[Transport] [PAPublicTransit] Surprise Transit Strike Hits Toronto

[Stephen Donahue]

I live in Toronto and I got to say that a city with no public transit stinks.  I think that the ATU Local here has killed much of the public support that they used to enjoy.  They had a great PR campaign going complete with T shirt give aways.  Last night in the wee hours after midnight many folks were stranded.  It was much more than an inconvenience.  It can be own right dangerous to be stuck outside at a bus stop late at night. Many people became very frightened.  Public transit offers much security. This was a very irresponsible act.  Many people here who would happily support job actions by the union especially when it comes to contracting out jobs  now feel like they got sucker punched. I have been listening to people talk an this strike is about all people are talking about and everybody is pissed. Public sector unions must try innovative job actions that do not drive away public support.  The ATU Local president was quoted in the Toronto Star today as calling us riders, "irrational."  That ain't helpful.  
Stephen Donahue
used to live in Pittsburgh
co-founder of Save Our Transit
 


To: burghwalk at yahoogroups.com; papublictransit at yahoogroups.com; pcipb-list at lists.andrew.cmu.edu; Transport at venus2.pghfree.net; saveourtransit_everyone at yahoogroups.com; transit-allegheny at venus2.pghfree.netCC: jgrata at post-gazette.com; jritchie at tribweb.com; gawalsh at planetarium.ccFrom: siderostat1991 at yahoo.comDate: Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:54:21 -0700Subject: [PAPublicTransit] Surprise Transit Strike Hits Toronto




Although public officials and the media had assuredToronto residents that the local transit union wouldprobably accept a new 3-year contract, agreed-to byunion negotiators, the union rank-and-file rejectedthe pact and immediately went on strike Saturdaymorning. All Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) subways,streetcars, and buses are out of service for a citywith a population of 2.48 million (metro areapopulation of 5 million).Ontario provincial legislators are now scrambling todraft and approve legislation that will force transitworkers back to work by Monday morning rush-hours.They expect the provincial legislature to meet onSunday and approve back-to-work legislation.The contract was rejected by 65 per cent of the 9,000members of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113,which includes maintenance employees and mechanics whohad voiced concern over job security issues in thecontract.Through the entire negotiations, the union hadpromised that there would be 48 hours-notice beforeany labor walkout, a promise that was not kept. Theunion management claimed that transit operators hadreceived increased threats from passengers, asituation that they felt could escalate to violence ifthe 48-hour notice had been given. Hence, they choseto go immediately into the strike.You can read more about the Toronto transit strikefrom articles in the city's two newspapers and twonational newspapers based in Toronto, at this link:<http://andrewcarnegie2.tripod.com/transit/pat/2007fundingcrisis.html#tnews2>In Pittsburgh, business groups, such as the PittsburghChamber of Commerce and the Allegheny Conference forCommunity Development, have advised their members tobegin planning for a possible Port Authority Transitstrike later this year. A letter sent out to membersby the Chamber of Commerce, in March, was highlightedby a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review story on March 4:<http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/search/s_555366.html>gawgawGlenn A. WalshElectronic Mail - < siderostat1989 at yahoo.com >SPACE & SCIENCE NEWS, ASTRONOMICAL CALENDAR:< http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/#news >Author of History Web Sites on the Internet --* Buhl Planetarium, Pittsburgh: < http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com >* Adler Planetarium, Chicago:< http://adlerplanetarium.tripod.com >* Astronomer, Educator, Optician John A. Brashear:< http://johnbrashear.tripod.com >* Andrew Carnegie & Carnegie Libraries: < http://andrewcarnegie.tripod.com > * Duquesne Incline cable-car railway, Pittsburgh: < http://incline.pghfree.net >* Public Transit:< http://andrewcarnegie2.tripod.com/transit >__________________________________________________________Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ__._,_.___ 
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