City
Morning Brew: Fighting for Ultimate Fighting in Ontario, TTC Customer Service Czar Named, Giambrone Returns, Carlton Cinemas Saved, Raccoons Dying of Distemper, Reporting Abandoned Bikes
Photo: "coffee addict" by can't stop the beek, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.
What's happening in the GTA (and sometimes beyond):
Allowing mixed marital arts events (aka MMA, aka Ultimate Fighting) in Ontario is a change that Premier Dalton McGuinty is not willing to entertain, despite the sport being highly entertaining and despite previously alluding to potential revisiting and loosening of the rules. While not a fan myself, I can sort of see how people get thrills out of watching an angry kickboxer kick the brains out of a challenging judo specialist (in the same way I can somewhat understand how monster truck rallies and sport hunting might be "fun").
Giambrone is back at work at the TTC and ready to talk transit - the main order of business being fixing customer service. Steve O'Brien, the newly appointed "customer service czar" and hotelier, has plenty of experience in the area, but TTC union head Bob Kinnear thinks that since O'Brien only rides the system a few times each week, he's not in touch with the realities the employees or the public face. Who to you propose should head the initiative, Kinnear? You? Me? There's also renewed talk about the TTC creating a passenger's Bill of Rights, which is something that Torontonians appear ready to accept.
Three masked men pulled off a string of three bank robberies in short succession yesterday, keeping police busy trying to catch up. These may or may not be the same bandits that police were concerned about last month, after a few excessively violent robberies took place in the city.
Fans of cheap tickets and kitschy, retro movie theatres (no giant wrap-around screens, Burger Kings, or $12.50 admission) are delighted by the news that the Carlton Cinemas have been saved. Magic Lantern Theatres, who own and run the Rainbow Cinemas chain, has purchased the downtown space, and plans to refurbish it and re-open it in the summer. Hopefully they don't do too much upgrading!
Toronto wildlife is at risk due to an epidemic of distemper that is spreading amongst our raccoon and skunk populations. While this may come as welcome news to people with a hate-on for mangy urban trash diggers, the virus also poses a threat to unvaccinated pets (especially older dogs).
And if you're tired of seeing the weathered, rusted remains of bikes long abandoned and locked to poles, fences, and bike rings around the city, there is a solution. Call 311 to report their locations to the City, and they'll eventually be removed.
Discussion
39 Comments
Sort By Oldest First / Newest First
Subscribe
I would argue he's a large part of the dissatisfaction and anger people have towards the union (work aside). This guy just comes across as greasy and unwilling to help. He always seems to drag his heels. Why won't the union dump this guy for someone who is willing to work with management?
if they want to improve customer service relations they need to make a top directly work with union and transit workers, make them accountable, if you have to many complaints you get fired. plain and simple.
he adds no value to ttc or union. but then neither does the union or management.
i don't see much value in a bill of rights that will be watered down by all of the above. this is an exercise companies in trouble hide behind pretending to do something.
what they won't do is fix their product, service or experience because that admits mistakes on their part and all of the above have demonstrated they are far too insecure to admit that.
time to clean house and start again!
He's hilarious.
"I think you have to experience [the TTC] in order to know how to address it," said Bob Kinnear, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113. "And it's clear — very clear by Mr. O'Brien's comments — that he is completely unaware of the issues that transit workers face, and quite frankly, the public face."
Yes yes, "he's unaware what the transit workers face... And oh yeah, the public as well"..
I think everyone knows that the 1st step to improving the TTC is dumping Bob Kinnear out on his ass..
And I like that this O'Brien guy has had to deal with Unions in his previous experience.. That's what we should be looking for when dealing with the TTC. Maybe that's what's upsetting Kinnear. What would be worse for the TTC Union than a report that comes out in June that is all over the transit workers, not considering their fragile feelings..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As for the UFC, I don't see what the big deal is.. It's all over the US and Canada, it's all over TV, and it's definitely going to be here eventually, so I don't know why McGuinty is dragging his feet on this one (saying that his priorities now are jobs and the economy)..
