Typical entitled bourgie so-called ‘leftist’ rant. “Why do they fight if they have such good conditions?” It’s BECAUSE they fight they have such good conditions.

I love watching people who decribe themselves as leftists rant about the horrors of overpaid workers.  It’s right up there with watching fiscal conservatives consistently increase government spending.

But I’m still really pissed off. While it may not be pretty, carting drunk people home from the clubs on Friday night is an essential service. It’s such a stupid idea to pull a stunt like that when half the town is drunk and not in close proximity to their house. I’m surprised that there wasn’t rioting.

“We’re in the 4th largest city | and I can’t take the TTC | To go buy a CD | what the hell’s wrong with this City?”

a la – http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2008/04/19/i-approve/

MGK – helping build metropolitan specific memes since Wednesday.

Really? ‘Cause I don’t. Don’t get me wrong, I’d like to think I’m a somewhat Left (or at least Centrist) guy, who has some gripes with unions (mostly those I’ve been a part of), but recognizes they serve an important social function – but let’s review the tale of the tape here:

The union got a 9% cost-of living raise over three years.
They got increases to vision, dental, orthadontic, physio, long-term disability, AND that the TTC would top up their 93% WSIB payments to 100% if injured on the job (a major sticking point, for obvious abuse reasons… not that anyone would ever abuse WSIB claims). New drivers also get to the highest pay tier significantly faster (I believe under two years, instead of 30 months… although I can’t remember where I read that to confirm).

PLUS they got a guaranteed clause that if any transit union in Ontario gets more than them during the term of the agreement, it will automatically adjust so that they’re the best paid transit employees in the province.

So if I’ve done my math right, the average top-tier TTC wage would be $27.30/hr in 2008. Now, I get that working for public transit is not a dream job for a lot of folks. Yes, you take abuse, yes people are rude, yes the hours are long and the work is tedious and repetitive. But let’s look at some other average salaries from a North America wage guide I’ve got kicking around – University Educated Social Worker with 10 years experience? $20.80/hr, Production Worker with 10 years experience? $16.53/hr, Advertising Sales Agent? $21.63/hr, Air Traffic Controller (5 years) $21.25/hr, EMBALMERS (10 years) $22.50.

That’s right you can SUCK FLUID OUT OF DEAD PEOPLE FOR 20,000 HOURS AND MAKE (on average) $5.20/hr less than a ticket-taker.

So there’s two options here:

1) The Union must have some really serious concern about an issue or issues with the agreement.
2) The Union exec (or it’s membership) must be really out of touch with a fair wage for comprable services.

Since the only thing ANYONE has heard from Local 113 ATU is that there might be some issue with the TTC sending buses that are under warranty back to the manufacturer for repairs instead of paying TTC mechanics to repair them… I’m going to have to go with #2 on this.

I’ll also accept that the union is wildly fractious, and sub-groups (the mechanics) are using this to assert more control over the union as a whole (a la the wildcat strike in 1991) … but I don’t actually accept that the union has valid cause. Or if they do, they sure haven’t presented it.

What’s going to expose their employees to abuse and physical danger — just like the last time — is returning them to work after a move like this. I have to think that’s what longtime TTC employees (particularly those not encased behind thick plastic) are thinking, right after they wonder if this gambit will be worth it.

I however wish I had such a problem as that would suggest I have a mass transit system that works after 7pm (5 if you want to actually go somewhere that isn’t downtown.), so I will be honest I hold no sympathy for you on this subject, if I wanna ride the bus I have to walk about a half mile to the nearest point and I have to be ready and aware that it will take me two hours to get where I want to go. I also have to be aware that only the biggest losers capable of functioning on their own use the system that is in place here in Oklahoma.

having spent a few evenings on the bus home sober with drunken college students, I sympathize with the union workers in this instance.

they are responsible (state-side) in many cities for keeping their buses and cars clean.

nothing like waking up to the vomit in your front yard from college age students to awaken the average citizen to the need for public transportation on friday nights.

I understand that it pisses people off, but it brings attention to the issue, big time.