T.O. unions gloomy about quick settlement prospects

The Toronto city outside workers' strike is only a day old, and already tempers are flaring. Garbage collection, city daycares, pools, ferries, and restaurant inspections have been halted, but both sides refuse to budge, earning little sympathy from citizens who've been caught in the middle.

CTV Toronto: Austin Delaney reports from city hall on the negotiations

The two sides are still talking despite a strike being called, but the union isn't claiming any substantive project. Austin Delaney reports.

CTV Toronto: John Musselman on the testiness at one transfer station

The Bermondsey transfer station in Don Mills had been designated as a place for Torontonians to dump their trash, but that changed Monday afternoon. John Musselman reports.

CTV News Channel: Joe Pennachetti, city manager

City officials outline contingency plans for the Toronto strike and give a rundown of alternate dumping grounds and fines for illegal dumping.

CTV News Channel: Employment lawyer on why workers walked off job

An employment lawyer discusses the issues facing municipal workers and what may be the underlying issue behind all of the municipal strikes.

CTV News Channel: Scott Laurie with an update on the garbage strike

A CTV correspondent gives an update from the picket line and outlines who and what will be affected during the civic strike and the response from the community. He also discusses other alternatives for people to get rid of their garbage.

CTV Toronto: Michelle Dube with the possibility of illegal dumping

If this strike drags on, it's likely people will be throwing trash wherever they want. Michelle Dube reports.

CTV Toronto: Reshmi Nair on the dire daycare situation

This strike could cause some real hardship for families. Children that attend city of Toronto daycare centres are now closed, forcing them to find alternatives and for some they have no choice but to stay home from work with their kids.

CTV Toronto: Paul Bliss with what Queen's Park is saying

The province has the power to end this strike but the question is how long will it take before they step in? Paul Bliss reports from Queen's Park.

CTV News Channel: Eddie Francis, mayor of Windsor, Ont.

A strike by city workers in Windsor is nearing the 10-week mark and the mayor, Eddie Francis, says he will accept calls for a new mediator.

CTV Toronto Extended: Mayor David Miller reacts to the strike

Mayor David Miller in a statement said he was disappointed the city was unable to reach an agreement with the two union locals.

A A | Print |

| Comments (239)

ctvtoronto.ca

Date: Monday Jun. 22, 2009 10:06 PM ET

City officials say they are optimistic that the labour dispute with striking city workers can be resolved this week, but union leaders seem considerably cooler about that prospect.

"Monetarily, we are miles apart. We are certainly miles apart with respects to the concessions the employer is seeking," Mark Ferguson, president of CUPE Local 416, which represents 6,200 outside workers, told reporters on Monday afternoon.

"Unfortunately the city wants more than a pound of flesh," he added.

The unions say they feel the city is trying to be tougher with them than with other municipal unions, reported CTV Toronto's Austin Delaney. The city wants to end the practice of city workers being able to bank any unused sick days and cashing them in at retirement.

For example, the city didn't go after the sick days of about 1,000 Toronto Housing workers a few months ago.

"Ask the mayor where he was when he okayed that deal, because he's involved in everything," said Ann Dembinski, head of CUPE Local 79, which represents about 18,000 inside workers.

She described her union as being "still a world apart" from the city.

The other main points of contention include job security, seniority and scheduling.

Mayor David Miller said the world has changed since the recession began last October.

"The financial position we're in is similar to everybody else," he said. "The worldwide recession has affected the city. It's lowered our tax revenues, it's increased our welfare costs and we're bargaining in that context."

Dumping tensions

At the Bermondsey transfer station in Don Mills, John Musselman said confusion reigned.

"At first people were banned from bringing in their garbage, then they were allowed to walk it in, then they were not allowed to do that," then the union relented about 5 p.m., he said.

Brian Bates was one resident blocked from going in. "I pay my taxes. We have a mayor that's giving these people wonderful benefits that we can't afford. We never could afford them," he said.

Other citizens were also decidedly unsympathetic to the 40 strikers on site.

At Commissioner Street, some left bags of garbage along a fence line outside the transfer point. A bylaw officer could be seen cutting into the bags, looking for evidence that would link the trash to an individual household.

The city still asked residents to not engage in illegal dumping in the meantime.

"The city is aware that a few picket lines have refused to allow people and vehicles to cross," city manager Joe Pennachetti told a news conference in Toronto on Monday.

"While a certain amount of inconvenience is to be expected, picketers cannot completely stop people and their vehicles from coming and going. The city will resolve the issue as quickly as possible."

If the strike continues, more drop-off centres will be opened to add to the seven existing ones, he said.

"We understand that people may be frustrated by the inconvenience of waiting to offload their waste, but there will be zero tolerance for illegal dumping."

People will be investigated and fined, with the penalty being $380, Pennachetti said.

Musselman said the strikers told him they put up a "hard line" on Monday, but it should be easier for people to access transfer stations on Tuesday.

Strike kickoff

Toronto's municipal workers went on strike at midnight leaving the city without garbage pick-up, summer camp, swimming pools and daycare.

About 24,000 indoor and outdoor workers walked off the job as the two unions representing the employees announced that they were unable to reach a deal with the city.

Besides garbage collection, the strike will impact:

child-care centres
libraries located inside community centres
golf courses
the island ferry
recreation centres
wedding services
city-run sexual health and dental clinics
restaurant inspections
city-run events in public squares and public parks

Public transit, police officers, fire services and paramedics are not affected by the strike.

Court services including parking ticket payments are still available to the public.

City officials have outlined their contingency plan on Toronto's official website Toronto.ca.

The last time Toronto suffered through a municipal strike was in 2002.

Garbage collection and other municipal services were halted for two weeks and did not resume until the provincial governments passed back-to-work legislation ordering workers back on the job.

With reports from CTV Toronto's Austin Delaney and John Musselman and files from The Canadian Press

Comments are now closed for this story

DON
said
0 0

I sure hope they keep their garbage in To.we don't want it in the London area.

Ry in the Hammer
said
0 0

Here's an excellent opportunity to fire all of the City's garbage removal employees and replace them with more efficient, economic and non-unionized contract services.

Why pay someone $35+ an hour to pick-up garbage when you can get a private company to do it for $15.

Forget back to work legislation. Let's hand out pink slips!

Jon in London ON
said
0 0

You mean to tell me in Toronto you need a permit to take wedding photos? How do they enforce this? And how much revenue could this possibly generate?

Interesting challenge that a left leaning city government can't reach agreement on a union contract.

Poor old Toronto....another nail in its coffin.

Fed up Mom
said
0 0

So let me guess it's just pure chance they have done this now JUST as the kids are getting out of school and the hot weather starts. Grow up and stop being so greedy...yes you fought hard for all those things as did everyone else that have lost jobs; had reduced hours/wages; lost benefits etc etc. NO it's not right but you're not winning the public over with this strike - ask the parents today looking for daycare; ask the kids that have no camps/pools/library etc; ask anyone with piles of smelly garbage.
we can't all be government workers like you so welcome to the real world of job cuts and losses.
SEND THEM BACK TO WORK NOW

Eric
said
0 0

First off, I don't have a problem with people banking sick time, what I do have a problem with is people getting cashouts at the end of their employ for the unused sicktime. I think banking sicktime is something all employers should offer with companies over say 25 people.

As for garbage collection, street cleaning and non-utility type work, start out-sourcing it. Its cheaper, it absolves the city of liabilities and they will do a better job.

Miller says this, "the city's financial circumstances, the recession, an increasing demand for city services and its limited revenues as prominent principles behind the tabled proposals." Maybe he shouldn't be bothered with projects like streetcar right of ways that save people 1 minute of time and facelifts for Nathan Phillips Square. Miller is the problem with the city's finances! When you spend money like a drunken sailor, it will comeback to haunt you.

Brad
said
0 0

Toronto has to stand it's ground to these greedy unions that want to keep more than anyone else gets. Tax increases are coming as the city is deep in debt and need to save money. There are lots of umemployed people who would love to work for at lot less than these unions make.

Tom
said
0 0

Bann all unions. Useless corrupt organizations that they are.

stevejr
said
0 0

Miller is the one to blame, he asks for all these concessions however he is okay with his 8% pay increase. The union is just asking to keep what they have earned. The city wont negotiate unless the union agrees to 110 pages of concessions. Something stinks and its not the garbage

Terri-Etobicoke
said
0 0

I think Mr. Ferguson and his membership need a serious reality check. While the majority of us who are taxpayers and technically pay their salaries has had to take pay cuts and leave without pay. Who have never been able to "bank" their sick days nor do we know on any given day that we will still have a job tomorrow. They want to strike in these times for those cushy benefits. Get a grip. I even resent that they use their membership dues which come from their salaries,paid by us the taxpayers for the obnoxious ads on radio looking for my support. I don't think so. Time for us to just fire them all and contract out to private firms who have a better grip on reality.

Marilyn
said
0 0

To Jon in London....
you need a permit for EVERYTHING in Toronto!!!
You need a permit to pave your driveway. you can be given a PARKING TICKET for parking ON your own driveway!!!

The Union mentallity really really stinks!!!

GO BACK TO WORK AT LEAST YOU STILL HAVE A JOB!!!!!!!!

carol davis
said
0 0

Maybe some parents can see how nice it is to actually raise their own kids for a change. In light of the situation, some may be able to get a temporary leave of absence to do so. I know all the die hard institutionalize our kids fans and we can't do it without two jobs groups will be up in arms about this, but why not ggive it a try.

Dave
said
0 0

Since when is Toronto "known for it's cleanliness"?

Hopefully this won't last too long into the summer, and striking workers and the city can reach an acceptable deal before it takes too heavy a toll on them and the citizens.

Candu
said
0 0

So far, most private unions have taken concensions in this recession. Some industries that have asked for public money have taken even larger concensions (CAW, Pulp & Paper). But, gov't employees who depend completely on tax dollars don't have to? Especially cashing out unused sick-time at retirement, that is obscene. Sick-time is for when you are sick.

dianne erdos-rush
said
0 0

I am appalled that union workers would have the gall to strike in economic times like these. It just continues to show how out of touch unionized workers are.

Thousands of people in this city are without any kind of work, most of us have no job security of any kind, and certainly dont have any "banked sick days", and these people, who make an incredible wage with unbelievable benefits have the audacity to strike!! It is unconscionable!!

I understand that although my garbage wont be picked up, my kids camp is going to be cancelled, the daycare will no longer be functioning, the parks will be ripe with garbage and the swimming pools will be close, THAT MY PROPERTY TAXES ARE STILL DUE ON TIME!!

Mayor Miller, get on the ball, and legislate these pompous bastards back to work!!

Matt
said
0 0

Government jobs should not be unionized.
They have relatively secure stable jobs with benefits far better than most of the private sector.
Considering the current economy they have nothing to complain about.

Our taxes should be used for essential services. Wedding photo permits? golf courses? day care? garbage?

Some of this is essential, some of it is not. Personally I don't like the ever growing role of government in this country.

