Septième jour de la grève des transports en commun
Septième jour de la grève des transports en commun
Hier soir, j’ai vu des restaurants vides dans le Marché et moins de magasineurs au Centre Rideau qu’on s’attendrait à en voir deux semaines avant Noël. Je tiens à assurer les citoyens d’Ottawa que nous travaillons très fort pour que cette grève prenne fin au plus vite.
Il est regrettable que, après des mois de négociations, les dirigeants syndicaux aient choisi cette période de l’année pour faire la grève. La Ville en subit les conséquences et cela ne fait le bonheur de personne.
La Ville a offert une généreuse augmentation de salaire de 7 p. 100 échelonnée sur trois ans ainsi qu’une prime de rendement de 2 000 $, en plus d’augmenter le nombre de jours de congé de maladie. Il s’agit d’une offre équitable en cette période économique difficile et incertaine. Je demande à nouveau aux membres de l’exécutif du SUT soit de se prononcer sur notre dernière offre, soit de revenir à la table de négociation et de tenter de régler les problèmes.
Certaines personnes ont suggéré que nous laissions simplement la question des horaires entre les mains d’un arbitre de différends et que tout irait bien. Mais l’offre de la Ville est une proposition globale et en soustraire une partie sans renégocier les autres n’est pas réaliste. En allant en arbitrage, nous en reviendrions au début du processus.
Si l’on exclut la question des horaires, il faut tout reprendre à zéro, ce qui englobe les augmentations de salaires, les jours de congé de maladie additionnels, la banque de congés de maladie et la prime de rendement de 2 000 $. Retrancher la question des horaires est tout simplement impossible parce que, en plus de l’efficience économique pour les contribuables, des services améliorés pour les clients et du simple droit d’un employeur de gérer son personnel, elle comporte une autre question très importante : celle de l’amélioration de la sécurité!
Actuellement, un chauffeur d’autobus peut réserver deux quarts de travail de 11 heures durant une seule période de 24 heures. La direction n’est pas d’accord avec cette pratique, qu’elle considère comme dangereuse. Mais, aujourd’hui, nous ne pouvons rien faire pour y mettre fin. L’établissement des horaires fait partie de notre offre, dans le but de garantir un minimum de huit heures de repos entre les quarts de travail et un temps de récupération après chaque parcours.
À mesure que nous élargissons notre réseau de transport en commun, nous devons assurer la sécurité de nos citoyens et de nos chauffeurs. Je crois que nous en avons l’obligation.
Si les dirigeants syndicaux ont des propositions à faire, nous demeurons disposés à nous asseoir à la table de négociation. C’est eux qui l’ont quittée la semaine dernière, alors c’est à eux d’y revenir. Mettons fin à cette grève le plus rapidement possible!
décembre 16th, 2008 at 5:28
Larry,
Look. Continuing to post messages saying how right the city’s offer is over and over and over isn’t going to solve this strike.
A driver interviewed in the citizen this morning suggested this:
“Pelletier, a Transpo driver for 20 years, said the city either has to withdraw the scheduling proposal completely or give at least three guarantees:
• “Straight” or uninterrupted, eight-hour runs that begin in the early morning would be maintained at present levels;
• Straight runs such as those that begin after 1 p.m. would also remain; and
• Transpo would have to keep the “spread time” — the number of hours needed to complete two split shifts plus the down time in between — at 12 or 12.5 hours. Transpo wants to change the maximum spread time to 14.5 hours.
”
Maybe that could be a starting point.
We don’t need chest thumping we solutions that are not already on the table. Start the dialog and bring something new forward.
Quit the chest thumping. This isn’t management vs union making the schedule. It is about the how the work units are packaged.
And this wonderful efficiency is completely trivial: 4.1 cents per ride. (I posed this calculation is a previous post)
Now get going. We need solutions faster. This has taken too long already. I thought you business types were used to getting things done quickly.
décembre 16th, 2008 at 5:35
Christmas Eve parties are upon us, Mr. O’Brien. Then will come New Years Eve parties. What do you plan to do about the number of drunken drivers who would normally take a bus home from their parties, but can’t? Ask them politely not to drink and drive? Is it going to take a tragic accident for this strike to end?
And shame on City Council for admonishing Clive Doucet for having an opinion on the strike and for trying to end it properly. At least he suggested a way to help move things along. Seems like no one else is trying very hard.
Another day, another whole lot of nothing on either side.
décembre 16th, 2008 at 6:34
Mr Mayor
How can you blaim the union leader to choose this time for strike ?. who decline the mediator’s proposal on dec 9th ?. you (city) locked out the workers . the union is ready for negotiation since may or june (2008)
décembre 16th, 2008 at 6:51
You had more than enough time to solve this before it became the subject of a strike Mr. O’Brien.
You are responsible for this, not the Union and not the bus operators.
décembre 16th, 2008 at 6:54
I am an OC Transpo Bus Operator.
I have just logged on to the regular OC Transpo website (www.octranspo.com) to discover a memo at the bottom of the page ADDRESSED TO ALL EMPLOYEES OF ATU279. The memo is from Lyn Hunt, dated December 15 and titled “Insurance Coverage During Work Stopage”.
In her memo and IN A PUBLIC FORUM, Mrs. Hunt dare declare and announce that “Due to the potential hardship that could be inflicted upon you and your family while the work stoppage is in progress, the City of Ottawa has made the necesarry arrangements with our insurance carriers to continue your Basic Life Insurance, Optional Life Insurance, Dependent Life Insurance, Survivor Income Benefit and Long Term Disability Insurance”.
In the very next paragraph, she writes “For the duration of the work stoppage, the following provisions have been suspended: Dental Insurance, Pension Accrual, Wage Continuance Insurance, Extended Medical Insurance, Vacation Accrual”.
What gall you have Lyn Hunt! What a presentation! Where do you think the potential hardship lies the most?
How can you make such a declaration when I, as a bus operator, via my payroll deductions, contribute to the payment of premiums for these benefits with ManuLife. How can you make such a declaration when such premiums are prepaid for coverage from one to three months in advance, depending on the group insurance contract.
