City
End the Strike Now Campaign
People are becoming more vocal about the ongoing Toronto city union strike... especially online, where anonymity allows everyone to openly vent frustrations. Though many comments take the shape of rants, they also reveal the impact this strike is having on the everyday lives of Torontonians.
One citizen (who requests anonymity) has decided to channel some of this anger and frustration in the form of an informal petition to End the Strike Now. In Toronto's often lukewarm political environment, it's refreshing to see the reaction. From garbage in parks and swimming pools, to child care concerns, the End the Strike Now campaign is attempting to record the impact of the strike and the legitimate concerns of dissatisfied citizens.
Too bad it took such a stinking mess to evoke a response.
When I interviewed the mind behind the End the Strike Now initiative, I was expecting a stern political agenda to emerge out of the petition. However, it quickly became clear that the intention is to formally register the complaints, concerns, and effect that this strike has evoked in the city.
"There are hundreds of blog comments on sites, such as yours, but I know the rest of the 2.5 million people in Toronto feel some level of disgust with what's going on. I wanted to see if there were more people against this and this seemed like the only way to find out."
The website takes visitors through a few factual statements about the strike - its duration (32 days and counting) and how long the initiative has been waiting for a response from the City (7 days and counting) - as well as recent news developments. Otherwise, there is no obvious agenda - the creator seems to geniunely offer a public forum for registering a 'strike impact statement.'
Everything is collected anonymously, and at this point is not a formal petition but rather a test to see how much support there is for this initiative. Interestingly, the people who are leaving comments (which at present, are not displayed publicly) are sharing the dramatic impact that this strike has had on their lives.
"This is very grass roots, in that these are real people who are struggling and even suffering due to the strike. These are intelligent comments that don't only vent frustration, but suggest very thoughtful people who have a genuine interest in changing the situation in our city."
The link to the petition website was initially kept secret, sent only to city councillors and select media outlets (including blogTO). Already over 100 people have left comments on the site, and over 1000 have visited - suggesting that there are a large number of people being motivated to take action against the strike.
Though the petition is not currently public (there are legalities around what defines a public petition), the creator's intent is to garner enough support to then take the petition to the Mayor, the Premier, or even CUPE. All comments left are kept private, but by leaving your name and email, the creator can contact you to see if you would like to be added to the official petition once it is registered.
The hope is that this new-found public interest in city operations will renew the public's political motivation, and the creator is very much aware of this tenuous political interest. There's a municipal election coming (November 8, 2010 to be exact) and while the current political climate is charged thanks to the strike, the public often forgets once the situation is resolved.
Already Miller has attempted to placate the public, refunding summer camp, pool and leadership program fees, but as yet has offered no relief on property taxes or garbage collection fees. The End the Strike Now website will help to ensure that the impact of this summers strike isn't forgotten, and can be used to drive positive change in city planning and policy.
"I don't have the answer - are people being affected by the strike? The mayor? The Union? The NDP? This 'petition' is more of a conscious retaliation to the current strike situation. What difference does it make when 24,000+ workers leave their job? The bottom line is that people are really concerned, and they need to voice those concerns."
Photos: laurie.mcgregor and Brendan Lynch
Discussion
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This will continue to happen every. single. time. there is a new contract discussion.
Perhaps next time the unions will think twice about entering into a strike that could potentially last months and be actually willing to comprimise from the start.
Calling this a garbage strike is like calling Sunny D fruit juice.
Instead argue for a court order that will allow the city to bring in private contractors to pick up garbage and clean the dump sites. This shouldn't be too difficult in light of the public health dangers this garbage poses.
One thing that strike has shown me is that the city will function just fine without garbage workers. I thought this would not be possible, but really they are not that relevant. The only problem is the union workers blocking every attempt of alternate removal.
Also lesson learned is that dumps should operate separately from pickup, also residential garbage be picked up by a different contractor than the city bin garbage, This avoids a single point of failure.