We're becoming dependent on the government for everything, and they're stuck promoting these greedy overpaid unions. Look at what the CAW did to the big 3 automakers. How can we stop the government unions from doing the same to our country?

Steve T
said
0 0

Unions are so out of touch with reality, it's scary. Did they forget there is a global recession underway?
At the same time these CUPE workers are having their little hissy fit about perks and overgenerous benefits, there are thousands of people who have lost their jobs and are struggling just to make ends meet. These people would gladly take the CUPE workers' jobs, at a fraction of the salary, just to have a job.
Way to go CUPE - you just spit in the face of every person who has lost their job in the recession.

Areva - Bowmanville
said
0 0

Welcome to the real world! No more golden parachutes!

DaveEast
said
0 0

Miller and McGuinty, with their blind devotion to unenlightened, job destroying and costly notions, are directly responsible for this mess. Between the two of them, I doubt that they could lipread their way through a McDonald's menu without a consultant and a crayon.

As long as the Lefties vote in politicians of this inferior calibre, expect more of the same.

Adamwolf
said
0 0

Unions need to come into the 21 Century. The days when they had public sympathy are gone. Labour laws and other civil rights laws have taken a lot of the "raison d'etre" for what created unions in the first place. The unions that were formed in the past were there to protect the worker and public from the evils of management. What now. They have become the "evil". Look at the auto workers....the union almost killed the industry in NA. Company's without unions are now doing quite well and their employees in most cases (I discount Walmart and MacDonald's they do need Unions) don't have it so bad. Maybe its time for "forced arbritration" in particular with public servants after all they hold the public hostage when they go on strike and is that really fair. Just wait commercialization will slow take over the public service. It's already started and if the workers aren't careful their days are numbered.

Mike in ON
said
0 0

Imagine that...a strike with Miller as mayor! He's writing the story of his own downfall. He's already caved to the other unions...what's one more? I predict that this strike will go on for a couple of weeks before Miller caves, at which time, the garbage collection workers will return to work and make overtime pay cleaning up a few weeks worth of garbage, thereby flushing ANY savings from the strike right down the toilet.

I sure don't miss living in Toronto.

jean
said
0 0

with the way ppl are losing their jobs these days, i think they should appreciate the fact that they still have one. i, for one, am tired of hearing that these ppl, want more sick days....come on, is anyone really "sick" 18 or more days a year. I work in health care and have only , missed one day of work in a year and a half. do they realize that this take away from all of us tax payers. they will pay their raises back in their taxes when they get raised, yet again!!!

Earl Robert
said
0 0

Clear as in..."It is clear, however, that we can not achieve a fair collective agreement without resorting to a strike." It's also clear that they can be replace by a more efficient, non-unionized service. Is that CLEAR enough?

SK
said
0 0

There are so many people out of work right now, I can't believe that unions would even consider striking. Job security??? Who has that anymore. It's disgusting how unions went from protecting the employees and providing fairness in the workplace to the unbelievable greed that is constantly seen every time one of their contracts is up. The company I worked for closed Cdn ops and let 400+ people go. I am DEEPLY grateful to have found another job, even if I am earning a little less. Its still better than EI. These guys should be grateful to still have jobs where they earn so much in these days of pay cuts and layoffs.

THE Fatman
said
0 0

Now they're out leave them out, permanently! Contract out those services where "health concerns" can be considered as an issue, and stretch the "health concerns" aspect.

It is noted Mayor Miller has had an 8% salary increase. He should show the way and cut this back or nullify it then cut back all other city employees pay packets a like amount. They all do far too little for far too much!

Adam from Toronto
said
0 0

With so many people out of work these days you would think these workers would have had some compassion and waited until things were better to re-negotiate. Instead you have again shown your ignorance and gone on strike leaving the residents to fend for their own and leaving children without a place to go for the start of the summer or daycare. What are parents supposed to do who rely on this essential service? It's truly sad that we are at this point again as it always seems to be about the ever mighty loonie. I agree with some of the earlier comments. If you were in the corporate world and pulled a stunt like this you too would be unemployed. Smarten up ¨C go back to work and be happy at the end of the day that you have a Job where so many do not right now. You are not going to find anyone willing to sympathize with you this time around.

Andy TO
said
0 0

Ry in the Hammer
You are incorrect in how much the city would pay to contract this out.... the company that would get a contract to collect garbage would charge pretty close to $30/hr for their labour and only pay the workers $15/hr so the suits can sit in thee office collecting a huge bonus for getting the contract and throwing a nice kick back to someone in city hall for making them a ton of $$$ off the under pain workers back. Collect garbage for $15 an hour.... are you insane???

kelly
said
0 0

Terrible, don't they realize that they are costing the city even more money by taking away revenue generated by city festivals and such that bring in tourists that spend their money...keep it up unionized workers, soon there will be no visiters to the area, people will be fed up with toronto's woes and visit nicer, cleaner places. Unions and government fall under the same category in my book: self serving, greedy, and LAZY!!! work for what you have. The more they make, the less they do!

Mike in Etobicoke
said
0 0

So the union thinks buy putting the people in a bind that we will feel sorry for them. Did they learn nothing from the teacher strike. Upset the people and you lose any hope of sympathy! Hey Miller get off you union loving a*%, and out source. Cheaper and more efficient!! So Happy I live in Etobicoke where we have Turtle Island picking up our Garbage! No city workers here!!!!

SGF
said
0 0

Unions have outlived their usefulness. Nowadays, they are more politicized and greedy than before. The result should be as close as possible to that of Reagan firing the U.S. air traffic controllers.

J
said
0 0

health hazard - just fire and hire

Beverley Smith
said
0 0

The thing is, with national daycare we'd have such strikes times a thousand. Parents scrambling to find someone to tend the child today in Toronto would have a much easier time of it if money 'flowed with' the child and the money they did not spend today on daycare could simply be reassigned to the sitter, neighbor, grandma or whoever. But daycares don't work like that. They'll still want payment even when on strike. Parents will have to pay double today . The lobby to fund children directly would solve this. It would also help daycares because when parents have the cash they can fund the care style they want and there would be fewer lineups for the subsidized spots, and fewer lawsuits for care a person was 'forced' to use.

Little Jimmy Crosscuts
said
0 0

Don't let a strike keep you from disposing of your trash. I always found that burning garbage is an excellent way of getting rid of it. Or, You could put it in a big box and wrap it with bright shiny wrapping paper and then leave it in your unlocked car as you walk around the mall for a couple of hours. Odds are it won't be there when you come back.

David, Mississauga
said
0 0

Typical nonsense about banning unions, fire them all, Blah, blah blah. There nothing wrong with making a decent wage, having benefits, and basically not being worked like a slave. That's what unions have done for workers in Canada, so you all need a history lesson.

However, payouts on banked sick time is nothing but featherbedding and this nonsense has to stop.

Elizabeth, Ontario
said
0 0

Miller is more interested in wasting money on cosmetics to make his city 'look' nice but he forgets how to take care of his people. Shame David Miller! The city won't look very nice with the stench of garbage in the air. Settle with your unionized workers and let's get on with summer in the city!

Susan
said
0 0

I agree with Ry in the Hammer. Fire the lot of them. I am sick and tired of Unions who just continue to gouge the public. I know someone who works for the outside workers union and he was told three weeks ago by his union rep that they were going to strike the week of Pride week for the most impact. Hows that for barganing in good faith. They don't deserve their jobs.

Blair
said
0 0

MAybe this union should take a page from the CAW. They thought their $35 an hr jobs were safe. I agree with chopping the union and going private. In this economy be thankful your working.

Chi146
said
0 0

Before the economy ever fully recovers these big union have got to be broken somehow. How do they have the nerve to strike when most people are thankful to have a job now. The unions were needed at one time but now they have just pushed to far. Fire them all and give the unemployed a chance to work and be grateful.

Roger T
said
0 0

ALL Unions MUST be dismantled for good. Unions are really just an employee protection wall to hide behind when it comes to negotiations.

GET RID OF THE UNIONS.

Joey G. in Nova Scotia
said
0 0

Well...time to reconsider my summer vacation plans.

K Toms
said
0 0

From what I've heard, the City Councilors voted themselves raises earlier this year because they based it on last years positive results. That was their reasoning. Why can't unionized workers use the same course of logic. If the city was concerned about its spending, it should have had wage freezes across the board.

Sick of the crap
said
0 0

Wake up Toronto!!!! The workers who pick up your garbage actually work....Is there garbage sitting all over the city? Use your heads before you comment on things you don't have all the information on. They don't make $35. Are you listening to the news. They City keeps calling the talks off. 9:30 last night they called it all off, Sat at midnight they called the talks off. They have been working without a contract since January. Every other union in Toronto got a 3% raise including your council. If things are so tough why did they not forgo a raise... How about asking some of them why they make what they make? Some of the unions even negotiated to have the same sick benefits that the garbage sector already has. I hope its really hot, and your enjoy however long the City plans to do its dance.

RVH
said
0 0

Absolutely disgusting! Which company (other then city workers) allows there staff 18 sick days? On top of probably anywhere from 14-35 vacation days/year, 12 STAT, 2 Float, who know how many "personal days". they probably work less then the time they are off. No sympathy for any stirkers. Id pile my garbage for the summer and have them off then give there demands. GET TO WORK!!

K - in Toronto
said
0 0

UNION Leaders/Workers

Ban Unions. No Strike, Put your head down and work and learn to live a normal life like the rest. Stop being greedy. Tank your stars that you have a job today.
Fire all those on strike and hire cheaper canadian labour

Thank god I'm in Pickering
said
0 0

I'm wondering how many times does a person get sick a year, under the study of human activity and awareness the human on average gets sick twice a year and they have 18 something is really wrong with these people, plus they make a very sick amount for picking up garbage, maybe in real life they get sick from picking up our garbage...

Roger
said
0 0

Everyone would like to be rewarded as an employee. When the going is good, we'd be happy to give you $35/hr to do work for the government. But people, we're in a RECESSION! The private sector had to make some tough choices with their employees. Why are public workers any different? Are public workers better than everyone else? GROW UP AND FACE REALITY!!!

Fed up with unions, in Toronto
said
0 0

Time to end the union picketeres' right to stop my car from driving to and from the dump or walking anywhere. Why are they entitled to MY time?Let them carry their signs but keep their hands and bodies away from me and my car.

Garry in NS
said
0 0

As a member of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (not through my own choice), we can bank our sick-time. However, if we retire and have sick leave remaining, we cannot get paid-out. It is a use it or loose it concept which I fully support.

greg m
said
0 0

Who care about Toronto? I hope that the rest of the country does not have to put up with daily reports from the strike in Toronto. Please don't report on this any more.

As for the strike - the city of Toronto should just hand out pink slips and contract out the work. Do the right thing and save the peoples money. That would be a news story worth writing.

