[crayon851]

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/t...oid-strike.aspx

For those of you who don't already know, Toronto city workers have been on strike and have been going on strike almost every year like the TTC workers. I personally think the city should just fire them all. Their benefits and pay are unrivaled even in the private sector, where normally you'd be much better off. Anyway, now the picketers are blocking people from dropping their trash off as well. In one instance, a picketer actually pushed down a 61 year old man and prevented him from dropping off his garbage.

Anyway, I am all for fair pay and am also an employee for the DND; but these people are taking it too far. The average wage is 20$/hr, my friend who was a city worker got paid this much just to walk around and solicit. They should fire these people, demolish the unions and as for garbage collection, sell off the contract to a private organization. They'd do a much better job.

What's your take on this?

[Meenuh]

I don't really know much about unions and what not (I feel so stupid. Lol.) but pushing down a 61 year old man is messed up. Let the poor man throw away his garbage ffs. Honestly, if they don't like the pay for their job that much maybe it's time to go find something else to do.

[missxmoody]

They should fire these people, demolish the unions and as for garbage collection, sell off the contract to a private organization. They'd do a much better job.

What's your take on this?

"Demolish the unions", rather harsh words? I do not know a lot of about the labor movement in Canada and the current-state of unions, but I do know that unions are facing major problems. Unions have lost 60% of their membership (in regards to the percentage of workers in certain industry sectors), and we have certain union leaders who have turned to militaristic strategies to run their unions, membership, and negotiate.

But, with these current problems does that mean we should be shouting to demolish unions? NO. Please do not forget that every right and labor law you have right now was fought for in hardship and blood, by unions. Many people complain that union members already have so much, why are they asking for more? In this current economy unions are not asking for more, what unions are trying to prevent is to lose the benefits and rights they fought so hard for.

Perhaps Toronto should go back to banning public employees from striking, like the rest of Canada and the United States. Which is funny because the industry sector with highest growing percentage of unionized members, in the United States, is actually public sector employees. It's a big myth that a government job is always so great. I digress. However, I will concede that the situation in Toronto right now is ugly and strike did not have to be called in order to continue to negotiate the contract and make ways to come to a compromise. Like I said earlier, not all unions are that great .. but should never call for the demolish of unions.

That's all I really wanted to say. I'm currently a Masters student in Labor Studies and I do not plan on working for a union after I graduate, like many others I had for my far share of negative union views when I entered the program. Why was that? I was simply not educated about the importance of unions and what the labor movement has given us. There are people dying every day in South America and Asia fighting to work in safe conditions, being able to have just one break during a back breaking 12 hour shift, to not be fired if they get sick, and to be treated like a human.

Please do not let the missteps of one or two unions cause you to have such a negative view of the labor movement.

[Gofishus]

Yeah I think its rather unfair how they are already paid so much....and why are they allowed to strike for a public service anyways? Can you imagine if the NYC Subway workers just decided to have a strike one day? That's right, only in Canada where public service workers are allowed to strike...it's ridiculous.

[SongBird]

Downtown stinks man. People are so disgusting. Garbage is piling everywhere you look. I feel that they should have their right to push for more benefit, but why around this time? The economy is pretty bad. Every company is taking their part to survive this recession taking cuts and cutting back on the benefits.

[natt2828]

it really pisses me off because they just always have to go on strike again, again, AGAIN, and again.

my school was on strike for three months because the TAs wanted raise. FML.
before that the fcking TTC went on strike for their 10000000th time. FML. couldnt go no anywhere.
now its the garbage ppl that are on strike. FML cuz the city smells like crap.

so what's next? im so sick of it... like, they get paid SO much and they're still not satisfied with their jobs. what the fck?
there's always gonna be something bad about the job (whatever it is) and u just have to suck it up, if not then EVERYONE would go on strike then, right????
I wanna go on strike too cuz my part time job sucks. MY parents would want to go on strike because they'd want a raise too.
and I totally agreed that it should be privatized it'd be much better to deal with. FML my house sticks now