You have gall and no conscience. How can you play with MY premiums like that? The fact that we share in the premium does not give you the right to do that.
And Alain Mercier dares tell me that he is negotiating in good faith?
Shameful!
décembre 16th, 2008 at 7:41
Mr. Mayor, you have demonstrated VERY POOR LEADERSHIP during this labour dispute between the City and the ATU 279 union. If you are really serious about the importance of public transit, you would ask both sides to immediately return to the bargaining table and work out a deal. Instead, you have decided to play the waiting game and requesting the union to contact the City to negotiate.
This City is going to be the laughing stock once the World Juniors are taking place, if the strike doesn’t end. The city will face loss revenue and negative opinions about Ottawa. And I will place the blame to you.
I did not vote for you in the last municpal election. And if you decide to run for reelection, I am not voting for you. Stop feeding your ego.
décembre 16th, 2008 at 9:44
I wonder if you Mr O’Brien could tell me why management took a simulated booking of what you are offering to the Atu 279. Are they out there driving around from place to place. would it not have made more sense to have a mix of both management and bus drivers doing this mock booking?
Then you may have been able to get feedback on this booking procedure. Or you may already know what the results would have been, therefore not inviting any of the drivers.
Seems to me that all of your fact are not as clear as you seem to be putting out to the public. Your choice of words sure give me that impression. Let me explain.
Can you please tell us how many drivers book two 11hour pieces of work in a 24-hour period?(answer is)
You talk about percentages when it comes to changes to the drivers schedules. Maybe it’s time you give us numbers like you have on the 20 less buses that would be needed, 3.5 million in savings, not having to hire 100 more drivers.
How many senior drivers would be affected by this change? How many junior driver would benefit from this for a short period of time as one day they will be senior drivers?
Is this not manipulating seniority in some way? Your telling us, junior drivers would get better work and only a small amount of senior drivers would be feeling this change. How many????
This is what you are saying.(Scheduling is part of our offer to ensure a minimum of eight hours rest between shifts and recovery time after every run).
Let the people know what recovery time really means to management? As we are suppose to get that now. Unless you break the posted speed limit. It is almost impossible to keep the docket times. But you must already know this as many drivers have been spoken to or disciplined when not able to keep their time.
Maybe you can explain why this so called block booking is practiced on the weekend and not weekdays?
May it have something to do with the fact that there is no morning or afternoon rush hour.
Can you also tell the people of Ottawa why it is that the runs (two pieces) put together by management on the weekend is almost always the last to be chosen? Why is that?
Could it have something to do with all the running around drivers have to do to get there buses?
From one end of the city to another.
You speak of time off between runs. Could you tell me how getting 1 hour and ten minutes is time off between runs when you get relieved at Place D’Orlean and must find your way to Greenboro or maybe westboro or could it be Bayshore? Nice time off that is.(unpaid of course)Then finish on the road somewhere in the city.Having to get back to the garage to pick up our car.
Could you clarify this to the people of Ottawa. You have done a great job so far as to putting out there only what you want the public to see.
We are treated as the maggots of all the city employees.
I could go on and on.
I love the job but not all the inside politic that go with it.
More to come…….
décembre 16th, 2008 at 9:53
The hypocrisy I have witness from you Mr. Mayor and your shadow puppet Mercier…shame on you for airing all this dirty laundry out in the open with Ottawa residents. Another concern I have is that you must have made sure that you sweetened the offer to the supervisors and security pretty good as you wouldn’t want to look THAT bad in the views of Ottawa tax payers,,,,after listening to all this idiocy from your corner for the past week has only strengthened my position to stay out longer!
décembre 16th, 2008 at 10:25
Claude,
I too am a member of a union. We had a strike last year and ALL of our benefits were immediately suspended by the employer. It’s part of going on strike. The fact that your employer is actually continuing to pay some of your benefits is quite surprising since you are not showing up for work.
décembre 16th, 2008 at 10:29
A minimum of 8 hours off in any 24 hour period should be mandatory for all drivers and should be non-negotiable. It is mandatory for any driver who falls under regulation of both Canadian and US DOT log book requirements, and being permitted to skirt the requirement simply because one is working within the 150km radius of home is ludicrous.
This is very much a safety issue since being overtired is every bit as deadly as being drunk, especially when operating a vehicle that weighs over 10 tons.
décembre 16th, 2008 at 10:48
I support your actions 100% regarding this strike.
But, it’s likely you’ll eventually need to cobble together some kind of compromise wrt the scheduling issue (hey, it’s the Canadian way). I agree that it’s imperative management have overall control of resources, it only makes sense, but maybe if a degree of employee participation is written into the scheduling process the driver’s trepidation will be assuaged?
I use the transit system; it’s a real inconvenience to have it shut down. But I hope you stick to your guns on this one. Abuse and inefficiencies are rampant in the system. I don’t believe there’s any “chest thumping” or personal vendettas involved here; I think you’re fighting for what’s right. And thank you for that.
décembre 16th, 2008 at 11:01
I am willing to bet that most of the above are drivers. Enough already with the lot of you. Employees and unions are not the ones that should be in charge of schedule or work hours, YOUR employer is the City of Ottawa (funded by taxpayers). Show us where any other transit service in Canada has the system you now have in place, show us that the majority of other cities have this system and then I will listen. Until then I don’t think anyone should be listening to any of you.
décembre 16th, 2008 at 11:21
How can the city expect to get funding for multiple billions of dollars worth of new transit when the basics of running the existing system are not being done? The public statements made around this strike have demonstrated that the environment around OC Transpo is still toxic. City council appears to have descended to primate dominance behaviour with the union.
It’s clear that the city can end this strike in hours — if you really want to end the strike more than you want to “win”. Since the existing system has been in place for at least ten years, and perhaps a century, the compelling reason to force a change now isn’t obvious to me. And an ever-shifting set of reasons makes me think it isn’t actually that obvious to you, you’ve just got dug into a position that you’re trying to justify.
décembre 16th, 2008 at 11:27
IMO this is what the city should do.