Durward
said
0 0

Pass essential services legislation and give them a $5.00 or $10.00 an hr cut in pay.
Unskilled labor is not worth $35.00 tax dollars an hr.

colton
said
0 0

I'm just waiting for Iggy to blame Harper and threaten an election if the conservatives don't solve this problem. If anything good comes out of this it will keep us from seeing Iggy and listening to his condescending ways.

Dan in Quebec
said
0 0

"Essential service!"
like the teachers, nurses, police and others......End of story.

K.Matroskin in Vaughan
said
0 0

Why does TO always invent the bicycle? One day they decided to tax customers for plastic bags. Instead of forcing retailers to use recyclable paper bags as it is done in LCBO stores and South of the border. Didn't they really think twice before taxing their electorate? Now, they are keeping these overpaid workers on city payroll. Guys, take your as#es out of City Hall chairs and make a trip to Vaughan. Our garbage pick up is outsourced to external company and we never heard about strikes. It is 15 minutes drive from TO in case you don't know.

PVT
said
0 0

Yay - Unions are the BEST!!! Sheesh.....time for privatization....

steve
said
0 0

Just burn the garbage

BigD Out West
said
0 0

Fire the entire bunch! THere are thousands out there qualified (non-union mind you) that could do the job better and for less!

SB in Kuwait
said
0 0

Once again Toronto maintains it's crown as Canada's stinking city.

Matt
said
0 0

The problem is we let them do this.
Would anyone vote for politicians reforming labour laws to limit the power of unions?

Unions are getting 50%+1 certification laws, you need more than that to decertify.

They've even gotten labour boards to certify unions when less than 50% of the employees want a union.
Sign a union card, it's a vote for a union, there isn't a always a secret ballot for union certification.
When people complain of assault and other threats if they don't sign their union card, the labour board doesn't investigate, claims there is insufficient information to justify the complaint, and then counts the vote for the union.

I've worked in union shops. I should have a choice if I want to join the union, or if I want to buy products/services from a union.

CUPE and other government unions must be stopped.

Brian out West
said
0 0

Wow what ground breaking news. The center of the world has got a garbage problem. Big deal. If something of importance happens out here in the west it's not even reported, but if it happens in Toronto we should all be immediately informed. Really we out West don't give a s**t what takes place in "Turanna"

Sam
said
0 0

If they stop collecting garbage, they should also stop collecting property tax payments until things are back to normal. It is a two way street.

Travis Young
said
0 0

Striking daycare workers & CUPE Local 416 - you suck!

If you think you've got it bad, try being one of the parents that lives in one of the most expensive cities in Canada, and can barely make ends meet, and now add on the headaches of not being able to go to work because you can't find someone to take care of your child.

When will these services be deemed essential?

Eva
said
0 0

Unions are socialistic bodies that do not belong in our society. They empower the greedy, lazy and the abusive, while the common population, fully affected by the economy, takes the brunt. Wake up, Canada!

greed for both
said
0 0

GreedGreedGreed, on both sides.
We sit here fighting over petty crap and look at the hundreds of thousands of people all over africa and middle east that would kill to be in our shoes, to even have a home and a job to take care of family.
I cant help but think that maybe this recession wouldnt be so bad if we all took a good hard look at ourselves and our belongings.

Troy Jordan, Murray Harbour, PE
said
0 0

We only have unions, because labor law in this country is too weak. But, we should all be treated the same, banding together should not increase the rights and privileges of the individual. Those who ask for too much money and/other compensation are passed over in non-union industries. Unions should be banned, labor laws reinforced. Then maybe we could experience some equality. These people are paid 'above scale' for the work they do, this is not fair to the rest of the citizens that have to pay taxes with their non-union jobs, just to pay these people. Hire non-union workers.

Andre (in never voted for these guys!)
said
0 0

In a democratic society, people get the government they deserve.
People in Toronto keep reelecting Miller and McGuinty and now complain that the unions call the shots!
If you are tired of the union blackmail, stop voting NDP and Liberals.
Toronto, right now, you are reaping what you sowed. Elections do matter.
Deal with it.

jt
said
0 0

At times i think its nothing more then a power trip for unions.It seems they like the power to halt a city to a stand still and make people slifes awful.

Ken
said
0 0

If they dont want to work, then fire the lot of them, and hire a whole new set of high school drop outs. Honestly, are these jobs that hard to fill? Canada's unemployement rate is going up, people are losing their homes and there is not a line up around the block to get these jobs?

This union definetly thinks too much of it's self.

meerkat
said
0 0

Just in time for the big HEAT... ooooh it's gonna get STINKY!!

*FRESH*
said
0 0

GREAT!
I'm going to go stock up on air freshner, in case this goes for too long!

Bernard Romanycia
said
0 0

Is this why they call it Hogtown?

Raj
said
0 0

During thse hard times, it seems sad to me that these unions go on strike. I think, during a recession, nobody gets to strike, and everyone gets to take a little cut.I have, why not them

Frank, Scarborough
said
0 0

So the unions think they have been treated unfairly? What about the taxpayers?
If they use intimidation tactics like they used in the last strike, to prevent people from getting to waste stations, police action must be used against them at once. We are not going to have a cholera epidemic to please the wonderful labour movement.

liz ottawa
said
0 0

they get to bank sick time and cash it out at the end?? even the fed govt doesnt get that. all we get is to cash out our holidays. that is awfully decent pay for what is basically unskilled labour with no education required whatsoever. I guess they are being paid for the disgusting factor since who would want to pick up someone's garbage. I dont even like taking my own out to the curb.

My award for worst union
said
0 0

I worked for the City of Toronto about 14 years ago. I have never observed a lazier group of people anywhere in Canada before or since.

ben
said
0 0

i lost my job last year,why don't hire me to do yhis job

Fed up Mom again !
said
0 0

Their contract expired 6 months ago......why wait until now to strike?
Oh yeah it's hot so smelly garbage;
It's hot so kids want to swim;
It's the school holidays so kids want to swim and have camps and go to the Island etc.
If there's a extreme hot weather/smog alert how will people seek selter I assume the public buildings they normally go to will be closed ????? So what next dead people on the streets because of these over paid workers thick skins and deep pockets ?????
I agree with unions I don't agree with holding off on a strike to make us your employers (we pay the wages) suffer big time.
IT'S THE KIDS AND OLD THAT WILL SUFFER THE MOST FROM THIS......

Catwoman 37
said
0 0

This is nothing, just wait until this govt starts doing bashing on the federal govt employees.

It seems to me,if your a unionized public service worker, your job is in jeopardy. Chances are the pay or benefits of each employee will be cut.

Talk about partisan politics.

Ron Fiedtkou
said
0 0

this strike will inevitably raise our taxes:
1. the amount of overtime it will take to clear the streets when this is resolved
2. the major boom that will occur in the raccoon population (this happened after the previous strike)and cost of having to control it.
3. oh and we still lose because we all are paying the same tax rate for services not being provided
one more thing: the city will always opt for the union to go on strike because public opinion will mostly be against the union due to the economic times; the union needs to outline the lavish spending by the city on other areas to bring everything into perspective. whoever can use the media to its advantage will gain the upper hand.

Melanie
said
0 0

What are these people, babies? In this economy to go on strike is really ¨¹ber-childish. On the other hand, let them lose enough wages striking that any increase they get will not offset it. Another reason I'm glad I don't live in Toronto.

T. Wright
said
0 0

I'm appalled at the constant sense of entitlement people have here in North America. I work in the private sector and get 5 sick days/yr. You use them when you're sick. Getting paid or banking unused sick time is what is crippling this economy. Each CUPE worker should have to prove they are a valuable employee each day they go to work, like their private counterparts.
Unions amplify this sense of entitlement and make it difficult to fire people who don't do a good job. Perhaps the ESA should work harder to create better protection for employees and we should reduce the role of unions.
Go to work, do your job and do it well. This is what entitles one to be in a position to 'bargain' for certain benefits, not just showing up each day!
(p.s. I don't think a strike is necessary to renew this contract...)

TGuy
said
0 0

Garbage collection was outsourced long ago in Etobicoke. City of Toronto should do the same for all of Toronto, but they want to bring it back in house. Stupid.

CC
said
0 0

Ah yes, the wonderful world of "socialist central". The more you get, the more you want. The Toronto way. And they wonder why the rest of the country points and laughs so often. The spineless Mayor will cave and bend to the will of his buddies in the unions and the taxes will go up in Toronto. Then the Torontonians will blame the Feds for not giving them more money. The cycle is endless and quite sickening. Time to get your collective heads out of the sand, and realize that Toronto is NOT better off with the direction it is going. This ME ME ME, and MORE MORE MORE attitude must stop!!! Something stinks in TO, and it isn't just the garbage.

JFC
said
0 0

This is Miller's fault for catering to the self-centered, greedy unions in the first place. Now the recession is forcing him to to say No to them... something that should have been done to ALL govt and auto employees long ago. Has nothing to do with being more efficient and respecting tax payer's money. The one positive of this recession I suppose. Well, just like Ontario is paying for their goofball premier McGuinty, Toronto voted for their mayor and are now paying for that!

Milen
said
0 0

As a public servant under the Province of Ontario I fully understand the necessity to force a strike. Normally, employees of any form of Government are typically scrutinized for work related issues and alleged abuse of power/resources. Seldom is there any form of recognition, affirmation or gratitude given to individuals such as myself, and as a course of nature, the relief desired by the employees isn't freely given and therefore striking is what needs to be done. I don't look forward to the services temporarily shut down as a result of the strike but understand and support the cause.

be thankful
said
0 0

I agree with everyone that the Unions MUST GO and we must should privatize. Granted, Unions had it's place in history and that's where they should stay... in history! Thank goodness I live in Etobicoke where garbage collection is privatized and we don't have to put up with this 'garbage'. And banking sick leave... common on! Who in the private sector has this benefit. Get real! You're not getting anybody's sympathy for that or anything else for that matter.

R/H Ontario
said
0 0

Moved out of Toronto about seven years ago! You could NOT PAY ME TO LIVE THERE NOW! Best move ever was out of TO. Millar is only thinking (as most politicians do) of himself. Roll back your 8% raise and Freeze all city wages and salaries until the recession is over. Yeah right, you can see that happening, Eh?

Prof. Pye Chartt
said
0 0

"LEFT-WING UNION TOWN BLUES"

As long as the obstinate majority of socioeconomically comfortable sandal-wearers in downtown Toronto continues to embrace socialism, and the glorious dictatorial NDP (new taxes every month, forced impractical bike lanes, nutty public transit ideas, wacky social schemes, etc.), overly powerful public unions will continue to run the show.

Mayor Miller has always stood in the center of the problem.

david sawkiw[saskatchewan farmer]
said
0 0

It certainly appears as though the unions have 'bargained' themselves into a corner..By reading the comments in here, I'd say the unions are REALLY lucky that the people who pay their wages don't have control..

Here's a thought,,seeing as the teachers[at least here in saskatchewan]will have nothing to do for the next couple of months,,, maybe THEY could pick up the garbage.

Sean - Chatham, ON
said
0 0

City workers should check in with the Windsor city workers and ask them how their strike is going.

