TTC

Dave at thickslab wrote a post on the TTC strike. And I thought rather than argue away on his blog.  I would post a response of my own.  Dave was making the point that many people want to take away the TTC’s right to strike by making it an essential service.  Dave’s post had more to do with the idea of oppression and, that rather than trying to gain rights for ourselves, we attempt to pull others down. (which is an awful Canadian trait).

While I agree with most of Dave’s sentiment. I don’t think this applies to the TTC strike this time.  Canadians have a very strong notion of “fair”.  What is fair?  It is very different then what is legal and not quite the same as what is right.  I think if you asked most Torontonians they would agree that striking for unsafe work conditions is fair.  No one should work, or be forced to work in a situation that makes them feel unsafe.  Likewise it would be unfair to declare the TTC an essential service when in reality it isn’t.  There are alternative ways to get to work – ride a bike, walk, taxi, carpool.  Unlike the fire department, which is an essential service; who are you going to call if your house is on fire and they are on strike.

The issue arises when something feels “unfair”.  If the TTC was striking because their work environments were unsafe then by all means strike with my blessings.  I will respect your picket line and find another way to get to work.  But to strike because you feel you deserve to be the highest paid transit workers in the GTA is…unfair.  Give 48 hours notice of a strike and people can arrange alternative transportation – that is fair.  Stop service at midnight, not at the end of the service day – mind you, but at midnight on a Friday night when people who are going out expect to be able to take transit home and that is unfair.

The funny thing about being Canadian is I get more riled up about something that is unfair than I do about something that is illegal.  How about you?

The TTC is on strike.

Once again the city is held hostage by a bunch of whiney babies.  Where else can you get a job that pays as much as a teacher without any education?  An oil field perhaps?  I would lvoe to do a study showing the direct correlation between a rise in TTC wages, an increase in fare cost, and an increase in union dues.  I am sure there is a very strong one.

The union spent considerable time creating posters which tell of how each the TTC contributes 12 billion to the economy of Toronto in economic, health and environmental benefits.  Which it then goes on to the ridiculous claim that each TTC employee generates $1,000,000 to the Toronto economy.  What is baffling is how they can think that we are all that stupid.  By the same token we could add up all the costs of the TTC in it’s 50+ year history and claim that each TTC employee costs the city more money than they contribute. 

Not to mention it makes some great claims like “Bob helps the disabled move around the city.”  Gee, thanks Bob for doing your fucking job.  You’re a driver of a Wheel-Trans van for Chist-sake your supposed to drive the disabled around!  Or Raj helped a lost child in the middle of the road reach safety.  That is so much more heart-warming than Raj mowed down a 5-year old standing on the tracks.

The site has been so ill recieved that it has been taken down.  I especially loved the enter our contest to win a free monthly pass.  How about win a contest to have your streetcar arrive on-time for a change.

Now the TTC transports about 1.5 million riders a day.  Times that by $2.75 per fare and then by 365 days and you get $1,505,625,000.  So the people using this fucking thing contribute 1.5 billion dollars to it annually, not to mention municipal, provincial and federal funding.  All that money and the thing is still a fucking disaster.  I’ve lost count of how many times I have been left standing waiting for streetcar only to be met by three or four in a row.  To me it is embarrasing that a country like China, which in many ways is still a developing country, can have a public transit system that puts ours to shame.

Now there are some legitimate concerns such as driver safety .  There have been many indicents where someone is hurt, including the driver.  But that is what the fucking police are for.  Next time someone threatens a driver,  simply radio for the police.  Have them deal with it, its their job.  Of course, their union will probably claim they shouldn’t be put in harm’s way or some such nonsense.

If the drivers are still concerned for their safety, simply put them in a cage similar to the drivers in England.  The TTC is aready going to spend 17 million putting cameras on all the buses.  The real sticking points are that the union wants 100% of wages to be paid to those union members who are on some sort of stress/sick leave.  Which is ridiculous considering they already get 85% which is more than anyone I know.

They have also included a clause called the “GTA clause” that would guarantee them a raise if another transit union in the area recieved higher wages.  Can’t you just see Mississauga transit union getting the same deal and the two unions playing off of each other to get more and more money like some sort of auction… “Do I hear $27.50 an hour? Do I hear $28?”   Just ridiculous. 

Give the TTC employees $8.75 for a month and then see how they feel about their “raw deal”, then they will also understand how disensable they are.