Consider renewing the contract under the terms the union wants for the shortest amount of time possible. Then use this time to look at offering the contract out to public companies that will run a proper efficient operation. This would be the start of a good long term solution that will make everyone happy, excepting of course the selfish union and its cronies.
décembre 16th, 2008 at 11:49
The TTC in Toronto was ordered back to work after being on strike for 2 days. They were forced back to work WHILE the city and the union worked on their issues in arbitration.
For the city of Ottawa to still be in the middle of a PUBLIC transportation strike after 6 days, leads me to believe that the people who are supposed to be our voice, the people that are supposed to have our best interests at heart and the people who are supposed to work FOR us are either doing a piss poor job or no job at all.
Larry O’Brien, if you’re unsure what to do during this strike. If you need me to walk you through how to bring this strike to an end. I’ve provided you a link to what Toronto did during theirs.
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=476199
décembre 17th, 2008 at 1:34
Outsourcing is not the answer. Nor is locking the drivers out since I feel it is only a matter of time before wallets will get tight and the strike will end. The city needs to stand it’s ground on the issue of scheduling, especially if the scheduling issue involves undue costs to the city in overtime pay.
décembre 17th, 2008 at 3:30
Tiny Tommy Says:
December 16th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
“Christmas Eve parties are upon us, Mr. O’Brien. Then will come New Years Eve parties. What do you plan to do about the number of drunken drivers who would normally take a bus home from their parties, but can’t?”
How about they take the sober way they got to their party/parties to get home. Or how about a taxi? Operation Red Nose?
Heck, I do this for friends all the time, they want to go out, I’ll skip the alcohol and drive them. I do this at least once a week. If you’re dumb enough to drink and drive, that is not the Mayors fault. Blame yourself, the people supervising the distribution of the alcohol you are consuming, etc.
Use your head… and if you are going to blame someone, place the blame where it belongs.
décembre 17th, 2008 at 4:40
Mr Mayor,do not give in,I rely on the buses when the weather is nasty,to do Christmas shopping…and to go to work when I can not ride a bike.
If the bus drivers do not want the bonus 2000 dollars,just deposit it in the food banks ..after all it is Christmas.
décembre 17th, 2008 at 7:21
Stay the course! Do not back down. No concessions. The operators have had a pretty good deal for a long time, they have forgotten that the rest of us pay their salaries. If the city can save money by handling the scheduling, the city should handle the scheduling. It is as simple as that. Does the union not understand that most people are not getting raises, that a lot of people are losing jobs, that the economy is in a precarious position. So while many bus users see no wage increases, they have to swallow yearly fare hikes. A net loss from the previous year. All this so Operators can select their shifts, get more sick days, get yearly raises and a signing bonus. Absurd. Seriously. Is this a joke?
The strike is causing me a number of hardships but I will bear them for as long as it takes. Stay the course.
décembre 17th, 2008 at 8:39
Mr. Mayor,
MAKE THIS AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE NOW!
Withdraw some of the offers like that $2000 bonus….for what? Their customer service skills are horrible. Stand your ground, we’ll get through this. Sooner or later they will suffer the consequences of the strike and need money. Find that driver who is charging $20 for rides and fire him now. Unfortunately, with the threat of strikes every so often, public transportation in Ottawa is unreliable. It needs to be deemed an essential service.
décembre 17th, 2008 at 8:39
I support your stand fully on the transit contract. A strike is always devastating but you must win this issue.. Please disregard the comments of Clive Doucet (he is certainly not in the majority )..
Whatever you do, do not go to federal binding arbitration as we know that they will just give the union anything they want…
décembre 17th, 2008 at 8:41
Claude,
That is normal occurrence during a strike - pay, benefits, perks, etc all come to a stop.
There are a number of possible job actions a union can take in these contract situations ranging from quiet negotiations, public campaigns through radio and/or tv ads, work to rule type campaigns, right up to a strike.
All these measures have advantages and disadvantages. In this case the union choose to jump from the first one on the list right up to the last one. This is one of the disadvantages in doing so. I trust this was pointed out at the union meeting where the vote took place. If not you and your fellow workers should really make a point with the union that make these things more clear so you understand what you are voting for.
décembre 17th, 2008 at 9:02
Mr. O’Brien, stick to your guns. Although most of us probably don’t understand the scheduling process completely, as we don’t work for OC Transpo, I can say for sure that most of us work at a job were it is run by our employer. We do not get to pick our shifts. If scheduling is the only issue left, then why not have management work with a driver represetative to work on the scheduling. One driver on the radio yesterday said his concern was that management were not drivers and had no idea how to schedule, or what they did every day. To solve this, have a senior driver representative move to scheduling and work with management. If OC Transpo drivers and the City are not wiling to do this, then all is really lost.
I hope both sides realize this strike isn’t just about the drivers, money or scheduling, it is a about the people you were hired to server, and right now neither of you are doing your jobs. Please get back to the drawing board and lets get this solved.
décembre 17th, 2008 at 9:26
Mr. Mayor,
You are either being extremely misinformed by your own staff or you are blatantly choosing to misinform the public with your comments.
Your statements that drivers can book back to back 11 hour shifts and some drivers work 22 out of 24 hours is misleading. The only time a driver would be able to do so is on a weekend, and only a very small number ever choose to do so. You make it sound like this happens on a daily basis. You are either extremely ignorant or have been extremely misinformed by your staff regarding the current booking process and rules.
You have now chosen to change to the “public safety” angle as a reason for your refusal budge on the booking issue. Why was this not a “public safety” issue prior to the strike or for the first 6 days of the strike? Even your employee, Mr. Mercier stated in a letter to the ATU dated Dec. 16, that ” Today, only a small number of Operators exceed what ought to be considered a safe number
of work hours.”
Easy solution for this dispute.
