Pending Transit Strike [MRG] - Page 2 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

fredr123 · 05-02-2007, 09:57 AM

I would like to hear the Union's response to the bulleted points mentioned in Top Shelf's post. The City seems to be arguing that using community shuttle buses helps provide transit service to areas that may not yet have the demand to warrant a full-sized bus. Plus, they will be wheel-chair accessible and more fuel efficient. Wages are being increased dramatically for those drivers even though they still lag behind that of regular bus operators and c-train operators.

If it's not about money, then what is it about? Tell us. Please. Maybe I'm still missing something here but if the Union won't clarify then I'm at a loss. I won't side with the City and I won't side with the Union. I will be equally pissed at both sides if a strike results and my morning commute, already an hour long ordeal in pee-/fecal-/etc-soaked seats as it is, becomes any more inconvenient.

MarchHare · 05-02-2007, 10:12 AM

Quote:

I never beleive Unions that say it is not about the money. It always is.

###

FireFly · 05-02-2007, 10:31 AM

As far as I'm aware, you'd get a refund for unused portions of your transit pass. They did that last time there was a strike as well. However, with a rotating strike, chances are you wouldn't get anything back. Even if there is a strike, they're planning on running the C-Train on a limited schedule, and when they say limited, I think they mean it would be every 10 or 15 minutes all day instead of every 5 during peak times.
As far as I know, the strike is about the city wanting to increase the number of shuttles.

MarchHare · 05-02-2007, 10:46 AM

Quote:

As far as I know, the strike is about the city wanting to increase the number of shuttles.

Which, as pointed out earlier in the thread, means that the strike is all about money, since shuttle drivers are paid less than regular bus drivers.

FireFly · 05-02-2007, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarchHare

Which, as pointed out earlier in the thread, means that the strike is all about money, since shuttle drivers are paid less than regular bus drivers.

Never said it wasn't. Although that's your take on the situation. Also, the union looks at it like they're going to remove full size busses for shuttles, which may not be the case either. Certainly, some routes would be downgraded, but some routes would also be upgraded. What the city wants is to be allowed a higher proportion of shuttles to full size busses. Which doesn't mean that they're going to reduce the number of full size busses at all.

Reaper · 05-02-2007, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredr123

If it's not about money, then what is it about? Tell us. Please. Maybe I'm still missing something here but if the Union won't clarify then I'm at a loss.

The big reason is the benefits and the city's desire to cut them in this contract.

One example of this is the death benefit. The city wants to remove this benefit from the new contract package yet every driver has been paying into it for years (it is a shared cost benefit). The drivers would not get any of that money back nor is the city offering to increase wages to compensate for the loss of the benefit.

fredr123 · 05-02-2007, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reaper

The big reason is the benefits and the city's desire to cut them in this contract.

One example of this is the death benefit. The city wants to remove this benefit from the new contract package yet every driver has been paying into it for years (it is a shared cost benefit). The drivers would not get any of that money back nor is the city offering to increase wages to compensate for the loss of the benefit.

Then it IS about money... who knew?

Reaper · 05-02-2007, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredr123

Then it IS about money... who knew?

In every situation in the world where there is conflict it is only about one or more of three things. It's either sex, money or power and sometimes it's about all three.

MarchHare · 05-02-2007, 11:38 AM

Quote:

In every situation in the world where there is conflict it is only about one or more of three things. It's either sex, money or power and sometimes it's about all three.

Or religion.

Reaper · 05-02-2007, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarchHare

Or religion.

Religion falls under the power category. The power to control groups of people and influence their behaviour based on whatever values the stakeholders of said religion deem "appropriate."

RougeUnderoos · 05-02-2007, 11:57 AM

http://www.atu583.com/Resources/resources.htm

That doesn't help much but it has some information. I don't think we have to worry about a complete shutdown of service any time soon. One thing they might do is just not wear uniforms. That probably won't last long because, umm, who cares?

If they have a strong mandate they might actually give up this work-to-rule thing they are doing now and take the overtime. That sounds good but on the other hand, part of the reason to do that is because they might need the money if they do strike.

MatsNaslund · 05-02-2007, 12:27 PM

Quote:

I would like to hear the Union's response to the bulleted points mentioned in Top Shelf's post. The City seems to be arguing that using community shuttle buses helps provide transit service to areas that may not yet have the demand to warrant a full-sized bus. Plus, they will be wheel-chair accessible and more fuel efficient. Wages are being increased dramatically for those drivers even though they still lag behind that of regular bus operators and c-train operators.
If it's not about money, then what is it about? Tell us. Please. Maybe I'm still missing something here but if the Union won't clarify then I'm at a loss. I won't side with the City and I won't side with the Union. I will be equally pissed at both sides if a strike results and my morning commute, already an hour long ordeal in pee-/fecal-/etc-soaked seats as it is, becomes any more inconvenient.

http://www.atu583.com/Resources/resources.htm

http://www.atu583.com/faqs/faqs.htm

http://forums.beyond.ca/showthread.p...=&pagenumber=1

http://forums.beyond.ca/showthread.p...=&pagenumber=2

http://forums.beyond.ca/showthread.p...=&pagenumber=3

http://forums.beyond.ca/showthread.p...=&pagenumber=4

TurnedTheCorner · 05-02-2007, 12:30 PM

As far as I'm concerned, it will be a long time before I give Calgary Transit another dime for piss poor service, drivers who would sooner run over people than pick them up, and the privelege of becoming intimately familiar with complete stranges as I'm crammed onto a C-Train or bus.

If they day comes in the future when I opt to use transit again in this city in the future, it will be very grudgingly.

Common sense dictates you should get a pro-rated refund for any strike period that overlaps into a month you bought a pass for. Having said that, CT will likely charge you an admin fee for even raising the question.

fredr123 · 05-02-2007, 01:10 PM

Thank you Rogue and Mats. Good info there, especially the atu583.com site.

feartheflames · 05-02-2007, 01:11 PM

what does ### mean?

KevanGuy · 05-02-2007, 01:17 PM

Quoted for truth

Ducay · 05-02-2007, 10:06 PM

@ my work today downtown, people were going around trying to arrange massive carpools and what not for a strike. They were saying its supposed to happen tomorrow? Im hearing nothing on the news, but perhaps CP knows anything new.

FireFly · 05-02-2007, 10:06 PM

Nothing can happen until Monday. We shall know tomorrow what the vote said tonight.

Ducay · 05-02-2007, 10:08 PM

I see, damn work causing undue stress to people.

browna · 05-02-2007, 10:29 PM

People survived for 40+ days when the Union tried to hold the gun to the head of the city and its citizens 5 years back...and the union ended up having little to no leverage and folded in the end. I expect the same this time around.