CUPE Strike

[CTSblues]

I am surprised that folks still think Canadian schools do poorly. With the exception of Finland, we leave most European countries in the dust. Are you guys confusing our schools with our US counterparts? I have posted this before, but well worth repeating

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/2520303.stm

I am not surprised that police and firefighters get better deals than other OMERS members. They are the kings of the blue collar world. I think I have said that before too. It is all a matter of how powerful your union is.

 

[booboobear]

That's right, frankcastle. Apparently booboobear and millhouse don't understand. Let me try to lay it out, briefly and simply.

Since all the workers throw their money into the same pot, more or less, CUPE wants assurances from the gov't (the 'employer'), that OMERS won't use CUPE members' money to pay for extra pensions for the police. The gov't can't give any assurances, and in fact the new law looks like it might allow for one group of workers to be EXPLOITED by the pension fund.

As if the gov't has some kind of RIGHT to EXPLOIT their employees, or something.

To focus on the fact the strike might be illegal is moot; after all, for the gov't to pass a law that allows their employees to be exploited is, broadly speaking, illegal as well. So we see that the gov't was not willing to listen to employee's concerns about being exploited untill they were threatened with a strike.

. Hey - the clothes at Wal-mart are likely made in sweatshops in China by workers who earn $30-$40 per month. Think about that the next time you shop there.

Finally, if it takes the threat of a massive stike, illegal or not, before the gov't is willing to listen to worker's concerns about being exploited, then that's a pretty good argument in favour of unions, I'd say.

You are right I didn't understand exactly the issue I will admit that. I now understand why they are upset. Having said this I still stick with my opinion that no government employee especially essential workers should be allowed to strike. Thousands of people work for non unionized companies and can't hold the entire country hostage because they may feel they aren't getting what they want or they don't get a raise etc etc. I do think they have a valid issue with the government but then I think the goverment dictates to everyone what taxes we pay how much pension we pay , when we can retire and we have no say in the matter. Don't say vote for someone else because no matter who we elect we have to do and pay as they say. I know W mart goods are made by poorly paid chinese but look around my friend they are not the only ones buying cheap labour not by far , whether it's China or India . The problem with CUPE is they expect evryone to suffer when they are not happy with the government.

 

[LancsLad]

Ndp

Why hasn't the city of Toronto followed the lead of other municipalites and outsourced the collection of garbage?? This would be a huge savings for taxpayers.

So long as Toronto politics is dominated by local politicans of the left then it will never happen.
There was an interesting aricle on contracting out a few years ago in the NCC publication. I forget the name of the city but it was a mid sized northern US one. The new mayor who got in promising fiscal reform looked at the local yellow pages. He compiled a list of things the city did and compared that to the yellow page listings. If four or more private organizations offered what the city did he closed that dep't and put the work to public tender. The unions and lefty press hated him, the taxpayers loved him. Hundreds of millions saved on contracting out things that only served to create feather bed jobs for unionized city employees.

Where is John Galt?

 

[A-ROD]

You stupid idiot they were going on strike because they were having their pensions taken away!

WoW is this Oil Please a prize or what...

They were not going to take their pensions away...

They were going to let police, firefighters and medics and collect their pensions earlier than the rest of the union.

This would have accomplished several things, like allow to bring in younger less expensive replacements. Also, most of these professions mentioned above don't normaly wait until 65 yrs old. I have read somewhere before that the average policeman takes a package at 52.5 yrs old.

The other union members were saying why should they be allowed to retire before us.

That was the main issue of contention. There were a few other changes being put forth as well.

 

[booboobear]

You stupid idiot they were going on strike because they were having their pensions taken away!

Really ? Can you read ?

 

[A-ROD]

You stupid idiot they were going on strike because they were having their pensions taken away!

Please change your signature line. It is offensive to real canadians

 

[Egor]

... Having said this I still stick with my opinion that no government employee especially essential workers should be allowed to strike.

While I disagree, there are strong arguments in support of your position. Strikes are certainly a losing proposition for everyone involved: the employer, the workers, and the customer (or public). It's most likely that the majority of CUPE members were NOT enthusiastic about striking over the OMERS bill, and I think everyone, including Sid Ryan, is relieved that it never happened.

 

[wantoplay]

......

While I disagree, there are strong arguments in support of your position. Strikes are certainly a losing proposition for everyone involved: the employer, the workers, and the customer (or public). It's most likely that the majority of CUPE members were NOT enthusiastic about striking over the OMERS bill, and I think everyone, including Sid Ryan, is relieved that it never happened.

Hey,

You got that right!! I have a few friends who work in public service who pay CUPE dues. ( they are not totally in favour of CUPE!! ) Not only were they opposed to the strike, they were not happy about hearing more through the media, than they actualy heard through their Union Reps!! They were also not in favour of the strike because they are Under contract to their employer!!

If they could find a way to have the union removed or ousted they would be happier, but sadly, the lazy crybabies that always run to the union for protection would not allow it!!


So yeah, all happy it never happened!!

WTP

 

[frankcastle]

The workers who were not fire/police were going to recieve a reduction in their pensions!

Not true. I work with CUPE members. Police and FF were going to collect earlier and get more than before. That is the issue.

 

[A-ROD]

Not true. I work with CUPE members. Police and FF were going to collect earlier and get more than before. That is the issue.

As are most posts Mr Oil Please makes... not researched....

 

[A-ROD]

You are wrong! The other workers were going to recieve less!

Oil... read....

Frank works under the CUPE umbrella..

I will take his statement over your blurbs

 

[booboobear]

While I disagree, there are strong arguments in support of your position. Strikes are certainly a losing proposition for everyone involved: the employer, the workers, and the customer (or public). It's most likely that the majority of CUPE members were NOT enthusiastic about striking over the OMERS bill, and I think everyone, including Sid Ryan, is relieved that it never happened.

I think most people forget that thousands of workers work for companies that don't have unions and whose owners would close the doors if the workers attempted to unionize. I don't disagree that cupe workers were unhappy but I do disagree they should have a right to strike. In a lot of cases unions don't benefit the workers as much as the union leaders.
I think you might feel differently if your child lost a school year because of a teachers strike.

 

[basketcase]

...
I think you might feel differently if your child lost a school year because of a teachers strike.

Has this ever happened? I don't even remember the school year having to be extended.

 

[frankcastle]

You are wrong! The other workers were going to recieve less!

I shoot the shit with the caretakers all the time I think they would mention that when talking about the strike.

 

[frankcastle]

I realize that strikes can affect a lot of people. And yes many people don't have the luxury to be in a unionized line of work. At the end of the day I can't blame someone for looking out for their family.

 

[booboobear]

I realize that strikes can affect a lot of people. And yes many people don't have the luxury to be in a unionized line of work. At the end of the day I can't blame someone for looking out for their family.

Sorry but I can , they don't care about if it costs the rest of the public money when they strike so why should I care about them.

 

[frankcastle]

Sorry but I can , they don't care about if it costs the rest of the public money when they strike so why should I care about them.

Guess I was out when someone called me asking for my sympathy. Sure you've got a right to be upset, it's just an opinion.