-keep current booking process for this contract
-add a letter of understanding to the collective agreement which states the city and ATU will work on a new booking process for implementation in the next collective agreement
–oh, wait that was the proposal from the federal mediator wasn’t it?
décembre 17th, 2008 at 9:30
Please have a look at the Public Sector Salary Disclosure 2008 for Ontario. Search for the city of Ottawa. $103,782.84 per year to drive a bus. No wonder it costs over a hundred bucks a month for a pass. And you guys want raises and a “fairyland” choose your work week?
By the way - very classy move scheduling the strike when it would hurt the most people. Retailers, students etc.. Very classy. You could have just as easily said “We are in a position to strike but do to the poor weather and the importance of our service to students and area retailers during these difficult financial times, we will hold off until after the holidays”. At the very least this would have bought you some goodwill. But nooo.. not you guys. I would be embarrassed.
http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/english/publications/salarydisclosure/2008/munic08.html
décembre 17th, 2008 at 9:47
Why are there so many Pro-Union comments on here from the Bus Drivers? If you look at any other medium (newspapers, blogs, ect) there is massive support for the City and the Mayor!!
I think OC Transpo and the city should be training or recruiting replacement workers ASAP. I’m sure they can find people willing to come from other cities who are familiar with the equipment. They should offer to pay them $15/hr. If that wage is too low, nobody will show up and they’ll have to increase it. However, I’m willing to bet there will be a flood of people interested right now.
décembre 17th, 2008 at 10:02
Mr. Mayor,
The people don’t care who’s at fault anymore, or who isn’t being reasonable. You have the power to do something, please just do it! Start talking! Walk up to the union leader in the picket line, and invite him to your office for tea, crumpets, and a conversation; whatever, just get something done.
décembre 17th, 2008 at 10:03
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
décembre 17th, 2008 at 10:27
Collin,
You were taken for a ride as well then if your employer did the same.
The Employer IS NOT continuing to pay my benefits. It is the Insurer who is continuing to pay because the insurance coverage is prepaid (paid in advance, not in arrear) with premium deductions made on my payroll cheque.
If I submitted a claim for my medication today and it was refused by ManuLife, I could take them to court and would highly likely win because I am still legally covered.
In this case, OC Transpo and the City are taking the risk that employees not know that.
décembre 17th, 2008 at 10:50
Claude:
How DARE you complain about having your benefits suspended? How DARE you complain that you are NOT receiving pension accrual and vacation accrual while you are not reporting to work? I work for a large company and am paid a comfortable wage - I do not receive a pension. Do you really think you are entitled to receive vacation and pension accrual while you are inconveniencing 800,000 people? Were you planning to book vacation time after your strenuous time on the picket lines? Union members such as yourself with this sense of entitlement are the reason this city is firmly against the drivers. Be thankful your life insurance hasn’t been discontinued for the duration as well. I hope this stoppage of benefits causes you as much inconvenience and hardship as you are causing the city.
décembre 17th, 2008 at 10:59
Mr. Mayor,
On December 14, I sent via e-mail some very specific and important questions to Alain Mercier.
These are :
Question 1
In his paragraph entitled: “What does management propose to change?” (Dec. 13 2008 letter to André Cornellier), Alain writes: “For workdays with a split, an Operator who picks a morning piece would have to take the afternoon piece with which it was already combined”. Can Alain provide us with a range of say five examples of those work pieces, starting with the most attractive and going to the least attractive. I would like to see start times in a day together with the finish time and the breaks in between.
Question 2
Would I still be able to get Sundays off? If I have to work one Saturday, I presume I would book it and then give it away if I want a full weekend off?
Question 3
Third question: if I choose one type of work for Monday, will I still do the same type of work for the next four days of the week or must I choose my work for each of the five work days of the week and then that work repeats in the weeks that follow?
THE REASONS FOR QUESTIONS 1 AND 3 ARE SIMPLE : I WANT TO KNOW IF I WILL HAVE TO GET UP AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF DAY 6 DAYS PER WEEKS AND BE BACK HOME FOR DINNER AT DIFFERENT TIMES AS WELL.
Question 4
I realize my seniority rights would not be taken away but I want to know if these changes will affect negatively the rights I have earned as a result of my seniority?
Question 5
What does Alain mean when he says that management would be able set up “guaranteed recovery time between trips”? Can I have an example?
Question 6
What is a “2-piece inside” vs a “2-piece out”?
Question 7
Where Alain writes under Gap Time “split”, we are not paid for the waiting time between splits. How long are the splits? Would this be attractive to anyone?
Question 8
To avoid my questions 7 and 8, maybe Alain could give us a quantified and qualified definition for each of the “Run Types” in his example. I recommend these definitions be imbeded in the contract.
Finally, I have re-written Alain and asked him for answers to my questions. I have not received any answer. Could it be that my questions are too specific and too compromising? If not then, can I have an answer?
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
décembre 17th, 2008 at 11:16
Claude…
I think I speak for most of the riders when I say that I am glad YOU are finally suffering consequences of your strike.
Your comments are proof of the selfishness and greed that we see from the drivers.
The mayor’s offer is exceedingly generous and I hope that after reading the comments from concerned citizens such as myself, that he will retract some of your MANY benefits.
décembre 17th, 2008 at 11:18
Really, this is getting rediculous. Traffic is so heavy now that getting off the 417 at Parkdale the other day an ambulance was trying to get off the same ramp and there was no room to move because the amount of cars, the ambulance waited in excess of 5 minutes just to get through. This isn’t the first time I’ve seen this happen since the strike. People’s LIVES are being put at risk. Stop being stubborn and open your eyes. Drop the scheduling for now and negotiate it seperately at a later time.
décembre 17th, 2008 at 11:38
Mayor O’Brian, having just spent another 3 1/2 hour commute this morning, I am livid with these OC transpo drivers. Why is it that when the TTC went on strike, the provincial Govt legislated them back in two days, yet Ottawa is not worthy of such actions? Public transit is an essential service and needs to be declared as such immediatly. Furthermore, the concept of Cornellier and his gaggle of goons being offered a $2000.00 signing bonus is a disgrace. This must be removed from the table. Put the money that would have been paid out as bonuses into a fund to help out the various businesses and agencies that are being decimated by this stunning display of greed by the union. As these idiots have refused to consider the final offer, it must be withdrawn. The pay increase alone is higher than the offer grudgingly accepted by the many PSAC members who make up a large part of the ridership. As such, the new offer should be; 2.3%,1.5%,1.5%,1.5%. NO SIGNING BONUS!, City to take over scheduling. If this is not accepted, Shut down OC transpo, lease equipment/facilities out to a contracted operator, and let the now unemployed drivers re-apply for employment with the new entity.