Strikes by public service/municipal employees are simply slaps in the face to those who have been (or may be) laid off.

Terri in Brantford
said
0 0

I have been out of work for almost a year. Fire them all and hire me for a fraction of the wage. Most jobs do not pay for sick days and if they do, you cannot bank them. That is just ludacris!!! They should be thankful they jobs and be eager to make concessions like the rest of Ontario!!!

Nancy: I just wish the Mauyor cared about the City
said
0 0

The Mayor instead of out grandstading with the Premier trying to help the new Federal leader with political stunts applying for programs he knows would not work. He should be looking after the city. I am tired of the city going down the tubes while he is politicing and grandstanding and pulling every poltical stunt possible, I just wihed he cared about the city.

matlewy
said
0 0

Maybe we should offer them a bailout.

Patriot
said
0 0

Must be nice to have a high paying union job! Fire them all and save the city money and put a bunch of people on EI to work. Poor over paid union workers.

George
said
0 0

To all T.O. residents:

The strike encompasses "Seniority and scheduling" to name a few. The union picked this moment to hurt the residents the most, not the city. We in Ottawa endured this stupidity for 50 days, in the frigid temperatures...Welcome to our world...at least it ain't freezing.

BrianD
said
0 0

I am not from toronto, or surrounding area, so this strike will not affect me. What is interesting about all the complaining from the private sector is that all civic employees across canada sat back and watched the private sector rake in the big pay cheques over the past several yrs. Now allof a sudden we have a recession taking place, and all those same people from the private sector are crying they had to take pay cuts, their tax mpney paying civic wages etc. So hang on folks, you had your raises and now regardless what the economy is in, the ones who didnt get their raises, well guess what, they are getting them now. So Strike on, you deserve your fare share, the private sector had theirs.

Steve the Pundit
said
0 0

Of course the strike was timed to amplify its effect:
- no access to day care and parks and rec services just as the kids are getting out of scholl
- no garbage pickup just as the summer weather kicks in

Fearless prediction: the Mayor will cave to all the union demands (and then some)as a way to "eliminate any further inconvenience to the residents of Toronto and in the spirit of mutual cooperation", blah, blah, blah. And of course they'll stick ratepayers with the bill.

Sad thing is, Toronto used to be a nice place to live, before Miller and its NDP council ran it into the ground. I don't care about Keynesian economics says: you CAN'T spend your way out of a recession, especially when the spending is on nonsensical pet projects and throwing unions everything they ask for. Austerity, cutbacks and restraint are the only thing that can keep Toronto from collapsing under the weight of its own excess.

Anyone remember New York City going bankrupt in the '70s? It most certainly CAN happen here...

Jim in Edmonton
said
0 0

With well over 100,000 Canadians out of work, I think it is an outrage that these people are striking! The unions have little left to squeeze except the public purse. Given the state of the economy and the troubles many are going through, can't these workers show a little restraint - no, they are entitled to their entitlements and thats what makes me disgusted with unions in this day and age. Shame on you!Let them stay out until hell freezes over, if they don't want their paycheck, I do.

Raymond
said
0 0

"Unfortunately, our bargaining committee has had to take a decision to take a strike to ensure that the collection agreement that has been negotiated over decades remains intact."

That's my biggest problem with unions; once they get something, they think they're entitled to it forever.
During better times, they used to get massive salary increases, and they're STILL expecting it during a harsh recession.
Times change! Be grateful to have a job instead of making greedy demands.

Marc
said
0 0

At one time unions had a place and a purpose. Not any more. It's time to get rid of unions all together. Enough is enough. Fire all of them and hire someone for $15/hour. That's all the job is worth. They collect garbage! Uninons make me sick. Get rid of them.

DocTrembly
said
0 0

FYI
Toronto paramedics ARE affected by the strike.

Not Suprised.
said
0 0

Well they need to either hand the pink slips to everyone and do a big job post. I bet theirs a lot of Canadians who would love to just have a job, get rid of these loosers and hire real people who want to put food on the table for their families and a roof over their heads. Guess I'm changing my plans this summer.

Carol Besler
said
0 0

Why is this legal? Who are these nasty stupid people who want to do things like bank sick days and keep their "seniority" when we're in the middle of a global recession. The people who pay them - we the taxpayers - should be able to vote, and I say fire them all. How dare they hold children, the elderly, the poor and others who need these services ransom for their petty, greedy demands.

Richard L. Provencher
said
0 0

I have lost all faith in unions. They care little of the people they serve; ie a picketer on the tv has a sign which reads, "We are working for you." Not true. If they were they would be thinking of the chaos of a strike on the end of school and all the family plans for holidays, of people who now have to transport garbage somewhere, of the rats and other vermin which will cause a health hazard and also of lost income for day care centres, family members who have to stay home to look after kids, etc. Time to privatize the garbage, or to remove the right to strike in such a healthful service. Think of all the infected insects which will jeaperdize people's health, and above all, imagine people striking when so many lost their jobs during this global crisis? Thumbs down to unions, who care little for those they are supposed to serve.

Steve Eros
said
0 0

Where is Ronald Reagan when you need him?

Matt
said
0 0

Of course the union waited until it will cause maximum inconvenience.

Hot so that it smells.
kids out of school, cancel their summer camp.
Halt June weddings.
Put it right at the start of tourist season.

As far as the city "playing dirty". They're barely pushing as hard as the citizens want them to.
Most citizens feel that government workers are overpaid for their position during good times. Striking demanding more, or even the status quo, while everyone else is contending with salary/benefit reductions or layoffs isn't going to help more.
I think the unions need to take a lesson from the Alberta liquor board. Hopefully the people won't accept this extortion.

izzy ottawa
said
0 0

to Greg M. well as to the relevancy if you live in other areas, I agree with you somewhat, but as Canada's largest city and considering how this will likely affect tourism, it is a big thing. sometimes it cheers me to know that the only greedy unions are not the CAW and our local Ottawa ATU bus drivers. they went on strike last Dec and were off for half of Dec over Christmas, all of Jan and half of Feb. talk about selfish. it destroyed the local economy for retail etc because alot of people could not get to the malls. everything has a domino affect. the bus strike in Ottawa was reported on here, not every day, but fairly often. if you dont like the TO news go to your local CTV link, ours is CTV Ottawa which focuses on more local issues. sometimes I like to go there to avoid having to wade through stories that dont interest me. but anything about union demands is interesting and topical these days, lets face it!

Anne
said
0 0

I think unions need a reality check. Unused sick time benefits as a cash in at retirement is ridiculous. You aren't OWED that money, just be thankful you were never sick enough to have to use it. And of course there are union workers who believe that they are entitled to those sick days every year and take them off as extra time off. "They're mine, they owe me mentality." The whole structure of sick benefits needs to be revisited in the economic outlook of today. Garbage collectors; daycare workers are essential services and should not be allowed to strike.

M
said
0 0

Toronto STINKS!!

Dave in Toronto
said
0 0

18 days a year for paid sick time? With the ability to "bank" unused days?
Unbelievable! The city should roll back these perks, especially when thay can't balance the budget! Lay off 10% of these spoiled workers...just like Chicago.

DJT
said
0 0

Dump your smelly garbage on the unions front lawn, maybe this will bring them (Unions) back to reality.

Robert Brise
said
0 0

Concessions!

Ok now is the time for the city of TO to ask the garbage workers to give up 25.00 of their wages like GM Did!!!!!!!! Or go home.
How much intelligence does it take to drive trucks and load garbage into these trucks????

CYL
said
0 0

Here we go again, the top decision makers and their henchmen get increases to cover their extravagant expenses in this expensive city, but the little man trying to make ends meet have to strike to put food on the table and get a little benefit. Better yet, all you people complaining about the strike, is it about the strike or is it the fact that you don't want to walk your garbage to the dump.

Tom who is tired of greedy uniouns
said
0 0

Greed, greed, greed!
It's time to make these services "ESSENTIAL".
Legislate them back NOW!

Brian from Burlinton
said
0 0

Unions had there day when workers were taken advantage of during the Industrial Revolution. Now they create lazy, unmotivated, greedy workers. When the rest of the world is facing job losses and cuts they want to maintain all sorts of ridiculous perks that should have never been given to them in the first place.

Look what unions did to the car industry. My wife did a summer placement with a car manufacturer and was told to slow down as she was making everyone look bad. She ended having to stretch what she said was only 2 hours of work into an 8 hour day all summer long.

I agree with the one gentleman...ban all unions and restore some common sense and efficiency to the workplaces where unions reside.

Gord
said
0 0

The theme of most of these messages is that the Unions have become evil for demanding more money & sicktime for their Members, and striking to get it. Fair enough. But that's their job to ask for more.
To THE Fatman; your comment that these workers do "far too little for far too much" is very unfair.
My wife is a City Worker (Paramedic) who does a lot more than you give her credit for. Have you any idea how many hours they work? Have you any idea how many times they will work a 12+ hour shift, WITHOUT a lunch break? Have you any idea how many important family functions she misses because she works nights, weekends, AND Holidays (like Christmas)? The old saying, "Walk a mile in someone else's shoes" certainly applies here.
I am a City employee myself, working in a different Local (not 79 or 416), and I see the Garbage collection folks slugging their butts off in all types of weather (rain, snow, hail, thunder & lightning).
Do you work in those conditions?
These people do the same work as a non-Unionized garbage collection worker, only they are better paid and have better benefits.
Good for them, that's why they work for Toronto and not Turtle Island!

Darren
said
0 0

Get ready for lots more of these type of municipal, Provincial and Federal strikes over the next few years.

So far, all job losses have been in the private sector.

Just wait until government spending cuts kick in 2 or 3 years from now. It's going to be ugly.

Governments may be spending money like drunken sailors right now, but they are going to have no choice but to cut in future.

That means pain for these government employees who think they are so special.

good job!
said
0 0

Good! I hope the workers get what the are wanting. May the strike last at least a month.....then maybe the residents will realize what they have. OH wait never mind they will call in the army.

David MacKenzie
said
0 0

This strike action by the union is completely nuts!! The whole damn lot should be fired, along with Miller, and city services should be deemed ¡°essential services¡±. These unions are pure evil and serve to perpetuate ¡°class warfare¡± that they feel exists.

Pom
said
0 0

With layoffs, cutbacks on bonuses, salaries and benefits for the rest of us, I don't think the union is going to get much public support. But the key to showing this is to manage without - don't litter, reduce waste/packaging, pack your garbage with you until you can store it/dispose of it properly. Reach out to elderly neighbours who may not be able to drive to a transfer station. Take an empty bag to your local park and take away a full bag on your next trip to the transfer station - make every trip count and think about the difference you can make to keep the city liveable. Keep your neighbourhoods clean - the union will have less bargaining power if we all manage without them and don't complain about the garbage everywhere (that we create). Think and plan ahead. Help out. I do remember how bad downtown/the retail and restaurant areas got with the last garbage strike, but I found if neighbours help each other out, it wasn't too bad where I lived.