Not only that, but he turned his nose up at Toronto (the main tax contributor in Ontario and Canada.. How dare he!!) with the same excuse when Miller requested help for the TTC..
It seems to me that McGuinty is turning away every question and request saying that he's focussing on the jobs and the economy...
Maybe he can explain how blowing $1.6 Million on partisan advertising for the HST is helping the economy... Maybe he can explain how spending $7 Billion "Buying Korea" with that BS Green Energy crap -that's going to end up costing Ontarians far more for electricity eventually (http://www.torontosun.com/comment/columnists/christina_blizzard/2010/02/16/12905811.html), is going to help our economy.. (I mean aside from the fact that when combined with the HST, we'll be selling our homes to pay for the skyrocketed electricity costs + HST)..
Even after McGuinty continues to lie and cheat Torontonians and Ontarians out of every hard-earned penny we make, we continue to support him.. We even elected his puppet Glen Murray in the Toronto City Center vote to confirm that we still support him... It's just shameful how we vote in this city..
I shudder to think what will happen when Smitherman (or mini-McGuinty as I like to call him, seeing that he was the Deputy Premier under him) gets voted in as the new Mayor of Toronto...
Yikes!!
--jackandcokewithalime
As for a passenger charter, that's just going to be an exercise in figures fudging to "prove" they are compliant by blaming all sorts of things on other people/other agencies/god.
He is the only obstacle between MMA and legalization in the province of Ontario.
I just want to say that Bob Kinnear's job is to represent & protect the TTC workers. It's up to the membership of the union to get rid of him in the next election. If he wins, that means that either the workers like and/or appreciate what he does or there is apathy among the workers regarding their representation. We can complain all we want, but if the folks of amalgamated 113 like Mr. Kinnear, he'll be reelected.
I think that it doesn't take daily ridership of the TTC to understand how to fix the problems; there are enough problems that they can be witnessed even on short and infrequent or irregular rides.
Frankly it's a surprise that Steve O'Brien takes the TTC at all. Many of the TTC operators probably drive to get to work too. One very nice bus driver on the 97 was telling a woman that he drives in from Bowmanville! Does this mean that they are unfit to drive in Toronto? Or that they cannot comprehend how to be decent employees?
Many of the problems I witness are basic lack of courtesy - not being rude... but holding the bus when they see people are rushing across the street and other little things like that, which can make a person's day. I also notice when the drivers do perform these acts.
The workers have taken a lot of heat in the last little while with people catching some of the bad apples at their worst. Maybe, as a way to encourage good behaviour, people should also start praising exemplary behaviour. I'll start:
I was waiting for the 512 and I noticed an elderly gentleman waiting on the wrong side of the street for the streetcar. He looked perplexed when the streetcar went by him and stopped at the platform on the east side. I guess the old platform at Earlscourt was on the west side. Anyway - the driver waited for this gentleman to get on the streetcar and then he waited for him to sit down before proceeding because the man had a cane and a box and clearly looked like he might fall if the streetcar took off. If this sounds like it took a lot of time, it didn't - less than one minute. I'd like to thank that driver for being kind and considerate.
As for MMA - I fail to see the issue here. Ontario still sanctions boxing matches and MMA (at least the brand practised and regulated by the UFC) is no more dangerous than boxing. Hell, professional wrestlers in the WWE get seriously injured as often as MMA guys do and their matches are all staged! What exactly is the province and "Premier Dad" trying to protect us from? I'm not an MMA fan per se, but really, this steadfast resistance to licensing a bout in Ontario is bordering on ludicrous.
Here's the deal. The Criminal Code of Canada forbids "prize fighting" but grants an exemption for "boxing contests" as long as they're regulated and overseen by the local athletic commission. Other provinces and cities have already legalized MMA, basically by deciding not to take the phrase "boxing contest" literally, since MMA, kickboxing, etc, didn't exist when the law was written.