This nonsense has gone on long enough, time to play hardball.
décembre 17th, 2008 at 11:56
Let’s get those school buses making runs to malls between their regular =
school runs so Seniors and Disabled can get groceries, Christmas gifts =
etc during this stressful, weary, selfish bus strike. Maybe even the Army can =
help us out.
All the best in 2009!
décembre 17th, 2008 at 12:07
I’m in support of privatizing this service ASAP. Let market conditions dictate the salaries and benefits (including scheduling) of the drivers, not a Union that chooses to strike at the worst time. If these drivers really deserve what they want, a private company will pay them for it.
décembre 17th, 2008 at 12:10
I am glad that the city of Ottawa has decided to cut off medical and dental insurance to the OC Transpo drivers. The drivers have this sense of entitlement that is not completely unrealistic. If you show up for work, you get your benefits. If you do not show up for work, you do not get you benefits.
I also want the city to remove the $2,000 buyout that the drivers will get when they eventually sign the contract. They should not be rewarded for going on strike. Give them their raise and not a penny more.
I have made alternate arrangements to get to and from work that are bettwer than when the buses are running. I hope the city breaks the union. Let the drivers miss a few paycheques. They won’t be singing happy songs on the picket line then.
décembre 17th, 2008 at 12:59
I support you Mr Mayor:
These drivers have it good. They get a pension, benefits and very decent pay. They should be grateful. Most people would be so happy to have such stability. I am also sure many do not have expensive student loans to pay.
It took me 3 hours to get get to work today. I still side with you Mr Mayor.
The union leader needs to get a grip on reality and be aware of the stormy economic times.
PS Could you please open tranist lanes for car poolers.
décembre 17th, 2008 at 2:08
Mr Mayor,
Please keep doing what you are doing. You are representing the majority view of the people who live in Ottawa.
I have just spoken with a single Mom with two kids who works at a dollar store and has a food budget of $50/week. She said “tell them to take it or leave it because that’s what the rest of us have to do”.
Union: the gravy train will be back, try next year when people are not losing their jobs en masse, and right now, think of your fellow human being before you start hurting the folks who don’t have as nice jobs as you do. Right now you are making the economic downturn worse for everybody.
Sincerely,
GJ Hagenaars
décembre 17th, 2008 at 2:13
I hope that no matter what happens you are not thinking of giving them the productivty bonus. That would be a slap in the face to taxpayers. Besides it’s not about the money so I’m sure they won’t care.
décembre 17th, 2008 at 3:24
What if a major fire or disaster happens in the middle of the city during rush hour and emergency vehicles can not reach the scene. Are tax payers going to be on the hook for potential numerous class action law suits against the city and Transpo.
This strike has gone on long enough and should be worked out. It is a financial disaster for business and I’m sure they will remember this during the next election in 2010. I voted for you the last time but will not this time.
décembre 17th, 2008 at 3:26
And here we are with more whining from union reps and strikers. OC Transpo drivers have one of the best jobs as far as I am concerned. They can earn up to $100k per year, and don’t even need High school, just a good driving record. I honestly can’t believe that you guys sit there whining that you are in danger of losing your scam for making time and a half. I used to call Quebec the spoiled little princess, but the OC Drivers are seriously the newly crowned spoiled princesses of Canada. Service has deteriorated since I was a small child. Back in the days when a bus driver would assist mothers with stroller, or the elderly, you had drivers who were polite and courteous and who were aware of their surroundings. Now you have bus drivers driving off without a care if that elderly person has taken a seat, or that person on crutches, and drivers who speed around as if they were in sports cars instead of buses. It used to be that you would give a bus a 5 minute leeway but now its more like 15-20 minutes if it even shows up at all.
The driver’s families have my sympathies, since Christmas will be rough this year for them. Thank your union for that.
Mr. Mayor, stick to your guns. Do as people have sugested, drop the signing bonus, use the money where it’s needed. Hell, fire anyone not willing to return to work and start hiring those who would be happy to drive a bus in this time of economic crisis. Most of all, fight to have public transit an essential service. Cable TV has been listed as such, and I for one can tell you that public transit is a hell of a lot more essential than cable tv!
décembre 17th, 2008 at 4:05
Tell me why OC Transpo bus drivers deserve a $2000 “signing bonus” and 7% increase over 3 years with 3% backdated to April 1, 2008 (8 months) when the city is increasing my property taxes by 5% this year and the cost of taking the bus is going up every year?
What is the starting salary for a bus driver? What is their salary after 3 years service? 5 years?
What is the salary for a Policeman, Fireman, Ambulance Tech over these same time periods?
If scheduling is such a big issue for the drivers and the strike is about “respect and dignity” and not about “the money” then the union should offer to decline the $2000 signing bonus and take only 1.5% for 3 years as a way to get back to the bargaining table.
Don’t give in to the drivers demands. Congratulations for standing up to the union. The city should not be held hostage by the drivers. They are the highest paid workers in the city for doing what?? Make an example of them. Now that they have been on strike for a week, the city should modify the offer:
1. Remove the $2000 “signing bonus”. The drivers won’t care it’s not about the money.
2. Reduce the increase to 1.5%/year. Again the drivers won’t care it’s not about the money.
3. Don’t make the offer retroactive to April 1.
If you don’t reduce the monetary offer, the drivers will view the strike as paid vacation. Right now they only have to picket a few hours a day and they get the weekends off. With the $2000 “signing bonus” and the retroactive 3% pay each driver will get around $5000 cash. Why would they want to go back to work yet? It’s easier and more fun to stay on strike and they will easily recoup any money lost and actually make money by striking.
