Garbage Strike - Give Me a Break

[Mrbig1949]

TAG day for the rich

During the "good times", the private sector would simply bite their tongue and pay the union extortion but now the City is bankrupt, the province and Ottawa are running huge deficits. There is an official 10% and an unofficial 20% unemployment rate. Welcome to reality .

My broker even had to lower their definition of "rich" clients from $1million to $1. Yup, some of their former "rich" clients actually now have a NEGATIVE net worth.

I need a tissue, I'm tearing up over the plight of the rich. We should take up a collection, "We are the World"

 

[tboy]

During the "good times", the private sector would simply bite their tongue and pay the union extortion but now the City is bankrupt, the province and Ottawa are running huge deficits. There is an official 10% and an unofficial 20% unemployment rate. Welcome to reality .

My broker even had to lower their definition of "rich" clients from $1million to $1. Yup, some of their former "rich" clients actually now have a NEGATIVE net worth.

Sorry Rock, but you have to clarify: is that on paper, or in real terms? For eg: I know someone who lost x thousands of dollars when our dollar was at 1.5 US. But he made x thousands when our dollar was worth 1.1 US. He didn't sell or buy either but the amount in his account changed. BFD.

Another example: guy buys Bell shares at 25.00. The shares go up to 27, he made 2.00...no. The shares drop to 20. he lost 5 right? No. He didn't lose a damn thing because he didn't sell when they were high, and he didn't sell when they were low........

 

[blackrock13]

What makes me laugh is this "sudden discovery" that their are unions in the ps or that they have "sick days" OMFG, this has been the case for decades and will be for many more. You are so far out in right wing loonie land that Randy Hillier (goverment electrician BTW) is on your left.

On what do you base this observation on. Anyone who has lived in the big city for any length of time and not under a bridge, a rock or newspaper, has heard of unions in the Public Service. It's just that the 'sickday' rip off joy ride has hit the light of day, not going down well and the public is gagging on it loudly.

If the investment portfolios of the unions contained only union shop corporations, I might not look at this as asample of union hypocrisy; slamming the way some corporations are run but wrapping their brotherhood lips around the capitalistic teat and sucking it hard.

Show us that you're just not talking. Call it ethical investments.

 

[blackrock13]

Mayor Melonhead needs to take some business classes. He made this bed, now they get to lie in it. And forget handouts from the rest of us hard working Ontario folks, or the rest of Canada.

Back on topic..... I wonder how long before the members want to give in? Strike pay surely won't cover mortgage and other debts, would it??

I believe that His Whiteness went to Oxford, maybe even a Rhode Scholar, so I don't thin k he's dumb, just stupid sometimes. Anybody know what he studied.

 

[blackrock13]

To my surprise and I'm sure many of you, His Whiteness has a degree in Economics and a U of T law degree (no specialty noted)although the firm he worked for specialized in employment and immigration law. Go figure!

 

[Mrbig1949]

Good guy but cruisin' for problems.

To my surprise and I'm sure many of you, His Whiteness has a degree in Economics and a U of T law degree (no specialty noted)although the firm he worked for specialized in employment and immigration law. Go figure!

Mulroney used to say, in politics you dance with the one who brung ya. Its time Millar got off the fence and gave a full throated support of CUPE's position. Otherwise he is toast.

 

[tboy]

There are many decert votes and votes for new unions in Ontario every year. I know, I have conducted the votes.

and so many that vote PRO union have no idea what they're getting into. I know one company that the warehouse and production staff went union (I worked there) it was only the long term employees who got any real benefit. Anyone less than 5 yrs got royally screwed. I can't tell you how often the guys came to me to complain and or advice because they were constantly getting the short end of the stick (in regards to time off, cut hours, vacation etc).

I know many were harping on how we had to feed them if they worked past 6 oclock. I would like to meet any one of them who are now unemployed because the company went out of business due to zero profit margin due to high wages, etc. Now I will admit the management would spend $5 to track $2, but when your labour costs double, there just isn't any sense to stay in business if you're losing money and the customers moved to a non-union shop.

But that's the "idea" of a union, suck a company dry as fast as possible then bitch about lost jobs.......

 

[peanutsandcandy]

Just and update all the temp sites you should walk in your bags to a pile now. One guy in to drop off was so pissed off he was yelling to everyone to walk their bags in and a lady in line told him off because her husband is an EMS worker...meanwhile they're both holding up traffic in and out of the site LOL

I'm so done with these striking losers. Where do they get off allowing one car every 15 minuets through at some sites??? The police do nothing (god forbid they would show any animosity to their "UNION BROTHERS"). They don't care about public sympathy anymore. And we pay their wages??? If this was any other industry, they would be fired. We citizens are doing our part and taking our garbage to these sites willingly becuse of the strike. We should never be blocked from doing this.