It almost seems that they are artificially trying to make the garbage situation worse. People in the area have been very good at keeping things clean. Unpaid volunteers have been cleaning the few spots that have been problems. So when you walk down Queen East, pretty much the only garbage you see is the garbage created by the protesters in front of RC Harris (and there are only a few protesters!).
Some of it in bags, some of it not. Just sitting there on the grass with absolutely no attempt to put it someplace more appropriate or someplace where it would have less environmental impact.
how about a "no deal" from the city and a back-to-work order from the province?
Where as fear of being obsoleted (it's a word now..mmmkay ?) and replaced would make people reconsider striking again. Once private steps in it catches a foothold and establishes an industry. My home and work are already privately serviced for garbage pick up. I believe my work switched from the city to private during last strike.
Private garbage companies can't hold us hostage.
I'm not opposed to privatization in general but it means we're letting go of control. Not to mention, sourcing out the Toronto garbage program would be a monumental task for any contractor – as far as "that'll teach'em"...I think any smart contractor winning the city contract would hire the laid off workforce. But it's an option, and I think the city is wrong not to consider it – at least for some services.
I do feel bad for the businesses that will likely go bankrupt on the island.
But I agree, the union needs to be broken.
Assholes.
1. EMS should not be able to legally strike. We need this changed.
2. Any city workers blocking/attacking people for dumping garbage at zoned dumping sites should be sent to prison.
3. Any city workers blocking ambulances should be shot in the leg and left miles away from any hospital.
This is disgraceful. Shame on you city workers.
Wait in a 5 hour line to drop off your garbage, pickup your kids from private daycare (if you could even find any spots), help the summer island workers find new jobs, etc, and then get back to us.
But I guess if YOU benefit from all these issues, it's worth it. For you.
Bargening is something i do with a person when i have a choice, if i don't like the deal from a vendor i go somewhere else. What cupe is doing is hostage taking, you give me what i want or i won't let you do what you need to do with me or anyone else.
That' why when the workers are on strike, there should be no limitations for the city to get their labour somewhere else.
Lastly, dan, screw the cupe workers that support this. Due to this a lot of people are suffering that don't get to hold places hostage, way more people than cupe has on their leash.
And that guy - Once again, if your jobs suck, organize yourselves. Explain how bringing down everyone's working conditions would help us? And read up on labour's history, you might learn a thing or two about how you've benefited from past union gains.
And no, I'm not a CUPE member. But I would be proud to be part of an organization that stands up for what's right, especially in the face of all the knee-jerk, selfish vitriol.
If my job sucks, I will find a new one. If I can't find anything better, maybe it's because I don't have the skills that people desire. That means I need to try harder to improve myself and make myself more employable. I don't go to hold the entire city hostage and punish others for my lack of ability to make a better life for my family and me.
My parents are in CAW and they hate it.
Guess what, they don't get to choose not to be in it. They don't get to not pay union dues, they hate the fact that workers at their factories that do drugs on jobs get busted and than protected by the union, suspended with full pay while they have to pick up the slack.
Unions are a necessary evil i agree. However i am against mega unions. Garbage works should not be grouped iwth other city workers. They should ahve their own union to minimize impact. Right now it's in their interest do do maximum damage tho get their demands. As the person whose money goes to pay their wage i have a problem with their demands, because i don't think they are worth what thye get and would like to see competition. It's amazing how much productivity goes up when your job is on the line.
I don't want to see everything privatized, but i want to see everything diversified.
I'm not wasting time addressing these because they've been addressed so many times already. Justify why you should benefit from at the city's expense, PLEASE. How do you sleep at night.
And to the other poster: accusations of Socialism is getting as old accusations of Terrorism or being a Nazi. Give it a rest and throw in something relevant.
Make up your mind: either we have public sector employees working for the city. Or we privatize these services, and let the unions negotiate with the business that takes over the contract. As it is, we have complete dysfunction because the striking employees do not share equally in the pain that their actions are causing. Miller put out an overly generous package, and the Union will still happily wait for arbitration that will make it even more attractive.