The bus drivers are a joke, a bunch of greedy you-know-what. They will have a merry christmas while the rest of sit in traffic.
décembre 17th, 2008 at 4:32
I think this is crazy. 7 days and nothings happpening. Clearly this cannot go on for much longer. I am with whomever says bring them back with concessions for the shortest amount of time.
I would fire half the staff. Make them run on a saturday schedule to start then disolve OC Transpo entirely. Hire back the drivers in a new company where this scheduling and wages are set in stone. Call it the Ottawa Transit Authority. It would probobly be quicker.
My family soley relys on the bus and we are forced to rent and borrow cars to make it to work. This is a huge cost to us especially at the christmas season.
SHAME ON YOU bus drivers for striking a Christmas. The public has no sympathy for you at all. Wait till you go back and have to deal with the publics hatred for you. Most of us arent so lucky to have benefits and unions. Shake your head look at the economic reality. Your lucky to be not out of a job.
Thanks for ruining people’s Christmases OC Transpo drivers & Larry O’brien. Just remember when so many families go without on Christmas day they will be thinking of how you made them loose wages, miss work, show up late and loose money trying to get to work. Thanks A LOT.
décembre 17th, 2008 at 4:32
Mr.Mayor I agree with the city 100%, personally I”m sick of greedy unions that would deprive the city of an essential service just because they want more more money and more privileges, especially in this time of economic decline.
I”m particularly distressed because I don’t feel the bus drivers deserve even the 7% raise, service in my neighbourhood is poor at best, busses are consistently late or decide not to show up at all, and most of the drivers have very poor attitudes. I think they should make some serious sacrifices on this years contract and try to earn their priviliges instead of stamping and kicking their feet if they can’t get their way.
décembre 17th, 2008 at 4:47
Mr. Mayor, stick to your guns.
I believe people are behind you and if you could only find us some more parking that would be great for us and bad for the strikers.
What would be helpful to us in the next few days is to relax the parking restrictions just a little. Open up Landowne Park, Coventry Ball Park, LeBreton Flats etc., anywhere people can squeeze there cars in.
Do as people have suggested, drop the signing bonus, lower the pay increase to 1.5% per year and fire anyone not willing to return to work. Start hiring those who would be happy to drive a bus in this time of economic crisis. It couldn’t be any more painful for us at this stage.
Hang in there,
Carol
décembre 17th, 2008 at 5:12
With two winter storms on the horizon and the world juniors coming to town, get back to the table and start working out a deal. Enough already.
décembre 17th, 2008 at 5:51
Sean Patrick - you ignorant fool. You talk of how easy our job is and how well we are paid, well they have hired about 150 for the last 4 years and planned to hire another 100 in the New Year. I can only assume that your resumé is in the pile? You do know what that is don`t you? It`s ok, don`t feel bad - you can use your computer - just point and click to the application on the site. We can`t wait until you join our team - it`s so good here - you have no idea. I can make 100k and I am just a dumb truck driver. Good luck on the testing Sean Patrick - good luck.
décembre 17th, 2008 at 7:10
Mr. Mayor,
The way this going and the way you an Mr Mercier have handled this is unacceptable. Comments like you made today about the strike going into the new year are not acceptable. It is time to get this thing settled.
I know you came from private industry where money is generally the number one factor. In government there are many factors and some are at least equally important as money.
There are people who badly need the transit system up and running to go about their daily lives. Not everyone has cars. The city has spent years encouraging people to go without cars. They need this bus system back up and running. The so called contingency plans provide zero transportation for those who don’t have any. Things like parking and using bus lanes only help if you have a vehicle. Not everyone lives in a location so close to everything as you do. Not everyone can afford it. Some people are forced live in less accessible locations of the city.
And what is worse this is over a really trivial amount of money - only about 1% of the cost of OC Transpo both to taxpayers and riders.
So please, please make some sort of new offer (obviously the last one is going nowhere, time to drop it) that has enough new provisions in to get talks going. You can at least do that much and stand as a leader in this thing.
décembre 17th, 2008 at 7:27
I absolutely agree with Steve. The city has urged us to give up cars and take the busses for years. Want to give us back the cars we gave up, Mr. Mayor? How hypocritical of you.
DO SOMETHING! I can’t believe how willing you are to do nothing. Shame on you and shame on your councillors. You have shamed this city.
Bad storms, drunken Christmas Eve and New Years parties are all on the radar. How many people will have to be seriously injured before either side begins to talk? Unbelievable.
I also hope you’re planning on sending a nice fat cheque to all of the charities that have been inconvenienced by this strike. I mean that. You’re robbing from the rich and the poor with this one.
décembre 17th, 2008 at 8:15
Claude,
Your employer pays some, or possibly all of the monthly premium payment to Manulife on your behalf. This is *earned* during your working hours.
Unless you are privately paying 100% of your own health premiums, they most definitely will be suspended by the employer during the strike.
A question for you. If your current booking system is so great and worth striking over, why is that OCTranspo is the *only* metro bus in North America service that uses it?
décembre 17th, 2008 at 8:20
Claude,
You list many questions above.
Maybe you should present them to your union for clarification. If the union membership has so many questions about the offer, the union executive is doing a very poor job of communicating the offer to their paying members.
Maybe the union executive does not want its members to fully understand the offer.
décembre 17th, 2008 at 8:20
I would like to point out one item. The OC Transpo Managers that are sitting in their offices, why can’t they get out and drive a few routes until this gets settled? If they were to run shifts from 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM every morning and from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM every afternoon, this could reduce the amount of traffic. I don’t understand why these Managers are not put out on the busses to work.