KB
said
0 0

fire them all! I know a LOT of people (NON UNION) who would quite happily do the job(s) for a lot less money, and not even think about whining about wanting to keep the TOO MANY SICK DAYS given out now (and carried forward)!!! Wake up and take a look at today's economy and ask yourself, what am I really worth!!! and how much do I need a job!!!

L. James
said
0 0

I believe the City wanted to the workers to strike, to save millons in salaries and to hell with the public. I am tired of the media and the public thinking this is about sick days. Why would workers give up their salary and jeopordize their house, car, loan payments for more sick days? The City wants to strip them of all benefits job security. During "tough economic times" the city still increased my taxes, and want them on time. The councillors also received a nice raise in pay from $96000-99,000 just a few short months ago. Stop throwing hard working people under the bus.

Kevin in T.O.
said
0 0

How many of you in the private sector get to bank sick days when you retire? How many of you get 18 paid sick days per year? How many of you get promoted based on seniority rights rather than merit? How many of you get to dictate to your bosses when, where and how you should work?
I think I know the answer. Down with these unions once and for all.

brianm
said
0 0

I am disgusted by the union-busting crap on this message board.
Best of luck to CUPE!!!!

got it too good!
said
0 0

You know how good city workers have it when auto workers are calling in and saying that they wishing they had the same benefits.... welcome to the new economic reality!

Jay
said
0 0

L. James
I do not think thats the case at all.BOth sides need to give alot.I doubt its more then sick days could be alot more.

Adam in Mitchell
said
0 0

So now you need a place to bring your trash? Here's a solution for both the taxpayer and the union. To the hardworking, taxpaying citizen of Toronto...bring your trash to the local union headquarters and dump it on their front lawn. To you unions...there you go. Now you don't have to work as hard for your fat paychecks and banked sick days while you sit on your butts and complain about how hard your work is. Just walk off your front porch and your work is right in front of you. The taxpayers even took time from their own off-work schedule and spent their own gas money to bring it to you to help save your jobs and your wages.

Jonathan
said
0 0

I find it funny that alot of you people are complaining about the strike with union city workers. While I know striking sucks at the same time they are taking alot of FREE NON COSTLY stuff from us as well.. If the City didn't ask for the concessions we would be in this current sistuation.

You talk about high amounts of money we get paid etc.. First of all the garbage guys do not make anywhere close to $35 as one comment said. You should look at some other area like Durham Region where the garbage collecters there make more then $3/hour more and also got 3% for 3 years..

Why complain about the works who are making the city clean and functional.. Why not complain about all the $100,000+++ bosses and politicians who make way more money then anyone needs to live on.. They don't even do the work, sure they take responsibility but not $150,000-$200,000 worth..

We are in touch with the current economic times, but when the city tries to take away things that the union has worked long for that a litle to much..

On a per hour basis the City garbage collecter only make $7/hour more then the private sector guys..

If you people worked for the City I am sure you would be doing the same thing..

Gord
said
0 0

There's been quite few comments stating that "I'd work for a fraction of the money?"
So if the CItyy worker is currently being paid $30/hr., you'd work for let's say, 1/10th?
Define what you mean by a fraction of the money?

WSV
said
0 0

Best of luck guys. CUPE workers have been on strike for 9+ weeks in Windsor. The parks aren't mowed and the garbage isn't picked up but life goes on. If we can hold on so can you.

c
said
0 0

Time to call in the army again.....

EJK
said
0 0

One more reason why the city of Toronto is no longer a nice place to live. It's bankrupt and it's not hard to see why. Keep your garbage and everything else you have right there, no one else wants it.

;-)

The Widowmaker
said
0 0

Unions are so greedy. No one should be going on strike now. 10's of thousands of people are losing their jobs every month right now. Just goes to show you how selfish they are. This is directed to the LCBO workers as well.

Rose
said
0 0

These people are not thinking? Are we not in a recession ( Depression) This is world wide. This whole thing makes us Canadians look bad! What makes these people think they are worth more than the rest of us. Concerned Senior

Ivan
said
0 0

We as a society have been living beyond our means for a long time and now companies and employees in the private sector are having to adjust to new realities which has also meant giving up past gains.

IT'S TIME GOVERNMENTS AND THEIR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES AND UNIONS LEARN TO MAKE THE SAME ADJUSTMENTS ALSO !!

Don
said
0 0

Fire them all. They are going out of their way to make life difficult for torontonians by blocking access transfer depots.They won't be hard to replace. Times have changed. We've sufferred and it looks like it's time for garbage men to suffer. They are lucky to have a paying job. Lot of skills are not needed.

liz ottawa
said
0 0

personally I think garbage collection being stopped in the summer is a health issue. bad garbage sitting around can lead to epidemics through rats etc. it should be declared an essential service just because of that alone, the disgust factor aside. yes they are choosing the worst possible time just like the bus strike in Ottawa. unions are the devil lets face it. as the ATU union leader said on the media in Ottawa last December "it is about inconveniencing people". this group seems to have the same mentality. tourists wont exactly want to flock to a city teeming with stinky garbage. in this economy that shows a group with absolutely no conscience, frankly. people will lose their jobs and tons of income will be lost. they need tourist dollars in the summer. get a grip on reality! no time for greed. be reasonable.

Mach
said
0 0

Who cares... Anyone that's stupid enough to live in TO these days deserves to wade around in garbage and sweat their butts off with no pools to go to. You vote those idiots in and deal with strikes every other year and none of you does anything about, not really.

I haven't lived or been into TO in years, no plans on ever going back, why would anyone?

Have fun.

jpd
said
0 0

Banking Sick Time!!!! This is the absolutely ridiculous!!! The tax payers have been good generous enough to say if you are sick you can take days off with pay!! They are not owed to you, you get them when you need them. I am so tired of being beat up and bullied by this far left society. It is time to say enough is enough. Fire them all and hire the auto workers.

Maritimer
said
0 0

To Brian out West.
Your biggest problem is envy. It really is unfortunate that can't see that there is intellegent life outside of the West. Love it or hate it Toronto was the economic engine that ran Canada for many years and if it weren't for a inept NDP goverment a number of years ago, it still would be. Trying looking at things more objecively and you may be able to see some good in others. The bottom line is a lot of people are going to be affected by this strike.

Bill in Ottawa
said
0 0

Hamilton was once called "the Big Stink" the next few days are supposed to be 27 + degrees. Anyone for a trip to TO AKA the "new Big Stink" :-)

Chris in Toronto
said
0 0

I guess that Tax payer should be unionized as well. And the Tax-Payer-Union should also be able to call for Tax-Strike when these kind of situation happens again

Can't say or I would probably get fired!
said
0 0

I work for a union (not this one) but I am not in the union. Let me tell you we are treated so different that it would not be accepted by any union member.

We are now having things taken away from us things we have had for 12+ years. Things like the 2-3% increase, benefits, life insurance etc. It really make me laugh when a union tells their no union employees that they can't have a raise because they collect EI when laid off!!

Since when the hell should that come into play. The company doesn't pay the EI to me and they didn't seem to take issue with it before.

Unions have and waste more money than they know what to do with. Some charge mileage to come pick up their mileage cheques!! Makes me laugh. They talk about fairness and equality for all .. they should start with the very people who basically run their damn offices.

Mario Iannetta
said
0 0

This is such BS! No taxpayer funded service should have a Union of Goons..Teachers, Postal Workers, TTC, Garbage Collectors etc should be ashamed of themselves for holding the city residents, students hostage for their own greediness. Fire them all and go private! One thing to do in the meantime is to have all government workers that are unionized, have their contracts expire December 1st, this way these primadonnas will think twice about picketing in the winter and having no income for the X-MAS holidays!!

DAYBED1
said
0 0

Did the workers not learn from the last garbage strike how the city became infested with raccoons. Maybe this not matter to them and they want to increase the rat population. It is a shame how the residents of Windsor have to live among rats as big as their children. It is true that the city does spray to get rid of the rats for them to some degree. Will we in Toronto be given the same courtesy of having the city sprayed to keep the rat population under control. They have not done a thing about the raccoons except charge the residents to have them removed from their homes. We have become a city under attack and can't did our way out of this mess. I guess the workers that are striking feel this city is for the garbage anyway, why not put it all out there.

Bob,Calgary,Alberta
said
0 0

Toronto is a city that has been co-opted by left wing politicos and the public service unions are an example of that "entitlement" mentality in the public service that will eventually reach a crisis in Canada.Citizens must realize that, if large Canadian cities continue to elect mayors and alderpersons of the left wing variety the public sector unions will soon bleed us to death. The rise and the power of public sector unions in Canada is like a cancer on the body of the country. These unions have become the landed gentry of the workforce with wages, perks etc. far,far beyond anything seen in private industry. The answer is to elect city councils that have the go---s to stand up to these little tinpot dictators that run these unions. Every city in Canada should have a strategy to replace unionized workers with contracted out services which are less costly and more efficient. We have this same problem in Calgary with a Mayor and council that refuse to manage the city's finances properly and allow unions to constantly increase their power and their price.

Baker, Ottawa
said
0 0

Welcome, Toronto, to the hell that unions just put Ottawa through with the transit strike in the dead of winter.
Hope that it ends quickly...

Julia Stevenson
said
0 0

Julia
GTA

I find this action disgusting and appalling.

Just because you are employed by the government does not mean you are automatically entitled to "privileges". In fact, government workers might think about being the ones to set an example for the rest of us by making concessions. Ever heard the saying "where you lead they will follow"? You might have a lot more happy tazpayers if we actually thought you gave a damm about us.

Hmmm, just happen to call a strike when it's heating up, kids are out of school? Coincidental...please give me a break. Seems like well timed hit 'em where it hurts so we get all we want.

I've been out of a job for almost 18 months and would LOVE to do one of these jobs for a lot less than the union is demanding. In times like these those who still have a job are the fortunate ones. There are those of us who can barely make ends meet and eat on a daily basis, let alone demand ridiculous concessions to even "consider" going back to work.

Remarkable
said
0 0

This is what happens when you let the unions run the city and when you let a Mayor like Miller sit in City Hall as Toronto's leader.

If Toronto would look around to all the other municiplaties surrounding them, like York Region, Durham and Peel, they would see that most of those places allow bidding to take place by Waste Management companies to haul off the garbage from our curbs.

There is no worry about strikes or anything like that, ever. And now Toronto is going to have to sit through yet another stinky summer and hopefully that stench will reach the office of David Miller and smoke him out of his hole.

Jessica Dan
said
0 0

Greed!!! Don't unions realize the health concerns on people who have respiratory problems, like asthma and lung and heart disease affect children and adults from the affecting stench of garbage, and all they care about money?? That is shameful and greed and its disgusting!!! I say ban unions all together, get private like York Region, and they actually do the work. I have a heart condition, bad enough the air quality is bad and now this nonsense!!!! I think when it the next city election, no one vote for Miller, everytime i turn around, TTC strike, Garbage Strike, daycare strike, and it ridiculous and this is what my taxes goes towards people striking!!! Be happy you guys have a job!! My mom and some friends I know don't have jobs or struggling to pay for school and they don't have any hours, and you guys are complaining, that is pettiness!!!

