a say right?
Im not saying you should have to accept to grow up - Im saying that if you don’t like it no one is forcing you to keep your current job. Be an example for your son and your expected newborn child, and make a decision on your future instead of just throwing your hands in the air and giving up. Why should you continue to get your way and bully the city around until they give you what you want?
Happy holidays to everyone and their families, I hope everyone will be able to carry through their planned events for Christmas…just hope you arent on opposite sides of the city without a vehicle. Jeez - we are an embarassment to the country…Canada’s Capital…
December 17th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
oh and, on the topics of jobs - they are guaranteed, and they arent a right - having a job is a privilege…all you union workers OBVIOUSLY dont understand that.
though this is really inconvenient I hope that the city doesn’t budge a bit and you can understand how inconvenient it is to be stranded…without money…not getting paid….
December 17th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
An open question to any OC drivers reading this:
Be honest, tell us if there are, or are not, senior drivers who are being paid a full days wage for a half day, or less, of work.
Is this not the case?
December 18th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Noah:
You actually think I’m talking about WHEN the buses get to the stops??? I’m talking about your WORK schedule… remember? That thing you used to do every day before your union decided to strike?
And your Rae/Liberal argument doesn’t hold water whatsoever. Like I told Virginia: Focus on the matter at hand. There’s an offer on the table, and Cornelier has declared that he WILL NOT put it to a vote. Wouldn’t that in and of itself suggest voting as an option?
This whole situation is nowhere near as difficult as everyone is making it out to be. The fact is that drivers currently have a better deal than they deserve, specifically when it comes to scheduling your days… you know this… so now that a new contract is required and you’re not going to be getting the same sweet deal you had before, so you don’t want to sign it, plain and simple.
Granted, I can see where you’re coming from. If I were, for example, grossly overpaid for my job, and when the next contract came up looking to cut my pay, I’d be upset, even if I knew that such a move would actually be justified. Welcome to Human Nature: Lookin’ out for number one. (Before people freak, I’m not saying the drivers are barking about salary… it’s just and example.)
But the difference is, you’ve chosen a line of work that has a DIRECT, IMMEDIATE, and SIGNIFICANT impact on all of the citizens in this town. By doing so, you have taken on the responsibility that comes with working in public transit, just like cops and paramedics and snow-removal have committed themselves to the security, health and safety of Ottawa. By pursuing your current course, you are shirking that responsibility, and the ire of the people of this town, and the wrath you incur upon your inevitable return will be well earned and completely justified.
The fact remains that drivers are picking their work schedules based on seniority, with clauses that prevent the changing of their routes. This system was introduced 10 years ago, when the city was in a very different place. There were more drivers than work. But given how the city has grown since then, there is now more work than drivers. The old system doesn’t work anymore.
Face facts, buddy. You’re wrong. You can post a thousand times, but the argument remains the same:
“I’ve got a really sweet deal right now, and I don’t want to give it up.”
December 19th, 2008 at 10:09 am
NOAH PEOPLE DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT CHOOSING YOUR RUN AND TIMES OF DAY ARE YOUR BREAD AND BUTTER. THE QUALITY OF LIFE ENTERS HERE BECAUSE YOU CAN CHOOSE PIECES WHICH ARE MORE CONVENIENT FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. THE COMMISION IF THEY GET CONTROL OF SCEDULING WILL HAVE YOU START IN THE EAST OF THE CITY AND THEN FINISHING IN THE DEEP WEST END. THAT IS A BIG ISSUE FOR DRIVERS AND WILL REMAIN SO.
ALSO PEOPLE YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE TOTAL LACK OF TRUST BETWEEN DRIVERS AND MANAGEMENT. THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR AT LEAST 20 YEARS. I WORKED THERE FOR 30 YEARS AND RETIRED EARLY AS SO MANY OTHER WORKERS DO IN THIS ORGANIZATION.
THINK FOR A MINUTE, WHY WOULD YOU OFFERED 2000 DOLLAR SIGNING BONUS UNLESS THEY HAS A PLAN UP THEIR SLEAVES. NO ONE OFFERS A BONUS IF THE DEAL IS AS GOOD AS THEY SAY IT IS.