[naoto]

Nobody talked about the fireworks... Canada day fireworks got cancelled because nobody would clean up the place after people leave!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Aziraphale]

it really pisses me off because they just always have to go on strike again, again, AGAIN, and again.

my school was on strike for three months because the TAs wanted raise. FML.
before that the fcking TTC went on strike for their 10000000th time. FML. couldnt go no anywhere.
now its the garbage ppl that are on strike. FML cuz the city smells like crap.

so what's next? im so sick of it... like, they get paid SO much and they're still not satisfied with their jobs. what the fck?
there's always gonna be something bad about the job (whatever it is) and u just have to suck it up, if not then EVERYONE would go on strike then, right????
I wanna go on strike too cuz my part time job sucks. MY parents would want to go on strike because they'd want a raise too.
and I totally agreed that it should be privatized it'd be much better to deal with. FML my house sticks now

Name: Nattacha - my friends call me natt.
DOB: 12.24.90

It really pisses me off that you don't read the rules.

INTRUDER ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rubyx]

I agree that unions have gone too far. I live in San Francisco, and BART workers are always threatening to go on strike. They make a lot of money and they don't even have to drive. It's a train that runs underground in tunnels or up in the air. There's no traffic and really no excuse for delays.

It's unfortunate that we live in a world where people are expendable, but what can you do? (Other than stop having kids.) It makes no sense to cave into worker's demands when there's always another group of people willing to work for even less pay and benefits, no matter how difficult the job is.

[sugarcube]

I can understand why unions do this but at the same time, it sucks that so many of us who aren't involved in the dispute are suffering as a result. It's pure selfishness.

I hate strikes, obviously, since I go to York U and we had 3 months of our school year wasted by a stupid-@$$ strike that didn't even go anywhere. And now this.. I found a dead rat outside my garage yesterday o_O I try to keep my house clean & my garbage organized but I can't say the same for my neighbours..

[crayon851]

I can understand why unions do this but at the same time, it sucks that so many of us who aren't involved in the dispute are suffering as a result. It's pure selfishness.

I hate strikes, obviously, since I go to York U and we had 3 months of our school year wasted by a stupid-@$$ strike that didn't even go anywhere. And now this.. I found a dead rat outside my garage yesterday o_O I try to keep my house clean & my garbage organized but I can't say the same for my neighbours..

Really? I can't understand why they go on strike...they have one of the higher paying jobs, job security, great benefits and easiest jobs. I hate to say it again, but my friend got paid 20/hr to solicit and they didn't even have to make any sales...they could have just made one sale and gone to see a movie.

[naoto]

^I don't understand why the ta's went on strike either. I tried my best to understand both sides but it's like... all ta's in canada are under similar terms yet you are paid the most. Yes ta positions lack job security but it's a part time job, all part time jobs lack any form of reasonable tenure. They can be terminated at any time, they don't have many benefits, all part time jobs right there. *shrug* I don't blame them it's a cruel world, everybody for themselves, if there's a chance to strike and make more money then do it who cares about you. In the real world it's always like that.

[strawberrynkiwi]

I am pretty sick and tired of this strike business. I might not know a lot about it, but it doesn't seem to be doing any good to anyone.
My dad's work place is starting to form an union, now he wants to quit because it's just so annoying.

It is getting to the point where http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCv7XRrznUs

[zeram]

As someone mentioned earlier if it wasn't for unions we wouldn't have a lot of the things (safety, health) in the workplace that we take for granted today. I can't speak at all for Canada since I've never worked there but I have worked union and non-union in the U.S. Some people have been deluded into thinking that if they say no to unions then the money saved by the employer (and by employees not paying union dues) will somehow flow back to them. It just isn't the case. The non-union place I worked got paid significantly less even accounting for differences in cost of living (and of course I will never forget having a grand total of 10 minutes for lunch).
Most employers want to do right by their employees and have a harmonious workplace with good productivity. Some employers forget they are dealing with human beings and treat people as if they were something on the bottom of their shoe and a lone person complaining to management about conditions/pay may not accomplish anything that a group would. There is strength in numbers.