Retired Soldier in Kingston, ON
said
0 0

Ahhh yes...another timely garbage strike from Toronto's CUPE / CAW,...
whatever!

The Mayor of Toronto, David Miller, Premier Dalton McGuinty and Ontario MPP's and CUPE / CAW Unions would have felt right at home in the palace of Versailles, France in 1789 .

As the population were systematically exploited for higher taxes and starved by the aristocracy and the ruling classes, the citizens forced into abject poverty and squalor and the French Revolution about to explode, the Queen of France, on being informed by her Finance Minister that the people had no bread remarked casually...
"Oh...let them eat cake!"

With the 50% pay raise MPP's awarded themselves a few years back coupled with the current outrageous CUPE union demands in the face of a devastating recession, the long-suffering taxpayers may decide that its time for a permanent change in the way this country is run!

Viva la revolution!!

Pro Patria!

GTA
said
0 0

Between the out of touch Liberals and out to lunch Unions, Toronto is living up to its reputation of being the butt-hole of Canada.

Faith in the ability to cope
said
0 0

Garbage Strike Preparations:

1. Tin cans ¨C rinse them out. Scents will attract raccoons, skunks, dogs ¨C which will rip your bags apart. Rinse/wash them out and put in a cardboard box, until the strike is over.
2. Plastic bottles/containers - rinse them out. Most of these can be taken to the recycle place. You get cash for recycling. Or rinse them out, put in a cardboard box outside and let some other person who will recyle take them.
3. Food scraps ¨C now is the time to start a compost bin. Google small home composting. You will get lots of ideas that are free or cheap. If you live in the city and don¡¯t have a garden, when the composting is ready to use, bag it and put in the garbage.
4. Newspapers, cardboard ¨C tie up one week at a time and keep in blue box until the strike is over.
5. Anything else ¨C eliminate the smell by rinsing off, and double bag.

Remember that garbage collectors are more important than hockey players!

it gonna be a hot one!
said
0 0

why is there always a garbage strike right before the sweltering heat of summer???

sounds to me like the union needs to have their trash pile up for a few weeks, better yet, find the house of the union leader and make his front yard the dump of choice in the gta!

Monique Maillard
said
0 0

I have never seen a city so united in their disgust for this union, impacting so many for the interests of a spoiled few! Get with the economic program guys and gals - You are lucky to be working at all! And to mayor Miller....Seriously more taxes, more strikes, less service, I'm moving to Pickering!

Melissa
said
0 0

This is appalling. During these economic times, they should be happy they even have jobs. I'm sure there are hundreds of men and women out there that would take these positions in a heartbeat. Some are barely able to keep a roof over their head and put food in their family's mouths and these city workers have the audacity to strike. Fire them all and give the jobs to those who are deserving and willing to work.

LF
said
0 0

Enough is enough, why are these people allowed to hold the city hostage? Unions should be banned for everyone except teachers and nurses.
I am so sick and tired of being punished for my husband and I having worked hard, graduated university and got good jobs. Why do I keep having to pay more for everything when you have all these lazy people running around the city without even caring that they don't have a job and are living off of everyone elses dollar.
I work hard for my money and they should too. Could you imagine if you tried this is a real company? Everyone would be out on their A$$'s before you could say Boo!
Be happy you have a job, because the city can hold out longer than you and you have no money.

Nonunion
said
0 0

Where is the back to work legislation? Lets hire a new group of people who really wants to work. The rest can strike all they want. Lets not stop the world spinning.

JP in Ontario
said
0 0

Attn Union Bashers:
They are not all bad...I am a member of a different union, and recently ratified a new contract...This contract was not as great as our previous one, but we didnt fight it as we knew the condition of the world market. Dont paint us all with the same brush. Torontos workers need to be reminded of what is going on with CAW workers.

Mike
said
0 0

To Gord who said
"The theme of most of these messages is that the Unions have become evil for demanding more money & sicktime for their Members, and striking to get it. Fair enough. But that's their job to ask for more."

So where does common sense come in? Don't forget, the people who are complaining are the same people who are paying the salaries of these workers. We are the ones who will be expected to pay yet even higher taxes to pay for more and more demands from the Unions who¡¯s job it is to demand more and more, while at the same time, our benefits have been cut and salaries frozen. (Yes, I¡¯m one of the lucky ones still working). Then the Union decided to "hurt" Toronto residents most by waiting for the "best time" that would most inconvenience Torontonians, just as the kids are getting out of school and the summer heat wave starts. What is even more infuriating is that it is the people who can least afford this inconvenience who will "hurt" the most and, it seems, neither the Union, nor the City seems to care.

And no, we don¡¯t believe only see one side is responsible, we are intelligent enough to know that everyone is responsible for this mess. So the question remains, who has the City's residents best interest at heart to fix it?

karl
said
0 0

What world are these lefty unions living in when they demand that workers be able to cash in unused sick days when they retire.. To start with, why are 18 sick days a year allowed, thats just criminal. Who in the private sector gets that. You wonder why we are paying more taxes and getting less services!!

Get rid of all these stupid benefits these workers get and give them a taste of real life, then give us a break on our taxes or give us better services.

In the end this strike will drag on for a few weeks and then the unions will get most of what they demand, Miller is to weak to stand up to them. Maybe now is the time to outsource these services and reduce the costs associated with them.

Maybe tax payers should have rallies against this strike, maybe tax payers organizations should arrange such rallies instead of just the rhetoric. Then tax payers can be heard and we can take the bargaining power away from these unions.

In the end the union will win and Miller will be re-elected, because us Canadians are to accommodating.

Nasty people
said
0 0

I am going to guess that there is a public garbage dump in toronto right? HELLO people bring your own damn garbage to the dump! Try cleaning up after yourselves.

Wayne Crawford
said
0 0

I was just thinking about this garbage strike, who in the end really wins,and won't this strike hurt the tourist trade that Toronto needs for jobs and other things.Maybe the mayor should resign.

Mel -downtown TO
said
0 0

Faaaaantastic. Not only are most people bummed out about personal financial situations, trying to conserve money over the summer by staying home more often. Now we have to sit in our own garbage against our will. Unions have rights blah blah blah. So does everyone else, and we shouldn't be held hostage as a third party in this dispute.

K
said
0 0

Why can't they just be happy they still have their job, when so many people are losing them?

sdgreen
said
0 0

CUPE and the rest of the Public Service unions are clearly continuing to exploit the taxpayer. All they care about is their entitlements and be damned about the ability to pay.

It is time to radically change the way we hire and pay public service workers at all levels of government. Salaries should be legislated on merit of the job rated at less than that of the private sector. Benefits need to be significantly reduced.

Public Service union demands are one of the major reasons why taxation is so high. Of course the Leftist NDP regimes are largely at fault.

Time to purge unions blackmail of government and the taxpayer.

Allan (Vancouver)
said
0 0

The beginning of Pride Week in Toronto and CUPE goes walks off the job. What a feeling of power that must be, to hold an entire city ransom and do it legally.

Shoe
said
0 0

Since they are blocking off the transfer stations, I would simply drop it off on the curb right in front of their faces and leave!!! Start building a garbage blockade for these idiots...

MJ
said
0 0

Does that mean all those trucks hauling Toronto's garbage down the 401 aren't running - way to go strikers. I can use the road more safely!

Steve in Toronto
said
0 0

Why?

Why would you block the transfer stations? If you don't want to do your job, I'll do it for you.

Enter a few choice words HERE

Survived transit strike in Ottawa
said
0 0

It's time to limit the power of unions in Canada to hurt the people who pay them. These govt. workers have it easy and so good - job security, guaranteed pensions, etc., - and they are still unhappy, still they whine. They are greedy and totally unreasonable. Fire the lot and hire those who want to work.

MJ
said
0 0

Like some of my fellow commentators let them go there are many people looking for Jobs right now. The Government has to put an END to this NO BODY SHOULD STRIKE. Government staffs are really spoiled with big PAYS & BENEFITS yet they want MORE AND MORE. They always get most HOLIDAYS and we have to carry weight. PLEASE PUT AN END TO THIS CRAP!

Arthur
said
0 0

I live in a condo. We have garbage pick-up because it is taken by private sector garbage collection. Its time to contract out garbage to private sector like we have and Etobicoke has. City unions are greedy pigs who don't give a damn about its residents.

LH
said
0 0

Well, good news, with the recession there are tens of thousands of people that would probably be more than willing to take over the jobs of the 24,000 that are striking. How about firing all the striking workers, replacing them with the non-union unemployed that were affected by the recession and Toronto can go back to having all its services without having to be held hostage by a union that obviously is oblivious to the fact that there is a recession and most people would be more than happy to take over their jobs, without union assistance. When will this end? I'm sorry but I cannot see how a strike could possibly be justified. It is time that this power of the union was removed for what should be an essential service like garbage collection. Striking in this day and age is ridiculous, unions and strikes were for times when labour conditions were inhumane, not for a time when they want sick days paid out, the rest of us don't get that. To remove this service from the people of Toronto and allow the union to once again hold the population hostage has got to stop.

Toronto - Unions Time to live in the real World
said
0 0

What a joke they are already paid 12% more than the private sector and they want more? NDP mayor dealing with Unions. Thats a Joke. Miller will give them what they want then cry to Ottawa and the province that the city is poor. Hey miller you know why the feds and province won't give this city a dime? Because they know you will squander it away then demand more.

Wages and benefits for city works must be cut! Just like the TTC workers earlier the Unions in Toronto are out of control.

Mark
said
0 0

Fire them all, break the union and hire non union staff. Just like the CAW these people are all out to lunch. We are in a very bad recession and they all need to share the pain and accept cuts

Drew
said
0 0

If this is really about sick days I don't feel sorry for them. I do well for myself and get 6 sick days and use 1 a year. The rest I lose! These people get more sick days than most get vacation!

Cathy Dulac
said
0 0

It's not easy to be sympathetic when you work hard, have no benefits and don't get paid if you're off sick. I would really like to see a comparison of how much per month garbage cost the old City of York when it was contracted out versus what it costs now.

disgruntled Canadian Citizen
said
0 0

I guess the union and it's workers don't get it - no one has extra money right now. GM workers had to take a cut in pay and just accept what was offered unless they no longer wanted a job.The cityof Toronto workers are special? Get back to work and be glad you still have something coming the bank account!! The teachers' union will be next!!

tc
said
0 0

The sick leave banking seems to be one of the major issues. At 18 sick days a year if an employee banks even half of that over a 25 year career that gives them 225 days to cash in on retirement. The problem is a lot of those days were earned when the employee made 20 bucks an hour (for example) and are cashing in at 40 bucks on retirement. Maybe they should have a limit that they can accumulate than have to cash in every few years or have it prorated so that it matches their salary when the days were accumulated.