But Ken Hayashi insists on taking it literally, and claims that the matter is out of his hands since MMA is not a "boxing contest" and therefore isn't legal. The truth is that he just doesn't like MMA, and it's a convenient excuse for him to hide behind. He's careful how he talks now, but I've read that in the past he and others on the commission have said that they do not approve of MMA because they think it's barbaric, too violent, and so forth.
So the bottom line is that nothing will change until either Ken Hayashi is replaced, or the government pressures him to change his stance. But apparently that's "not a priority" right now. Notice that awhile back McGuinty talked like he was open to the idea of legalizing MMA, but now he's not... I'd guess that he's had a chat with Ken Hayashi sometime in the last few weeks, and he's either drank the Kool-Aid or just decided he has better things to do than fight with the athletic commission.
Look the Union has NOTHING to do with customer service, that's a management/policy issue.
I'm not sure what people are going on about the union for, the lack of customer service can be squarely put on TTC management and nowhere else.
Was it management that was against randomly testing drivers for impairment?
Was it management that said the guy sleeping on the job for $26/hr was sick?
Was it management that went on strike on a saturday night with no heads up right after saying they wouldn't strike?
Random testing drivers for impairment. It`s a rights issue.
Sleeping guy being sick. It`s management`s responsibility to investigate. Why anyone even CARES about what Bob Kinnear says in this matter is beyond me.
Strikes are contract disputes, not customer service.
Again, Bob Kinnear can do about as much for customer service on the TTC as Ronald McDonald can for McDonalds.
Management can set rules/guidelines and try to discipline those who break them, but not if the union doesn't cooperate. Obviously the existing rules are simply not being followed, but the union refuses to admit it, and instead claims the offenders have done nothing wrong. So tell me again how it's got nothing to do with the union?
Here's some reading material for you for the trip back..
http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100209/TTC_union_100209/20100209?hub=Toronto
Bob Kinnear:
"He also blasted TTC management for publicly reprimanding workers in the face of public criticism and suggested they should take responsibility for making poor decisions that anger transit users."
Oh, he's blasting TTC Management when they try and do things to improve customer service...
"As a union we acknowledge that there are things we can do as workers to improve customer experience. We acknowledge that some people may need customer service training. We are human beings and so are the customers we serve. We want a better releationship with customers because quite frankly its been hell for us out there," he said.
Oh, "As a union we acknowledge that there are things we can do as workers to improve customer experience."...
Wow, for a guy who has "NOTHING to do with customer service", he and sure seems to be trying to do a lot of things in regards to....customer service...
--jackandcokewithalime
Unions don't enforce rules onto their membership, they don't make company policy and they don't deal with customer service. Let's be clear about that. In fact both your paragraphs conflict with each other in this regard.
If existing rules are not being followed management isn't enforcing them. It's pretty simple.
You seem very misinformed as to the roles of union vs company.
In fact this paragraph, severely underscores my point
"He also blasted TTC management for publicly reprimanding workers in the face of public criticism and suggested they should take responsibility for making poor decisions that anger transit users."
It's ok, you're still cool.
--jackandcokewithalime
PS: How often does your Uncle Bob Kinnear come over for a BBQ at your house, bud? You obviously are being blinded by something...
Cooperation from the union will ALWAYS make it easier for management to create and enforce rules, including those relating to customer service. Ergo, in a union environment, the union can play a significant role in how successfully rules and procedures are enforced, even if they play no formal role in creating and enforcing those rules. In the TTC's case, any new customer service standards will be meaningless if the union refuses to allow management to effectively enforce them.
Customer service standards speak directly to each employee's job and how it is performed - what makes you think that a union would play no role in that?
Yes, it takes strong management to press on notwithstanding the union's desire to fight, but to suggest that the union plays no role in this is ridici
If the company is not enforcing the rules in the first place, what is the union supporting?
"Your original point is that the union has nothing to do with customer service - that's not the same thing as saying that the union has no role in setting and enforcing customer service."
No, my original point is that unions have nothing to do with enforcing or implementing customer service policies. Which you seem to actually agree with.