December 19th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Ian at least get your facts straight. There has never been enough drivers at OC Transpo for as long as I worked there. 30 years of service. Also choosing runs is the very bread and butter of a driver. So when he exercizes his seignorty to choose better working conditions and more hours that is the drivers right under the agreement he has in place. With the new sheduling his choice will become limited to the discretion of an employer who cannot be trusted. No one likes to strike but sometimes it is the only option left. I support the drivers only becasue I have a much better understanding of what they will loose if this offer went through.
The working condtions were negotiated over time and a lot of give and take. This situation is take it all back and forget what we fought for for so many years.
December 19th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
You see, Roger, right there you’ve just provided a beautiful synopsis of why no one in this city supports the drivers.
Scheduling is your bread and butter?
WRONG.
$50,000+ a year in salary for two years experience is your bread and butter.
A job with pension and benefits is your bread and butter.
The satisfaction of knowing that you’re providing a valuable service to the community is your bread and butter.
The ability to choose when, where and how much you work? Well, to keep with the bakery theme: THAT’S ICING ON THE CAKE.
What you fought for for so many years, eh? That’s not a right. It’s a perk. And it’s a perk who’s time has come to an end. It’s time for the drivers to give it up.
No one is asking you to like it. Just suck it up and deal with it.
December 19th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Dear Mr. O’Brien,
It just burns me up when I think of all the suffering this bus strike and the many others that this City has seen. Of course, this time they just had to step beyond the realms of “dignity and respect” and place the average citizen in a position of unrest and anguish.
The last time they went on strike I lost a whole course and never did regain any respect for them. Some have never again taken a bus.
This year, the strike is harming my elderly Mom’s last Christmas.
I don’t have a car and I can not be with her.
The drivers were talking on their cells, being particularly rude and displaying their true colours before the strike.
I was told a year ago that the drivers were planning a winter strike…….
So it really isn’t about how anything was negotiated…………
Frankly, I do not care how it affects their Christmas. They declared war on us and not the other way around.
I think they will be shocked when they go back to work at their convenience…….that the public has lost soooooooooooooomuch respect.
It is sad to see a group of Adults needing big brother to fight for them.
I pay my taxes to the City not to A.T.U.
If we cave in we might as well just pay them to the Union and continue to let them run your life when it is convenient for them.
I hope not to have to return to Public Transit…………………
And that their Christmas are no more enjoyed than the many that they have helped to mess up. It would be truly said if they were any better.
Frankly, I don’t how they were able to eat their meal at the Hampton Inn while others couldn’t even make it for cancer treatment etc. etc.
December 20th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
What I said was chosing there times of work and where they finish is their bread and butter. Choosing better days off and so on. Negotiated items are not a perk they are items which were agreed to by both sides in negotiations. Better working conditons are what this is all about. What is wrong with using the contract to make your life better. It took a lot of years to get these choices the drivers have and at a cost. So please Ian before you comment on something know what your talking about first.
December 21st, 2008 at 9:24 pm
The strike shows just how far the N. American labor movement has come from the days of “a fair days pay for a fair days work”.
Now it’s more “as much money as we can squeeze out of the taxpayers by holding them to ransom, oh and by the way we also want to choose when we work”.
To the drivers: You earn +50k a year! And you go on strike? Are you serious? You are greedy people and I hope they fire the lot of you.
December 24th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Scheduling shift work is very complex. As a shift worker, I would not agree to scheduling changes unless I had time to scrutinize them and their impact on my quality of life. Those who have never worked shiftwork should not have an opinion in scheduling matters and should not be so quick to dismiss drivers’ concerns.
December 24th, 2008 at 9:58 am
Excellent job Mr. Mayor, you have my full support.
You have my support to stand firm for as long as it takes.
December 25th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
Mr. O’Brien
As a tax payer, I would first like to know how much money the city is saving for every day that this tnasit strike is on? Secondly,please tell me what percentage of my property tax bill is used to fund public transit in this city,and will everyone paying for this non existing service be reimbursed this money? Finally,please tell me why you do not believe that public transit in this city is an essential service.