Terri
said
0 0

Overpaid amd underworked! Time to get rid of them all!
Get a real job with 2 weeks vacation per year and 5 sick days per year, for which you use them or lose them! Time to grow up and stop acting like spoiled children! There are lots of people waiting in the unemployment lines who would jump at the opportunity of taking your jobs with a lot less perks

Cambob
said
0 0

How much $ in lawsuits would it cost to disband CUPE? The cost could probably be recouped within 10 years by using private companies.(HONEST HARD WORKING PEOPLE)

I wonder if a petition to disband CUPE, signed by 4 million people, would be enough to motivate a few high priced lawyers...

Union free Canada
said
0 0

Its time to dismantle all unions. Lets have the teachers union be first. Unions hold others hostage for their own gains. The general public is pretty much fed up with their greediness.
There was a time when they were needed but now all provinces have laws protecting workers and their working conditions.
Let's change things for the 21'st century. No more unions!
Poor Layton would have no backing.

Yolanda
said
0 0

Now it's time for people in Toronto (where I don't live, thank goodness) to consolidate their garbage. And don't mix food garbage with dry trash. Use smaller plastic bags or empty wax juice cartons for smelly food garbage and larger bags for dry trash that will never ever smell or go moldy. It's actually fun to see how much you can cram into a large garbage bag and how many weeks' worth of trash it will hold, and it'll cut down the expense of buying so many big bags. However, I'm thinking that not too many people will actually do this.

Al
said
0 0

I'm wondering when people are going to lookup the addresses of the union leaders and start dumping all their garbage on the front lawn of these mansions...

AWinnipeg
said
0 0

It is clear that Union organizations need to be regulated and their powers limited. They used to be fighting voices of the hard working people; now they are nothing but authoritarians using the hard working people as shields and pawns for their own greedy gains.

And the 'hard working' people should start using their own common sense for once, instead of blindly following where the wolves lead.

Alex (Toronto)
said
0 0

Toronto is a great city. No culturally sterile cul-de-sac suburb or podunk small town offers anywhere close to the same quality of life. Its main problem is that it's so successful that the nation and the province devolve responsibilities to the city while keeping revenue that used to pay for services.

Maybe the union isn't right here, but it makes no more sense to talk about "banning" the union than it would to talk about "banning" the city. The city represents the taxpayers and the union represents the workers doing the jobs. The constitution guarantees the right of freedom of association. Workers have the right to make contracts with their employers. Contract rights plus freedom of association equals unions. All these conservative commenters are kind of quick to throw away our fundamental rights.

Garbage collection isn't a daily essential service. We can cope for a while. Since the service is provided as a public service monopoly, the provincial government has the power to legislate back to work if the strike goes on too long.

People need to crank their sense of entitlement and outrage down a few notches. Everyone involved in the disagreement are human beings and if they don't show respect to each other, they won't find a solution. Seems obvious to me that people who are dealing with garbage will have more sick days than those of us who work in clean work environments. Mediation or arbitration may be useful approaches here.

Pasha
said
0 0

One commenter writes "Miller says this, "the city's financial circumstances, the recession, an increasing demand for city services and its limited revenues as prominent principles behind the tabled proposals." Maybe he shouldn't be bothered with projects like streetcar right of ways that save people 1 minute of time and facelifts for Nathan Phillips Square"

So, we should stop improvements to all infrastructure repairs and upgrades so that we can pay these ungrateful slugs to take a years worth of pay home with them when they retire, when at least the infrastructure work is providing jobs to the unemployed when those unemployed people would be very happy to collect garbage at $20.00 instead of collecting the pittence they get from EI or Welfare. At least the garbage men and inside workers have jobs - give your head a shake - HUGE concessions were made by the GM workers - NOBODY should be able to bank sick days to retirement. Consider working 30 years with even banking 10 days per year - that's well over a full work year - all of the mandatory holidays and weekends off - it's probably more than a year. Count your blessings and get back to work.

EMF
said
0 0

continue to be amazed by the Union attitude - the lady who responded and said - 'geeze if I didn't have the sick days 'banked' I wouldn't have been paid when I hurt my ankle'. Well my dear, there are hundreds of thousands of Canadians who aren't getting paid anything right now at all because they don't have JOBS and there are also just as many who don't have any sick benefits....my son-in-law doesn't get paid anything if he is sick even for one day - welcome to the real world.

This lovely 'la la land' created by years and years of the public and private sectors caving into unrealistic union demands is ridiculous - do they brain wash people as they join the union somehow to leave reality behind - why just because someone is in a 'union' do they believe they should get preferential treatment over the rest of the hard working Canadian workforce? My son was also a 'victim' of the last strike at York - he too lost his summer job and his dad and I now have to scramble to figure out how to pay for next year but of course - the union doesn't care about that - they are too internally focused to give a darn about the rest of the people outside the union - but we are supposed to support their unrealistic expections.

Stop your whining CUPE and take a reality pill - oh but I forgot - Union's don't have to live in reality - they have their 'safe place' to go to....sigh...wish I had that place....

One thing I DO agree with - the mayor and others who voted themselves the 8% increase - THAT should be immediately cancelled - get a grip

DAVE IN TORONTO
said
0 0

Let's get rid of Miller, get John Tory in there and lay-off all the garbage workers! Then hire private contractors to collect garbage like Etobicoke! Who gets 3 weeks sick a year? + Vacation! ++++++ It's about time this city got it's house in order!

Shawn
said
0 0

I can't believe the union actually is on strike considering how many people are struggling just to keep their jobs these days. What is more disgusting is the radio commercials I heard this weekend. They complain of the "rights" they have worked to get for so many years. Since when are such a large number of sick days a right? since when it is a right to be able to carry them over year after year until they quit or retire at which point they can cash all those days out? Since when is job security a right? I wish it was but that isn't reality. The times of unions protecting the rights of workers is long gone, now it is all about greed (workers and union leaders). I truely wish it were possible that the power of unions could be legislated. They should be there to protect real "rights" not to hold their employers (tax payers in this case) hostage to meet ridiculous demands. They have it good right now - attracting attention to a good series of benefits can't help them when so many are becoming unemployed

c leslie
said
0 0

First of all, my husband has worked for the city for 24+ years AND DOES NOT MAKE $35+ PER HOUR!!! more like $24 per hour, so get educated before you comment.

The biggest sticking point is seniority, which the city wants to take away so they can lay off the senior employees and keep junior workers. I think it's dirty pool, public sector or not

Freakout T.O.
said
0 0

"Tensions were high in T.O. city workers block garbage transfer stations"

Hello? I do understand you guys have rights to go on strike, but at least, I have a right to dump my garbage MYSELF at any transfer point the city appoints.

Please, dont abuse it, even it is a legal strike!

MAL of TO
said
0 0

Where do I apply. $15.00/hour, no benefits, no union, no sick days - I'm good with that... I'm all yours City of Toronto. And I will have absolutely no problem walking through a picket line of completely blind imbeciles that don't see that up to 25% of the country has no jobs or poor jobs. Methinks the OFL is pushing and forcing the issue to regain some of the prestige and power they lost caving in to the auto makers.

We are more than happy to sit this strike out until 2010.. try us folks, even Iggy knows how fed up we all are with anything to do with government.

beb
said
0 0

Interesting to see the views of others that are anti-union. Maybe research how the middle-class was established, then think about your rants. When the unions first started out way back then, they established the benchmark for work conditions that the non-union companies wouldn't allow, interesting,ehh..

Bob
said
0 0

I think I wood take all of my garbage and dump it off at rhe unions head office if I lived there.

Amanda
said
0 0

They have no right to block people from the dumping site, as this is open to the public for use. During this time of economic crisis especially, I think that municipal and federal workers need to remember where their pay comes from: that would be us, the taxpayers. They need stop bleeding us all dry at time when everyone else is struggling. Be thankful you have a job, and remember that when you demand a raise it comes out of our pocket. Our country is full of laws and employment standards to protect employees, but where are the laws to protect us, the citizens against the abuse of unions. Unions need to stop holding citizens hostage like militant groups in situations like these. It does nothing to help situation, the city loses more money, and no one becomes sympathetic to the cause.

d j
said
0 0

Remember who got us into this mess in the first place, private sector companies and banks. Don't take it out on city union workers just because you people are feeling the pinch when the good times are over. You could have worked for the public sector but choose the riches of the private sector over the job security of the public sector and now your losing.

dj

Si Berien
said
0 0

Outlaw unions. Fire all union members.

Let people who WANT to work have a job

Seeing the forest for the trees
said
0 0

I assume everyone here posting comments is a working shmoe like me. I will say this: this new trend of contracting out jobs to pay people less will eventually funnel down to your industry and you will eventually recieve less benefits yourself. Our whole standard of living and working ethic will fall to an all-time low---just like the third world nations who operate in a similar manner of contracting out jobs to pay people less. These type of societies have such a huge stratification between the rich and poor, I imagine those writing these posts, when we get to that stage, wont have the time to post anymore, because they'll be fired....good job!

Sheila
said
0 0

Sick time is a negotiated benefit in lieu of pay. Whether one uses their sick time throughout their career over 25 years or saves it up and uses it at the end makes no difference. It is something these workers negotiated into their contract, instead of getting paid more, that the city agreed to and now they are trying to take it away. They could have negotiated for higher wages instead. The city would have a hard time having anyone agree to a pay cut. The same people that are trying to take away this benefit from the city workers had no problem voting for their own 8% raise. Who gets an 8% raise these day? Only those who can vote for their own. It's typical hypocritical Toronto City Council. We in London pay WAY more taxes than those in Toronto, and we are tired of hearing how bad Toronto has it and how the province should give Toronto more money than other cities in Ontario.

Toronto should start to pay for their own services, and have some respect for the workers that are out there slugging your garbage on the hottest, steamiest, stinkiest days and the coldest, snowiest, most frigid days. Yes, we're in a recession, but if the council is really concerned about not raising taxes, the first step should be giving back their 8% raise, then maybe negotiate with other departments to make some fair cuts as well. Or do like London - raise the taxes anyway.

Holly
said
0 0

Oh please, Maritimer, those of us who love living in western Canada are in no way jealous of Toronto or any other place in eastern Canada, get real. This is just a big news item because it's Toronto. If it happened somewhere in the Maritimes or Saskatchewan, CTV or CBC wouldn't care all that much and this comment board wouldn't be filling up fast.

Matt
said
0 0

The recent strikes, first in Windsor and now in Toronto, certainly underscore the out of touch mentality of the public service unions.

In windsor the strike, now in its 11th week, is primarily about protecting the pensions and benefits of FUTURE workers. Yes thats right....its about workers that are not yet members of the union and not even employees of the city. This is about "yet to be hired" people. The long and short is the people of Windsor are to the point of telling the union to go pound sand....and rightly so.

In Toronto the CUPE union is on strike about job security, seniority and scheduling. Union members are also fighting proposed changes to workers' sick-day plan. Currently workers are allowed to bank sick days and cash them out when they retire.