What surprises me is that I don't see anyone from City Hall stepping up to the plate here. Torontonians have spoken loud and clear that it is time that we privatize many of these services. Garbage collection, in particular, is long overdue to be moved out from the City's mandate. Is no one willing to take on this challenge? If so, they will get my mayoral vote next year.
Explain how a child care worker (you know those lazy asses who look after our kids) should only get $15 an hour and no sick days? Really? That's what they deserve?
Their job is no harder than the people work at fast food restaurants at $10 an hour.
And for anyone union bashing, fine, break the cop union. There are tons of people willing to write tickets and stand around construction sites for far less than what the cops are getting paid.
You forgot to the proposed pay raises, and the proposed short term disability plan. "No sick days"? Get the facts.
http://www.toronto.ca/offer/pdf/sick-leave-std-compared.pdf
And dan on,
Miller not renewing his NDP membership was obviously optics only when he then went and stacked the Executive Committee, essential th City Cabinet with as many of the NDP caucus as he could. Only an NDPer would appoint Howard Moscoe to the most powerful body in the City.
Mike W - you do realize there are different union locals on strike with different collective agreements right?
And I guess I just think that qualified professionals who help our kids' early childhood development should get paid more than a teenager at McD's. Maybe I'm wrong, but I just see a child care worker's job as pretty important.
Oh yeah because it's fair and realistic.
http://www.toronto.ca/offer/
Miller: Get the police to do their job and stop these people obstructing us from getting on with our lives.
10 an hour actually haha
Civic workers have never been respected and never will, so as an Inspector its about C.Y.A and rest assured I do that so no breaks will be given when I return.
Know the facts....I never wanted to STRIKE
And I guess I just think that qualified professionals who help our kids' early childhood development should get paid more than a teenager at McD's. Maybe I'm wrong, but I just see a child care worker's job as pretty important.
I agree. Qualified professionals SHOULD be entitled to a reasonable income for their work whether it be a nurse, engineer, ECE worker, etc. BUT i believe that the offer presented was generous and very reasonable. Think about all of the people who do not even have jobs presently. All those who have been laid off and these CITY workers are not happy?
I don't know about you, but when it comes down to it being a CITY worker means you work FOR the people. I am very disgusted with their demands as CITY workers. I am a health care worker and it bothers me that these workers are fighting for wage increases, sick days, etc. that majority of the general public do not have. As mentioned above, I am a health care worker and do NOT get half of the benefits these city workers receive. But I do no walk out on the job and leave patients hanging because my intention and work ethic is FOR the people.
i do not believe it to be wrong to fight for what you believe/want. but when so many people are affected, there should be some consideration.
my comment begins at... "I agree." above
People don't think the striking worker's job should suck. They are already compensated very well. The angry people just want to see the pay reflect reality and not be further inflated beyond reason. The reality is that public sector jobs are removed from the strains of the free market since politicians aren't worried about the well running dry and they just raise taxes to pay for idiots like CUPE.
garbage pickup is the new lemonade stand.
First off, that sounds like BS. A childcare houskeer earns over $20/hr. so I have a hard time believing a child care worker makes $15/hr. But otherwise, it sounds more like a union failing to me. Tell me, why is it that other members in the same union have such great pay and benefits but others don't? Shouldn't the great and mighty union treat all its members fairly?
If what you say is true, then it shows even more how pointless the union is when it can't even make sure all its members are treated, using their term, "fairly"?
You call 21/hour great pay? That's what sanitation workers make
Childcare workers in ontario make approximately 22k a year. Which is very roughly 15/hour.
>If what you say is true, then it shows even more how pointless the union is when it can't even make sure all its members are treated, using their term, "fairly"?
No, it means that these people would make 8/hour with no benefits if there wasn't a union watching out for them.
Thousands of employers are fair without the intervention of unions. You act unions are preventing Ragnarök.