Mr Mayor can you explain this one?
décembre 17th, 2008 at 9:26
Stand firm Mayor O’Brien and Mr. Mercier - do not budge one inch with the ATU! They wanted this strike - they got it, and they can live with it! Get rid of this greedy bunch and privatize our transit system!
décembre 17th, 2008 at 9:58
Will you still have a 76 hour gaurantee per pay period? Some drivers are worried your trying to move (force) in part-time workers. Is this true?
décembre 17th, 2008 at 10:59
They think they deserve more? I’m on the same side as every one who is not a bus driver. A worker in a job that doesn’t even require high school does not deserve the benefits of one that requires university, such as nursing. Bus drivers make as much as nurses and nurses definitely do not determine their own schedules. If they did, would 12 hour hospital night shifts even exist? Absolutely not. That is why it is necessary for schedules to be in the hands of the employer. It’s simple logic but then again there is nothing logical about this union’s demands so I understand that they’re confused when it comes to understanding what they truly deserve. I say fire all of them and train cab drivers to be bus drivers. They’ll be driving, be it a much larger vehicle, likely making double what they do now and appreciating everything they do get rather than whining about what they do not.
décembre 17th, 2008 at 11:06
Mr. Mayor
The City has many Unions only 3 do not have binding arbritration in their contracts. That would be the ATU ( OC Operators) Local 5500 (who supervisors oversee the bus drivers) and the libaries.
So your secretary cannot go on strike nor your driver. If they do not like the work load or the shifts that you give them it will go to arbritation. Such an inconveince to respond to your own email and drive your own car. (wish list for so many a car)
This stike by ATU is a hardship for so many people. Safety factors emergency vehicles, trafic congestion , single mothers can not take a bus to day care so they can not get a bus to go to work.
Perhaps you can explain to me why your secretay and locals within the City have binding arbritration, not the ATU the libary I can ubnderstand.
Booking the City creates the schedules presently they are bid on senority.
Is the mentlity with the City has with the ticket booth operators who are full time but you have to work weekends. They have part times that fill in during the week. Do City Hall Staff as a group when we need them work weekends? no.
If an operator has to sleep on a bench to make the next shift for there is not enough time, is it more then likely that operator is on the bench so they can pick up overtime?
It is just not Aundre president of ATU there is history of bad labour relationships betwen ATU and the City. The ATU being blunt and telling the City you buy those bus and it is going to cost money , the free boarding that was going on and the City in denial.
Not an operator, not married to one, not related to one
Someone explain to me why it is OK that Mr. Mayor secretary contract goes to arbritration but not the bus drivers.
décembre 17th, 2008 at 11:52
Peter McCallum - I’m not pro-union, I’m pro-bus and anti-strike!
décembre 18th, 2008 at 5:23
I think that this strike is rediculous. I mean they signed a contract they knew exactly what their job entailed if they don’t like it then why don’t they just quit. Stop their complaining and quit and those of them that are willing to take whatever they get should be allowed to work. This is ridiculous. People, and businesses are suffering because of some selfish people. Kids are suffering the most they believe that they are getting presents under their tree this year. How are we supposed to look into our kids eyes and say we may not have Christmas this year because I haven’t been able to get to work. Just give them whatever they want so that we can get back to our everyday lives. If they are dumb enough that they want to work 22 hours in one day well that’s their stupidity. Why should we all be held hostage because of some selfish people. I mean it doesn’t disrupt their lives they have cars well not all of us are so lucky.
décembre 18th, 2008 at 6:50
I have looked at the issues as a non employee and point out one thing to the citizens of Ottawa. If the drivers were driving Tractor trailor then they would be forced to take up to 12 hours between work pieces from Sunday to Monday morning. Perhaps it is time that the drivers are charged for operating the vehicles unsafely if they have less than 8 hours between work pieces of 4 or more hours. I know alot of Drivers such as (85 moe) who has retired and I have seen to many of the guys sleeping for 2 hours Sunday night so they go back out Monday morning. Parliament needs to put thier differences asside and legislate these people as an essential service and force binding arbitration in all cases. Then we would not hear of the fact that the negotiating committee goes on holiday when they are supposed to be hammering out a deal
décembre 18th, 2008 at 8:36
If the schedule is about safety, then why wont you reduce the spead? The drivers say a 12 hour spread would be a lot safer than the 13.5 hour spread you are offering. And if its really about saftey, wouldnt a minimum of 10 hours off be safer, so drivers have time to get home before falling asleep?
And why can a straight six be 4 and a half hours long? How will some one make a days pay with 4 and a half hours? If they have to work two of these shifts in a day, why is that any different than the drivers putting their am and pm peices together? Is it because there will not be any spread rules? Thats how you wrote it on you explination letter. If there are less rules, then how is that safer?
Why are you refusing to sit down with the union and negotiate this? They are concered about saftey too.
décembre 18th, 2008 at 8:59
Noah,
If I had a license you can bet your bottom dollar my resumé would be in that pile. Ignorant am I? It’s funny how you can be so snide without proving me wrong.
I’ve worked shift work and overnights and I know how hard some of those shifts can be. Then again the pay rate was nothing spectacular, anywhere from $10 - $15 an hour, with a massive $1 premium for overnight shifts. Trust me, I’d be more than happy to drive a bus twice a day during a split shift or on the weekends for what you guys make. Sure it isn’t 9-5, but it IS steady work with great pay and benefits. I can assure you that I’d be a hell of a lot more considerate than most of you guys. Watching OC Transpo drivers treat passengers with contempt and ignorance has turned my stomach. You guys call in sick, or a bus breaks down, and that is a bus out of commission. Having to wait an hour because a bus that should be there every 10 minutes is missing drivers is horrific. You guys drive like lunatics, slam on the gas and breaks, and ignore anyone who may be waving you down. You can’t stick to the schedules, and yet here you are crying about having someone stick you with set shifts. The number of times I’ve had to endure bus drivers blowing past stops because they were speeding is astounding. If you idiots were more courteous, stuck to the schedules (I can accept a 5 minute leeway either way but 10-20 minutes is a joke) and treated passengers with respect, I can guarantee that you would be treated with said same. In the past I’ve stood by the OC Transpo drivers but it’s gotten so that I honestly think the entire system needs to be revamped. Train the drivers so that they respect the speed limits, learn how to ease the gas petal and brakes, and learn to wait for the elderly or infirm to have a seat before moving the bus.