Job security?.....really....welcome to the real world folks. Seniority?.....you have been a trash collector for 20 years and that makes you what?......let me guess.....Scheduling?.....you have to pick up garbage from Monday to Friday during the daylight hours..and this is a problem?

Sick leave.....I don't work because I am sick, I don't get paid....unless of course I buy suplimental insurance to cover me if that is the case....perhaps the over paid union hacks should just pay for the their short term disability insurance like most of the rest of the country has to. Your option really.

Toronto....don't cave in.....let the strikers rot on the picket lines.

Mike
said
0 0

Let them picket and walk around in the hot sun or blinding rain, and I hope people dump their smelly rotten garbage right along the length of their picket lines. Striking during this economic downturn is unwarranted.

Mario
said
0 0

I agree with "ry in the hammer" Fire them all and sign a contract with a third party vendor who would be more than willing to offer the same or better services at a better rate to tax payers. With all the auto workers laid off im sure there wont be a shortage of people lining up for those jobs

Newt
said
0 0

If you know a Toronto City worker please feel free to deposit your garbage on that person's front lawn tonight. Pass this message along and we'll have an end to this very soon.

gh
said
0 0

Banking sick days & cashing out for cash at retirement...

What a pant load!

Only civil servants would think that is OK, they should all be fired now & replaced with people who are willing to work & work hard.

Kris
said
0 0

They have the right to strike. They do not have the right to block people's access to public dumps.

maggie
said
0 0

Everyone refers to the picketers and unions as if they're not human. These are people standing up for their rights (benefits and fair working conditions). People with families!

These people look after your children, they respond to your emergencys call(may even save your life one day, yep ambulance is on strike too), and keep your neighbourhoods clean. Lets give them some respect.

P. Long
said
0 0

It's hilarious how many of you complain about a union doing this during a recession, when it's the private sector / market folks you all support that caused this damn recession in the first place. I suggest taking your anger out on them, instead of being so predictable and lashing out at union workers who had nothing to do with bankers screwing us all.

HEJ
said
0 0

If the service provided by these union members is half as valuable as they claim it to be, why then is the withdrawl of these services not enough? Why the need to obstruct people that are showing they can get along just fine without them - never mind, I think I just answered my own question.

Angie - Markham
said
0 0

Paramedics deserve every penny. Why are they part of this union anyway?

jw
said
0 0

Mark, I agree with you.
Lets hire non-union staff

unionized worker
said
0 0

I'm so tired of reading comments about getting rid of the unions. I am a unionized employee and I work in long-term care not in Toronto. City employees are always being called LAZY etc. I make a good wage and work hard at my job. I don't think the working man caused this recession however we are expected to give up what has taken years to get. As far as the sick time is concerned I get 18 days a year that I can carry over to retirement however we are paid out half. I don't have short or long term disability. I would love all the fat cats who caused this recession return all their bonuses

Ronald
said
0 0

Break the greedy terrorist unions. They are holding innocent Toronto taxpayers hostage. Contract the work out to non-union people who don't have an attitude of entitlement. All unions in Canada should be banned. Canadians have had enough of this crap.

Harry Scarry
said
0 0

During a recession, can anyone really complain about having a job, whether it is full-time or not? Give me a break! Do you really think pissing off the rest of Toronto's residents is going to help your cause?

City workers are overpaid. I say replace them if they are going to whine and cause our city to malfunction and be grimy.

Farm Boy
said
0 0

Thank you Prof. Pye Chart. I like what you say and always enjoy your read.

I agree with you all the way on this one.

Dunny from Manotick
said
0 0

Toronto gets the government it deserves. Toronto is responsible for electing a mayor that is poorly equiped to handle this situation and that goes for Dalton McGuilty too. It's going to get stinky, then the rats will come, then disease. Torontonians will all be praying for a conservative approach in short order.

Mar
said
0 0

To Gord:
Sorry, I do not feel sorry for the garbage workers slogging in the rain, or the hours a paramedic works...they chose this profession, if you don't like the hours then why do you stay? Everyone knows that garbage men collect no matter the weather and paramedics, nurses etc work crazy shifts, but I did work in a hospital and also know that then they get a number of days off in a row to compensate, its not like they work 12 hours shifts every single day without any time off.

And to those that commented that people are mad cause they have to go to the dump for their garbage and don't want to, well why should they want to??? They pay taxes and part of those taxes are to provide curbside garbage pickup, we pay for it so we should get it! These are jobs paid for by the public, they should not be allowed to strike. And its made even worse by the timing of this and the fact that its a recession, we all have to take cuts, why shouldn't those paid for with OUR tax dollars have to have a cut too?? And paid/banked sick days...seriously? That is insane.

Forest
said
0 0

Fire the lot,contract out & save money.

PT.
said
0 0

Fire the greedy bunch & hire contractors

AJ
said
0 0

If miller had any brains he'd simply ignore CUPE... Get a court order for the strikers to stay away from the property(s) and not to impede traffic at the transfer stations...and hire on some of the Unemployed people looking for work as Replacement workers...

Cheaper Cost... City would stay clean, services would get taken care of and the union would crumple on their strike pay! Heck im sure some summer students would love to make some coin this summer

Bill in Moose Jaw
said
0 0

Worst recession in 75 years. Let's go on strike! Smart idea unions. Time to take it all private.

Sammy
said
0 0

"Gord

There's been quite few comments stating that "I'd work for a fraction of the money?"

So if the CItyy worker is currently being paid $30/hr., you'd work for let's say, 1/10th?
Define what you mean by a fraction of the money?"

How about 3/4 of the salary?

That's a fraction isn't it?

How about 1/2? Get real Gord, write some sense.

Matt
said
0 0

Are they illegally blocking access to the garbage transfer stations?

If so, arrest them for trespassing.

Maybe some citizens should blockade, sorry I mean "protest", the union presidents house and see how he likes it.

Evan C from Regina
said
0 0

I'd be more inclined to compassion if the union was not doing this on a yearly/bi-yearly basis as they seem to do lately. I don't live in Toronto, but am tired of hearing every year that the citizens are relegated to wallowing in their own trash every time the union wants a wage hike. Despicable, especially in these hard economic times. Pure greed, especially knowing that their services are essential and that the city will pay just about anything to get them back on the job.

There are only two courses of action that can be taken: declare them an essential service with legislation that will prevent them from striking at whim, or fire the lot of them and privatize. As for a temporary solution...how bout you hire those unlucky enough to keep their jobs through the recession to do the tasks that these people require so much money to do. Hell, they'de be happy just to get a paycheck!!!

unemployed
said
0 0

Get back to work, boys & girls. Be thankful you have a job! There are many who would love to replace you. maybe you should all be fired, and give your jobs to someone who needs it.

Bob
said
0 0

main issues seem to be: job security, seniority, scheduling, and sick days.

I have a quick, easy solution: Fire them all, and hire those currently on EI.

There's no such thing as job security anymore folks! Deal with it!

Marg
said
0 0

The city needs to provide the services that the tax-paying public are paying for. City council didn't hesitate to give themselves a raise so now it's time they acted, in good faith, to allow their city workers the same consideration. As for the public dumping garbage - grow up! You are only hurting your own community. No one gains anything during a strike so, come on city council, step up to the plate and get our city workers back on the job where they want to be! Or, are you trying to save the money, on the backs of your unionized workers, that the Feds aren't able to give you?

zwinky
said
0 0

I used to work in a CUPE position in a small Alberta city and while our contract allowed us to bank sick days (up to a certain maximum number) there was no payout upon termination.

Sick leave is intended to be an insurance policy to protect workers from undue financial suffering if they become ill.

To have banked sick time become a cash cow at the end of employment is expensive insanity!

Even though I would describe myself as a union supporter I have to say this ridiculous clause should be removed from the contract as a no-brainer way to save huge dollars without any real detriment to the workers.

Keith
said
0 0

These are public employees. I think it is time to make all public sector union agreements public. Pay rates, vacation, pension, health and dental benefits etc. and then compare them to the national average.

VIP
said
0 0

Fire them all. Public servants have safe cushy jobs and should be essential services without the right to strike. They should know that they can be replaced almost overnight with a far more efficient private sector service.

JAG
said
0 0

I survived a 33% pay decrease while paying union dues 12 years ago. It seems that unions have had there day in the sunshine. Lets put up the obit notice and bury them for good!

A. Krutak
said
0 0

This is ridiculous. I see the benefits of unions, but I also see the stupidity in greed. Keep your unions but be reasonable. I know many people who would love your job and would do it for a lot less money. In this economy, don't bite the hand that feeds.

Braden Morrison (Toronto)
said
0 0

I would love to have 18 paid sick days a year and be able to bank them year after year. I just lost my job where we received 0 paid sick days. I think these workers are spoiled. Fire them all. I'll gladly work for the wages and benefits the city is offering.

VIP
said
0 0

this is for Ry in the Hammer.
You're forgetting that parts of Toronto before amalgamation had private garbage collection that was very efficient, both in service and cost. David Miller decided to spend your tax dollars to buy out their contracts in order to turn everything over to his unionized buddies. That's what you're getting now.

C Eales
said
0 0

Shame on the city workers, and the mayor for allowing this to happen. During these hard economic times, with the large number of people who have lost their jobs, why do city workers feel like they are exempt from everything that's happening? They should be happy to be employed. There are a lot of people out there that would love to have their jobs! Most companies are cutting back these days. Why doesn't the city? Mayor Miller and city councillors, it's time you stand up for the residents and taxpayers of this city. LCBO is next.

Bosco
said
0 0

What do you expect, you can't go to a transfer station without being made to sit in line or deal with the pickets, I say dump it at Nathan Phillip Square. I am so sick of the nonsence at City Hall, taxes are way up, plus sir charges for everything and the service is garbage. Now, they want me to keep the garbage in my garage, sorry Comrade Dave, I'm going to get rats on my property. There is enough of them at City Hall.

Ed L
said
0 0

If you live in the west end, cross the Humber and put your garbage in an Etobicoke bin. We have contracted-out garbagemen - belonging to the Teamsters union - who do a fine job. if you're in the north, cross Steeles - similar story. In the east, put it in Pickering. That leaves downtown, where the loony leftist wingnuts keep making sure that incompetent wackos like Miller get elected. Let them enjoy the garbage. They're already full of it.

Mike
said
0 0

I have no sympathy for workers who vote to strike in the midst of a recession. I think it would make more of a statement to drop your garbage off at the CUPE Locals 79 and 416 or better yet at the members' homes. After all it was they who exercised their vote to strike.

Chanel
said
0 0

Its a selfish strike. These people are demanding more money in a time when people are getting laid off with no serverance pay. These are essential jobs, and they should feel lucky to be still employed in todays day and age. Blocking dumping areas makes us unsymapthetic towards your plight, which is becoming quite clear that nobody is on the unions side. Unions never think of their workers, just the management and the unions heads. Get back to work! Do you want Toronto to turn into a Bio hazard area?