I do think some unions may have gotten a little spoiled in their demands but I think things have to be looked at on a case by case basis which is why I wouldn't disagree with you that maybe the Toronto workers have gone too far but to make a blanket statement against all unions doesn't work either.

Btw, when I worked in the public sector it was illegal for us to strike (the Taylor law) I'm surprised there is nothing like this up there.
Here is a link to more info on Taylor law --> Taylor Law

[Swtess]

I'm just happy I don't live in Toronto right now. Those union people expect too much really. Their job is already paid pretty high for someone to just go around and collect garbage. Manufacturing jobs are a log harder and they don't get paid as much and not that great of a benefit. I think its frustrating and unfair that every other year they have to get greedy and go on strike like that.

[aznkc]

i believe garbage workers get 20+/hr and some may even get $30. The salary these people get are pretty much more than decent and their sick days are more than a lot of other professions. Unions are just taking advantage of money the government probably don't even have therefore taxes will increase if more strikes occur. I think i read somewhere the gov is pocketing $28mill a week because of the strike and where does the money go to? The parks are disgusting now and children are missing out on the public pools which also ruins their summer. Also the ferry at the Islands is not operating and some festivals had to be cancelled. I agree unions are helpful sometimes depending on the occupation but these GOVERNMENT unions are just taking advantage of services us citizens need. There needs to be a new bill to ban public striking.

[1336.5]

"Demolish the unions", rather harsh words? I do not know a lot of about the labor movement in Canada and the current-state of unions, but I do know that unions are facing major problems. Unions have lost 60% of their membership (in regards to the percentage of workers in certain industry sectors), and we have certain union leaders who have turned to militaristic strategies to run their unions, membership, and negotiate.

But, with these current problems does that mean we should be shouting to demolish unions? NO. Please do not forget that every right and labor law you have right now was fought for in hardship and blood, by unions. Many people complain that union members already have so much, why are they asking for more? In this current economy unions are not asking for more, what unions are trying to prevent is to lose the benefits and rights they fought so hard for.

Perhaps Toronto should go back to banning public employees from striking, like the rest of Canada and the United States. Which is funny because the industry sector with highest growing percentage of unionized members, in the United States, is actually public sector employees. It's a big myth that a government job is always so great. I digress. However, I will concede that the situation in Toronto right now is ugly and strike did not have to be called in order to continue to negotiate the contract and make ways to come to a compromise. Like I said earlier, not all unions are that great .. but should never call for the demolish of unions.

That's all I really wanted to say. I'm currently a Masters student in Labor Studies and I do not plan on working for a union after I graduate, like many others I had for my far share of negative union views when I entered the program. Why was that? I was simply not educated about the importance of unions and what the labor movement has given us. There are people dying every day in South America and Asia fighting to work in safe conditions, being able to have just one break during a back breaking 12 hour shift, to not be fired if they get sick, and to be treated like a human.

Please do not let the missteps of one or two unions cause you to have such a negative view of the labor movement.

You make some very good and valid points. My personal opinion is that unions were originally created for the purposes of keeping people safe from the conditions that you mentioned such as back breaking work or unsafe environments where people would lose appendages or child labor, etc. It was created so businesses wouldn't abuse workers to that extreme. However, nowadays, with the creation of unions, the scenario has gone from one extreme to the other extreme - in that there are so many constraints in the union contracts that prevent employers to get rid bad apples for perfectly legitimate reasons because the contracts were in place. (Example: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090622/ap_on_...us_rubber_rooms)