Of course, I wouldn’t expect you to agree, since you have already proven that you would rather be snide than offer any real answers.
Merry Christmas Noah, may you get what you deserve.
décembre 18th, 2008 at 11:07
Mr. Larry O’Brien;
I pleaded with you to get this transit strike resolved. This members of ATU279 has been without a contract since April 2008. WHY DID YOU HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL NOW TO TRY TO RESOLVE IT??? The general public are the ones that are been held hostage in this dispute. I personnally think that you are letting this strike last longer than needed to save the city some money!!! The membership of ATU279 are a pawn in this game between the City and the Union. You say that you are a businessman, get back them back to the bargaining table and iron this problem out. Couldn’t the City formed a commitee to work on the scheduling that would consist of City employees, union members and employees of ATU279?
décembre 18th, 2008 at 12:55
I have read online (Ottawa Sun) that the union will be going back to the bargening table. I hope there is a godd resolution that makes everyone happy and the bus service resumes soon. Good luck to everyyone.
décembre 18th, 2008 at 5:10
A worker in a job that doesn’t even require high school does not deserve the benefits of one that requires university, such as nursing. Bus drivers make as much as nurses and nurses definitely do not determine their own schedules. It is common sense that scheduling should be in the hands of the Managers, and not in the hands of the employees. I don’t understand all the issues, but I believe that the bottom line is about money (plain greed) I believe this whole depression is caused by greed. When greed takes over, God help us all.
décembre 18th, 2008 at 6:47
Congratulations for standing up to the union. If City can Save 4-10 million a year then what these people doing right now for that money? It is about time the hard working people of Ottawa not throw away their money to waste.
BTW- Please get rid of the $140 Boot allowance.
décembre 19th, 2008 at 10:04
This is nuts… Drivers I agree with not having a split shift longer than 12 hours. I would even support 10. But, on everything else give it up… Why do you have the nerve to think you deserve those kind of raises when what you have is much more than other drivers?
I’m walking and I will be happy to continue walking on principle.
décembre 19th, 2008 at 11:30
I think it’s time that both sides compromise. I man was killed yesterday at Bank and Gilmore and pinned under a truck. Enough already. Both sides have to get down to serious business. This is one death too many!!!!!
décembre 19th, 2008 at 2:21
Do not give in to the union…
décembre 20th, 2008 at 5:45
Send them back to work!!! Too many innocent people are suffering. Quit using the vunerable, in our society. You had months to negotiate a settlement. Why did you wait until the winter months? Shame, shame, on The Mayor, the Councilors and the O.C. Transpo Union. They are acting like terorists, holding people for ransom. Go back to work!!
décembre 21st, 2008 at 2:04
I do not pretend to understand the intricacies of the scheduling debate nor do I care.
There are PLENTY of hard-working and qualified people in this city whose wage pales in comparison to that of the unionized bus drivers, who to be quite honest don’t really have it all that tough.
And most people in this city do not have guaranteed pay raises, and in this economic period would feel pretty damn privileged to have one, never mind demanding an increase!
If the transit union and its members feel they are not being paid enough let them try the open job market.
I am seriously beginning to feel as if perhaps they should all be fired.
Stick to your guns Mr. Mayor
décembre 23rd, 2008 at 8:00
If the talks breaks down good, you drivers for OC transpo you will feel the pinch to. Mayor Larry don’t back down. OC if you don’t like your President
get rid of him. Hats off for the drivers for para transpo, Merry Christmas to
you for driving the senior & handicap around. Thank you for car pooling, this is why Ottawa is the best. Lets keep helping, one for all & all for one.
décembre 25th, 2008 at 8:41
It is so wrong that a union has the legal ability to not just directly hurt a company, but ruin the economy of a city, put innocent people out of work and hurt families. I hope that the bus drivers appreciate the harm that they brought upon the innocent. Years ago, Ronald Reagan fired all air traffic controllers, gave them a number of days to resign if they chose, and those that didn’t lost their air traffic control jobs permanently. This is what is needed here. There are a lot of people who would love to have a bus driver job. By the way, I said the same thing to, then Toronto Mayor, Mel Lastman during the last garbage strike. He didn’t have the guts to do it.
Giving employees some strength in negotiation with an employer has gotten out disproportional. Here, the damage to others is severe and they do not have direct recourse to push back. That is wrong. Citizens are victim of bully unions.
Further, I object to the secret negotiations. As an Ottawa taxpayer, I cannot see who is behaving badly, greedily, etc. I cannot decide to vote out the current city administration if I can’t judge their behaviour, nor can I see how bad the union behaviour is if I’m kept in the dark. I believe that in cases where the impact on the public is so damaging, we should be able to judge the facts. I feel helpless against the bus drivers and their unions, don’t you?
I support the Mayor who has an almost impossible challenge of dealing with councilors who have not experience / accomplishments beyond giving away other peoples money, and not having the ability to fire those who are wreaking disaster on the community and families.
décembre 26th, 2008 at 9:34
Make OC Transpo Bus Service an essential service. This strike is ridiculous.
People affected:
Disabled People
Old People
Poor People
People without transport
Buisnesses in Ottawa that rely on transpo for thier customers.
Poor Families that rely on Transpo to get to work to support thier families, Pay thier rent and avoid ending up homeless.
Transpo says strike is over flexitime & respect and dignity.
What about respect & dignity for its paying customers?
Rule 1 in buisness dont bite the hand that feeds you.
décembre 27th, 2008 at 4:07
City Council has offered the bus drivers and the mechanics not a fair contract, but an outlandish contract with an unnecessary $2,000.00 bonus and 7% pay increase for a period of three years when the federal and provincial governments has offered much less. In addition, City Council and the Mayor informs us that we are in tough economic times. City Council was too lazy to debate the budget and increased our taxes by 4.9%. City Council also increased City activities as well such as arena (ICE TIME), swimming, etc. They should be held responsible for their poor decisions and responsibilities.
I wonder if it is too late to remove the $2,000.00 bonus and reduce the pay increases to 4% or less for their three-year contract.
décembre 27th, 2008 at 7:04
no to the union