Thank you,
Peter
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:42 am
I have one thing to say to OC Transpo bus drivers, your job is to operate one of the simplest machines, a bus. you are bus drivers, nothing more. you are not special. we are the most advanced species on these planet with limitless capabilities, the capability to create art, to create music, and to invent. your job requires the coordination between your hands, your eyes, and your feet. This sort of complexity can be displayed in monkeys, they to have the ability to coordinate actions between their hands, eyes, and feet. If you do not what the city is offering you, then no one is forcing you keep your job, go find a job that suits your needs. I am a communications engineer at carleton, and i would happily take your job. I am sure if your jobs were terminated, you would have been replaced by people who would have happily accepted the work conditions.
January 7th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
I hope the bus drivers vote” Yes” tomorrow at the Civic Centre and accept the City’s offer.
The bus drivers should be happy they have a job, some people don’t.
The drivers make a good salary and get good benefits.
The strike is hurting their ridership who pays their jobs.
They had 8 months last year to negotiate with the City and didn’t.
Enough is enough. One of my friends is not impressed with the strike like me.
She got para transpo because of the strike and often times she can’t get a ride. She can’t afford a taxi.
I am on an Ontario Disability Support Program pension (ODSP) and I live 50% below the poverty line. I had to pay $80 in taxis this month to get my husband to get some groceries, money I didn’t have.
Poor people like me have limited choices in transportation.
I don’t have a car, taxis are very expensive, and I have no one to help me.
This bus strike has caused me extreme hardship.
Get the buses going as soon as possible. The people of Ottawa need our transportation deemed an essential service so we don’t ever have to go through this again.
January 7th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Well Well well, Certainly glad i retired!! Good Luck bro`s and Sis`s
Your gonna need it, As we all know, Andy is like a dog with a bone, ain`t gonna give up easily. Like i always said, the time`s they are a changing!! Damned hard to give up 6 hrs work for 8 hrs pay.
Plus for ol farts ( Andy, bob, Joe.Guy etc) hard to give up all the easy overtime, how will you live???” Oh Yeah, My pension just increased 3.5%
Keep on working and helping my pension guy`s
“SOLIDARITY FOREVER” what ever that means
January 7th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
How a democratic society cans let a 2,000 individual take hostage of entire city, not mention all those senior citizens who can’t drive. These people can not affordable taxi services to see doctor, to go hospital or get their prescription fill. I am Canadian working in US, I am so often told my American friends how are they become so materialized, so self centered vs. Canadian generosity.
It’s so much in sad to see one Canadian do to another Canadian, particular those elderly, disable and children… I wish God can wake up Andre Cornellier let him see how much his action harm to our community; stop his stupid, evil action. Otherwise, God will punish not just him, but his seven generations to come.
January 9th, 2009 at 8:57 am
Open a bidding process for outside contracting. Same as contracting out staff in the office. More bang for your buck. No strikes. There are many transit agencies acrosss North America that have contracted services and are doing very well and saving money to improve their systems further. Phase out the full time employees and tell them to come back as contractors with the winning bid coompany. The union would fight this tooth and nail saying it is an attack on Canadian Workers…..yeah…unionised public employees…..not the rest of the us…which I believe are the majority…non-unionisd I mean. Contract out their jobs and the service going again. Say bye bye to the union. The union has done nothing but close down large employer after lare employer and are going to eventually self destruct with no more large business entities to close down or push to mexico or india.
January 9th, 2009 at 11:37 am
Atta boy Roger!!! Keep backing my point and keep making the drivers look greedy and foolish.
You can talk all you want about me, telling me how I’m ignorant, ill-informed, etc. Fact is, your union got you a sweet deal when they first obtained the scheduling rights. But guess what! That doesn’t establish precident to last until the end of time. That contract expired, remember? Your union is attempting to retain a contract point that is no longer justified, plain and simple.
The working conditions with regards to scheduling are over the top. So you enjoyed it while it lasted, and now it’s going to change. Does that suck for you? Well, yeah, I suppose it does. But that doesn’t make the need for change any less legitimate.