To hell with the TTC...

  As most of you know, I believe in unions. Not only do I believe they exist, I also believe that they are necessary. Even things like this strike don't shake my view. After all, I also believe corporations and companies need to exist, and God knows how many times businesses have given us all motivation to pull the whole system down. But that said....

  At least 50 percent of TTC workers, members of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113, are greedy, dishonest jerks.

  Not only did they reject a sweetheart deal -- the best transit deal in Canada -- but they have gone on strike with less than three hours notice. (For those riding the TTC on Friday, they received a half hour's notice.) Residents of Toronto may remember that before this tentative deal was brokered, the TTC promised to give 48 hours notice before striking -- and that was when the people of Toronto were expecting a strike to happen. But a half hour? On Friday night? With people out late and getting drunk? As far as I'm concerned union leader Bob Kinnear should be charged with criminal negligence for anyone who was assaulted or hurt walking home last night. Kinnear claims he was concerned about the safety of the TTC workers? What about the safety of the passengers?

  Rejecting the deal itself (one recommended by the union officials) seems silly. But to go on strike with no notice? That shows the union workers aren't being fair. (Although even some of the union members who voted to strike are annoyed at the immediacy of the strike.)

  I don't know what they hope to achieve by this. They certainly won't get any good will from the public. I doubt they will get a better deal. And while our transit system is still laughably underfunded compared to American public transit, I don't think a sudden strike is going to change that either.

  When they get forced back to work (I expect by Wednesday at the latest), I doubt they will get a better deal. Possibly even a worse one. 

  It is certainly their right to reject an offer of settlement. But they have done it in such a sudden and underhanded way, that they have lost any sympathy or good will they could hope to have.

  Of course, I still believe in unions. But god knows they aren't perfect. And that's pretty clear today.

  I wonder if they can be punished for their actions. Both unions and corporations often seem unaccountable.

  Allen

  P.S.: And I'm trapped in Hamilton. Great. Still at least I get to walk from downtown to my apartment in daylight, sober. Others last night weren't as lucky.

  P.P.S.: Am I the only one who thinks TTC chair Adam Giambrone looks way too young and inexperienced for his job?

  P.P.P.S.: It just occurred to me that because the union bosses actually recommended acceptance of the contract, perhaps they're doing this unfair, quick strike to get the province to force them back now, because they realize their members are nuts and there's no chance of a better deal. (If they were being more reasonable, it would be harder to force them back.) But I'm probably giving them too much credit. The TTC workers owe us a strike-free day from their illegal wildcat strike two years ago.

  P.P.P.P.S.: The context is probably clear enough, but for those UK readers, the TTC - Toronto Transit Commission - control all of Toronto's buses, subways and streetcars.