Toronto Transit Strike

[The Intransigent Faction]

"The clock is now ticking on a potential transit strike that could cripple Toronto Monday morning. Toronto Transit Commission drivers and operators will not report for work starting at 4 a.m. on Monday unless a deal is reached by Sunday afternoon, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113 president Bob Kinnear said this morning.
If there's no contract agreement by 4 p.m. Sunday, he said, the union will begin notifying its 8,900 members that they are on strike...Kinnear said the city of Toronto treats transit workers as second-class citizens when it comes to wages, benefits and pensions compared to other city employees."
Meanwhile, Mayor David Miller has insisted that he won't get involved in contract negotiations and Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty "remains optimistic".

[The Intransigent Faction]

Well..not only has the strike been averted but the Premier is considering labelling the TTC as an "essential service" and thereby abolishing their right to strike.

[Die Neue Zeit]

^^^ Except that the strike is on right now. ;)

[The Intransigent Faction]

^^^ Except that the strike is on right now.

That is correct. It just wasn't the last time I posted, and came suddenly today, alright?

^^^ Except that the strike is on right now.

Yes, it is. But it wasn't when I posted the above, alright? I just hadn't gotten around to posting it yet.

"TORONTO — Commuters and politicians alike scrambled Saturday as a sudden transit strike idled the country's largest fleet of subways, streetcars and buses, putting intense pressure on Premier Dalton McGuinty to avert commuter chaos at the start of the work week.
In response, McGuinty recalled the legislature for a rare Sunday afternoon sitting in hopes of sparing commuter misery for the 1.5 million people who use Toronto's public transit workdays.
"We will move the back-to-work legislation through the legislative process as quickly as possible," McGuinty said in a statement Saturday.

"We hope to gain support of all parties to ensure that TTC service is restored quickly for the families and businesses of Toronto."
Opposition leader John Tory pledged co-operation to end what he called the "outrageous" strike, and after taking Saturday afternoon to review the bill, New Democrat Leader Howard Hampton eventually pledged his party's support so the legislation could pass Sunday.
So there you have it..even the reformists are on board in the campaign to ban a TTC strike!

[Die Neue Zeit]

^^^ Please note my edited post above (I forgot to put the ;) smilie to clearly distinguish a friendly remark from an unfriendly one). :(

[The Intransigent Faction]

^^^ Please note my edited post above (I forgot to put the ;) smilie to clearly distinguish a friendly remark from an unfriendly one). :(

Alright, no worries.

[The Intransigent Faction]

Well it turns out that this afternoon the "back-to-work" legislation was passed and the TTC is caving in to avoid fines.
Every major opposition party supported the legislation, so it took effect rather quickly.