March 25, 2008
TTC Strike Much Closer, Spring Not Closer At All, Leaf Series Could Be Closer
TTC union reps walked away from the bargaining table yesterday, meaning you could be walking to work as early as next Tuesday. Much like everyone else on the planet, the union is looking for more money and better benefits, but unlike everybody else on the planet, they can force the city into shutdown if they don't get it. As Clint Eastwood famously said in Unforgiven, "Deserves got nothin' to do with it."
More snow is expected today and tonight, and Environment Canada says that the weather in Toronto will probably remain cold until at least the end of April. Plucky Torontonians responded to the news with a cheerful wink and a "Dear sweet mother of God, what is wrong with this country?"
Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty continued his pissing contest with the provincial Liberals by holding a press conference and daring Dalton McGuinty to use today's budget to lower corporate taxes. Provincial Finance Minister Dwight Duncan called the press conference a "stunt," and challenged Flaherty to a full-on Finance Minister Smack-down, to be held in a giant cage in front of Queen's Park and emceed by Mike Tyson.
All three levels of government are apparently interested in a Toronto bid for the 2015 Pan Am games. While the Pan Am Games isn't the Olympics, it is the most prestigious sporting event ever to share a name with a defunct airline.
The Leafs are playing a two-game series against Boston this week in which they pretty much have to win both games to retain a shot at the playoffs. Statistically it's going to be tough for them to make the post-season, but if they do it's going to be one crowded bandwagon.
Photo by Daily Misery from the Torontoist Flickr Pool.
|
God, I'm so glad that I'm now within walking distance of work and no longer reliant on the self-righteous wankers that comprise the TTC Union.
It is actually called the Pan American games, you know, like for the whole of the Americas. It's really prestigious, at least for Latin American countries. It is also a good opportunity for athletes to boost their medal count without having to compete to other super-potencies, like China or Russia. The strongest countries are usually the USA and Cuba, with Canada coming in third place.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan_American_Games
How do the Pan American games compare in terms of prestige with the Commonwealth Games? Any sports-minded persons out there who can share information on this?
I should imagine the Commonwealth Games having a greater number of participating countries and athletes from every part of the globe would bring greater talent and variety.
I heard that the TTC employees are all worth a million dollars a year. So why don't we just pay them that? Problem solved.
Hmmm, the possibility of Terrible Transit going on a strike. Wow, I wonder if they'll suddenly have a ghost in the machine swoop down to save the day... but raise fares to pay for the totally unnecessary $21 MILLION worth of so-called "security" cameras. What a bunch of spoiled children! Unionized dickwads who think that just because they're part of a union, they're entitled to more raises and better benefits. Good God, get into the 21st century!
P.S. Too bad BlogTO cut off comments to their TTC posting. There are 239, which shows just how many people have opinions about the TTC.
http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/03/ttc_union_the_propaganda_way/
I'm also so glad that I'm in walking distance of work and no longer rely on the TTC. :-p to both the TTC and the union.
Amused ourselves this morning on the streetcar ride in by coming up with catchy new TTC marketing slogans.
Our choice so far is a toss up between:
The TTC: Because you have no choice.
and
The TTC: F$$k you all, paying riders.
I'm sure others can do better.
David E, I believe the "prestige" is similar with the Pan American games and the Commonwealth Games. Some countries can't participate in the Commonwealth games (Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela, etc.), while some countries from the Commonwealth Games can't participate in the Pan American games (Australia, Bangladesh, etc.). For athletes it's all about achieving more personal goals, scoring medals, getting financed for the ultimate goal, the olympics.
Here's an old one: What does "TTC" stand for?
"Take the Car."
I could go for "Take The Cycle." I think "Take The Car" sounds pretty antisocial.
The rising assaults are part of the reason for the discontent. I imagine they'll be legislated to work the next day only to gain angrier riders, so the union loses.
Would be smarter if the drivers just smiled and didn't accept fares until there was an agreement?
It would be resolved very quickly and the public would get a break as well.
Now you've got me thinking of other options. How about:
"Take the_______"
"Chrysler"
"Corolla"
"CCM"
"Catapult" (painful, but fast!)
Re Flaherty's comments on the Ontario budget, let me see if I have this right:
The federal government takes around $20 billion a year more from Ontario in taxes than it sends back to us, so it can buy votes in other provinces (like Quebec).
Then the federal finance minister then claims Ontario is lagging other provinces in cutting corporate taxes, which is to blame for our dismal economic prospects.
Brief question:
Why do we continue to belong to a country where it's good national politics to steal our money and hate us?
I know I said I hope they go on strike so I'd start biking to work, but it's too early. Hold off until the end of April, ok?
I agree with pman, let's just start a secessionist movement!
I agree to secede as well.
trek, you're nuts. Bikes work as well in the dark weeks of January as they do in July. The weather right now is perfect for biking too, just wear a jacket.
The revolution starts here. Vive l'Ontario libre.
I nominate pman for best comment this month.
I'm with Pman:
I'm all for a secessionist movement to force the hand of change.
I'm tired of living in a city works hard, gives way more than it takes, and yet is continually starved and disparaged by those it supports. The city is falling apart and falling behind the rest of the world, and help is not coming from those elected by us and the country we inhabit.
If not out of the country, at least get us out of the province. The GTA would make a nice-size new domain, to say the least.
A TTC employee once told me it stood for "Take the Cheque".
All day I've had to bite my tongue to stop from saying "That's some million dollar _____ing you're doing" to TTC employees.
I don't want to bike in the cold/rain/snow. And I forgot to bring my bike up from my parents'.
According to Transit union head Bob Kinnear, TTC employees are regularly "punched, kicked and spat upon, that there is no financial penalty to them." (today's Toronto Star)
Curbing my cynicism for a moment, has anyone out there actually seen this happen to a TTC driver first-hand? Physical and verbal assults are (obviously) horrific, but Kinnear makes it sound like this happens to TTC drivers day in and day out. I have friends who are drivers, and one of them has been spat on two or three times in 25 YEARS.
Are there any stats available to the public documenting the number of alleged assaults and lost hours of work, or is this simply another tactic to get riders to fork out more money? Can we expect to see the TTC equivalent of air marshalls on every bus and streetcar?