Mayor Miller, disband theses Unions now! They don't care for anyone. They are helping to bankrupt the city. Disband, disband, disband!

 

[blackrock13]

I'm so done with these striking losers. Where do they get off allowing one car every 15 minuets through at some sites??? The police do nothing (god forbid they would show any animosity to their "UNION BROTHERS"). They don't care about public sympathy anymore. And we pay their wages??? If this was any other industry, they would be fired. We citizens are doing our part and taking our garbage to these sites willingly becuse of the strike. We should never be blocked from doing this.

Mayor Miller, disband theses Unions now! They don't care for anyone. They are helping to bankrupt the city. Disband, disband, disband!

You couldn't have read the post on what the police can and cannot due on the picket line and why they take the line they do.

The delays are an agreed convention to allow the union to express/explain it grievances to the public. It helps keeps the peace as a safety valve.

The length of delay is a function of how the picketers and union have been conducting themselves and whether the lineup are dangerous or seriously blocking traffic on roadways and such.

Yes the police are unionized but they are also sworn to protect people and property and that trumps a lot in many police officers. in most cases the officer on the line are well trained and experienced in what goes on during labour strike.

The police allow these delays, but can also take away the picket line delays if the situation warrants it. If the picketers actions should disrespect or stupidity, they'll shorten or eliminate the delays. Likewise if the general public or inside workers cause problems the delays may be increased all with blessing of courts and general labour/strike conventions.

What makes this strike so difficult is that the employer is a city, who generally don't go out of business or move their business to another community as a regular business might do as well the basic size of the CUPE union makes it the 800 lb gorilla on the labour scene and it must be dealt with in a unique way.

Many of your points are correct. They really only care about themselves and look at the public as pawns and not much more. The mayor just can't fire them and disband the unions. It doesn't work that way, but your frustration is understandable.

 

[Mrbig1949]

Protocol

I'm so done with these striking losers. Where do they get off allowing one car every 15 minuets through at some sites??? The police do nothing (god forbid they would show any animosity to their "UNION BROTHERS"). They don't care about public sympathy anymore. And we pay their wages??? If this was any other industry, they would be fired. We citizens are doing our part and taking our garbage to these sites willingly becuse of the strike. We should never be blocked from doing this.

Mayor Miller, disband theses Unions now! They don't care for anyone. They are helping to bankrupt the city. Disband, disband, disband!

15 minute protocals are Standard operating proceedure in strikes to balance the power and keep the peace. As even blackrock acknowledges the city cannot disband the union. The unions have been winning a series of supreme court rulings under the "freedom of association" section of the Charter. It is time for the poorly informed to get with it and use the only real means at their disposal. It is called negotiation.

 

[fuji]

Trash is a health hazard if it piles up. Freedom of assembly does not give you the right to inflict health hazards on other people. Since the obstructions are actually a health issue the city will win an injunction eliminating that obstruction if Miller grows the balls to go apply for one.

Really the city should just contract this work out, like every other city has done. CUPE can submit a bid, if it thinks it can do the job cheaper than Turtle Island.

 

[Mrbig1949]

You're blowing smoke

Trash is a health hazard if it piles up. Freedom of assembly does not give you the right to inflict health hazards on other people. Since the obstructions are actually a health issue the city will win an injunction eliminating that obstruction if Miller grows the balls to go apply for one.

Really the city should just contract this work out, like every other city has done. CUPE can submit a bid, if it thinks it can do the job cheaper than Turtle Island.

Hardly that simple. I have seen injunctions turned back many times. Harris tried to get one to end teachers' strike. REJECTED. They won't get one on your say so.

 

[fuji]

Hardly that simple. I have seen injunctions turned back many times. Harris tried to get one to end teachers' strike. REJECTED. They won't get one on your say so.

I can't see how the teacher's strike was a health issue.

 

[Mrbig1949]

The point my friend

I can't see how the teacher's strike was a health issue.

The point is twofold

#1 Injunctions are very hard to get, there is a high bar.

#2 It is not you who gets to decide what is a health issue on your own

 

[Mao Tse Tongue]

I'm so done with these striking losers. Where do they get off allowing one car every 15 minuets through at some sites??? The police do nothing (god forbid they would show any animosity to their "UNION BROTHERS"). They don't care about public sympathy anymore. And we pay their wages??? If this was any other industry, they would be fired. We citizens are doing our part and taking our garbage to these sites willingly becuse of the strike. We should never be blocked from doing this.

Mayor Miller, disband theses Unions now! They don't care for anyone. They are helping to bankrupt the city. Disband, disband, disband!

I agree. Fuck them.