"Customer service standards speak directly to each employee's job and how it is performed - what makes you think that a union would play no role in that?"
The ONLY role a union would play in that scenario is enforcing standards for its workers in frivolous customer service complaints. THIS IS THEIR ROLE.
"any new customer service standards will be meaningless if the union refuses to allow management to effectively enforce them."
That's a pretty big accusation/assumption. Do you have any information that would lead me to believe that the union won't cooperate with the company on this issue? Even Bob Kinnear's own statement doesn't say that they WON'T cooperate, he's simply saying that management has messed up by NOT enforcing any customer service policies and that in itself is not the problem of the workers.
--jackandcokewithalime
Rob, if you only knew the number of city workers (water and sewage, police, firemen, etc.) -- never mind TTC employees -- who live in the 905, you'd plotz! Of all the Toronto city workers I know, ONE lives in T.O.! Even the bald-headed fart in the infamous "sleepy TTC ticket collector" photo lives in Coburg!
You wanna work in Toronto? LIVE in Toronto! Pay your property taxes here, and make yourselves worthwhile!
No, read my post again and quit trying to set up strawmen. I said the union has to be cooperative. An accused employee is entitled to union representation... so what happens when the union refuses to acknowledge that the employee did anything wrong?
You're right, the union doesn't deal with customer service... DIRECTLY. But union employees do what the union tells them, and if the union openly doesn't give a shit about customer service, employee rules, etc, do you think that has no effect? Come on now.
Of course it's the management's responsibility to enforce the rules, but when the union is uncooperative and combative, don't think that makes no difference. It would appear that management has been lax on enforcing the rules, I never disputed that. What I am disputing is your claim that the union has no role in all of this.
I laughed out loud when he went on his recent hissyfit tirade against paying TTC passengers -- excuse me, the 'public.'
"Don't photographer TTC employees!" he said, sounding like a little girl who just her her pigtails pulled in a schoolyard.
Guess what, Kinnear? You're not a bully, even though you pretend to be one. You're a self-inflated, egocentric turd with a bad hair transplant. No one respects you. Do you think the public are taking photos of GOOD drivers and ticket collectors? Wake up, and realize that the TTC -- Heaven forbid! -- has some good employees, and its fair share of a-holes.
Just like any other business.
Has the union come out and said it will be combative towards an enforced customer service policy set forth by the TTC management?
I haven't heard or read that. So it's really not a very valid point as it's complete hyperbole.
And just to be clear, if a union is uncooperative, companies can take them to various proceedings and even civil court to ensure their cooperation, likewise with unions.
But Bob Kinnear is a matter for the membership to vote on in future elections, the public has no say in that. But at the end of the day, Kinnear has done a lot for his membership, so I doubt very much, that will happen.
keven said: "I come from a family directly involved in the largest private sector union in Canada."
Nothing keven says on this topic is balanced and unbiased. Bob Kinnear might as well be his Uncle Bob...
It also definitely explains all of his other comments on other stories in regards to the TTC...
I can't believe I was actually trying to explain reality to this unionite... What a waste of my time.
Unions are what's wrong with this country, and keven, you're what's wrong with this board.
--jackandcokewithalime
So yes, my opinion is totally unbiased, I have no stake in any anti or pro union BS, it's just an educated opinion, unlike yours.
This just keeps getting better and better... Maybe I should get people I know to come here and support me too, eh keven?
You are sooooooooooo sad and sooooooooooo weak!!
--jackandcokewithalime
Secondly, look, I'm not trying to dispute that you both have been posting on blogTO for a long time, and that you both do so independently on a regular basis..
I mean, if anything, that's great. How often do you see a couple posting on the same message board! I mean, that's cute! :)
All the best to you both.
--jackandcokewithalime
PS: keven, I'm still going to have to discount everything you say in regards to the TTC or any other Union related matter going forward. You see, regardless of whether you yourself are in a Union, your Mom is in a Union, and if you don't defend your Mom, then who would you defend! When it comes to Moms, a person definitely can't be unbiased.