I also understand the reasons why unions exist, but my personal opinion is that they've gone too far and deserve to have their power reduced. I really believe that a major factor, if not THE major factor, to why the US auto industry is in crisis right now is due to the UAW. It's no surprise that people in the UAW are paid significantly more for the same level of work as non-UAW workers in the industry manufacturing parts for Japanese or German auto companies in the US. There are already labor laws in the US that prevent working conditions from getting unsafe, so there should be no reason that we can't let capitalism take its course as far as auto labor is concerned. I can't believe I was still reading on the news that GM and Chrylser were still trying to negotiate with the UAW when they were on the brink of bankruptcy....the unions must not understand that if the company goes down, then so do they. They're like parasites in today's environment. The economic conditions today are not what they were when times were good. That means unions cannot demand the same benefits from the companies like before....complaining and picketing at a company that's already suffering themselves...what do you hope to accomplish? So they honor the union contract for a few extra months only to go out of business later so everyone suffers?

A scenario from my experience: I'll be working with a union painter whose skill is obviously...to paint. Once he's done, I ask him to wrap up his stuff and sweep the floor so the housekeeping's in order once his job is done. NOPE! He can't sweep because that's not his specialized skill... he tells me I'll need to get a general laborer to do that. WTF!?!

[W-K]

I love Unions. :\

Good lord. I think unions were at one point valid.. you know, in the Industrial Revolution. But they've served their purpose. If you've ever worked in a union environment before then you know they're ridiculously corrupt, they prevent progressive thought/growth and they're generally in it for themselves.

Unions are on the defensive now because they have to justify their reason to exist (in todays economy) imo. ... and all they're doing is kicking and screaming to incite their union membership to do it. I'm pretty sick of hearing the union argument that "The grass is greener over there, so we should have the same."

It doesn't work for any other industry, why the hell should it be so for them.. Ahhhh unions.

But yeah, they should be abolished. Toronto is hilarious now, I've gotta take a few pictures of the "Out of service" garbages .. although thankfully it hasn't been that hot recently and the smell isn't THAT bad.. unless you're in Christie Pits.

[mike321]

I never really like unions. Ok so maybe unions had their place a while back when workers were being abused. But who's being abused now? Maybe if they had a strike but didn't block ppl to dump their garbage I'd be so so about it. But they're actually making people wait! WTF . And then there's the EMS who arrived late and possibly 'killed' a guy .. see this .. the union should be charged with negligence !!!

And then also I'm paying ~20% taxes on my little internship pay and they're asking for more !

As much as I'd like the strike to go on forever and make the union go bankrupt and submit to the city's terms, it looks like the mayor is a union pushover (from what i read on the news). I haven't been in toronto long so i'm not sure of the mayor's history.

let me stop now before i rage too much.

[m3chen]

I never really like unions. Ok so maybe unions had their place a while back when workers were being abused. But who's being abused now? Maybe if they had a strike but didn't block ppl to dump their garbage I'd be so so about it. But they're actually making people wait! WTF . And then there's the EMS who arrived late and possibly 'killed' a guy .. see this .. the union should be charged with negligence !!!

And then also I'm paying ~20% taxes on my little internship pay and they're asking for more !

As much as I'd like the strike to go on forever and make the union go bankrupt and submit to the city's terms, it looks like the mayor is a union pushover (from what i read on the news). I haven't been in toronto long so i'm not sure of the mayor's history.

let me stop now before i rage too much.

Stinky Garbage = 1
Me = 0

Fricken garbage strike ; - ; I heard it is going to last all summer long, possibly well into sept.......

You know what would be funny? If some of the people involved in this strike got a taste of their own medicine.

Garbarge Worker: "Hi, I'd like a big mac combo and a coke to drink."

Mc D's Worker: "Dear Valued Customer, due to the garbarge strike currently taking place, we now require that all unionized workers on strike attempting to purchase any food items wait 2 hours or so before receiving their orders. Please step a side and make room for our other working customers, thank you and have a great day."

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/06/24/Ang...89751245847671/