Read looney McQuaig's rant today in the Star. She's priceless that woman. Blaming the rich for the lack of sympathy for strikers. Haha, yea, it's the RICH PEOPLE'S FAULT. LOL. It has nothing to do with the bubble the unions exist in or the ridiculousness of banked sick days, or the thuggishness--it's the rich people's fault!! (BTW most people don't know this, but McQuaig herself is very well off. Hmmm)

http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/665535

 

[buckwheat1]

a good employeer doesn't screw it's employees!!!

I agree. Fuck them.

Read looney McQuaig's rant today in the Star. She's priceless that woman. Blaming the rich for the lack of sympathy for strikers. Haha, yea, it's the RICH PEOPLE'S FAULT. LOL. It has nothing to do with the bubble the unions exist in or the ridiculousness of banked sick days, or the thuggishness--it's the rich people's fault!! (BTW most people don't know this, but McQuaig herself is very well off. Hmmm)

http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/665535

just because most people don't have it and the city workers do doesn't make it a wrong, many union contracts have sick days anywhere from 5 -30 days a year + personel days or lieu days.

 

[tboy]

just because most people don't have it and the city workers do doesn't make it a wrong, many union contracts have sick days anywhere from 5 -30 days a year + personel days or lieu days.

It's not only that they have x amount of sick days, it also includes the high wage, the ability to bank their sick days (I thought sick days were to pay you when you were SICK not as an early retirement plan), and the numerous other "benefits" they get. Why should THEY (because they are union) get more than the industry standard? Or more than the private sector if there is a private sector company that can provide the same service(s) at a reasonable rate?

If they worked for a private company that company would be bankrupt. The ONLY reason they are paid what they are and have the benefits they have is because they are feeding at the public trough and think there is a neverending supply of funds to bank them.

This is a free market society and union or not, the market should dictate wage rates, benefits, etc.

Put it another way: if you needed insulin or other monthly drug how would YOU feel if all pharmacists got together and went on strike to increase their dispensing fees to $200.00 per script? How would you like it if you broke your leg falling down your steps and the docs in the emerg room said: pay me $5000.00 cash or I won't fix your leg?

 

[buckwheat1]

It's not only that they have x amount of sick days, it also includes the high wage, the ability to bank their sick days (I thought sick days were to pay you when you were SICK not as an early retirement plan), and the numerous other "benefits" they get. Why should THEY (because they are union) get more than the industry standard? Or more than the private sector if there is a private sector company that can provide the same service(s) at a reasonable rate?

If they worked for a private company that company would be bankrupt. The ONLY reason they are paid what they are and have the benefits they have is because they are feeding at the public trough and think there is a neverending supply of funds to bank them.

This is a free market society and union or not, the market should dictate wage rates, benefits, etc.

Put it another way: if you needed insulin or other monthly drug how would YOU feel if all pharmacists got together and went on strike to increase their dispensing fees to $200.00 per script? How would you like it if you broke your leg falling down your steps and the docs in the emerg room said: pay me $5000.00 cash or I won't fix your leg?

one could gego sick for weeks if major surgury was needed or a heart attack/stroke/cancer ect insurance policies only pay a percent of wages around 60% and if teh employeer pays the preuim taxes are deducted from that so sick days are a good thing oh ya I get 24

 

[tboy]

ok, so you're saying that all employers should pay employees who aren't working the same as workers who are? Oh yeah, if you're worried about getting sick and your insurance doesn't cover all your wages, buy supplimentary insurance to make up the rest.

Look how well that worked out for GM.........

I still don't get it: people REALLY expect a full wage for NOT working? I thought people got paid for work they do, not work they don't?

Man, I hope you hire a contractor to do work for you. So you would be perfectly happy to pay him to do work that he didn't actually do? So if you hire him to replace your bathtub, sink, toilet and tile the floor and he doesn't replace the sink you'd be cool paying him anyways? LOL I doubt it......

 

[Mao Tse Tongue]

There are private sectors which have bankable sick days; they're watching this unfold, if it goes the way of the city be sure that they too will easily lose it without any fight ...whose's going to protect those guys perks...labour law?
This fight indirectly affects some in the private sector.

Just think about what you're saying: "Bankable sick days". The whole concept is so ridiculous, so silly. You get rewarded if you don't stay home??? In my job, and zillions like me, if we get sick and stay home, we don't eat, so we only take the "sick days" that we actually need. Imagine.

In the other thread, the big defender of the strike admitted to me that he has 300+ sick days in the bank. Holy Fuck that must be nice. !! Free money!! Yeah! You get that for hauling trash while Miss Molly Maid gets sick and takes too many days AND GETS FIRED.

Great system! Oh wait a sec, who's paying for it? Oh it's me! Yikes.