Calgary Transit strike impending?

[Roadrage]

Originally posted by 4DoorGTZ

Trust me I know the insides and outs of the whole system. Yes the taxpayer is not getting their money's worth. But SILLY HALL and CT mgmt need to revamp the whole system or just pay up and keep with the status quo.

Just wondering...you work or worked at city hall to know the ins and outs? Anyways...how are you going to "revamp the whole system" if the union won't obviously agree...except with more money and benefits?

Again I ask...why should the union or anyone be guaranteed a raise no matter what?

[Xtrema]

Originally posted by Roadrage
Again I ask...why should the union or anyone be guaranteed a raise no matter what?

They shouldn't. But if Aldermen are giving themselves a 10% raise in a year and deny their underlings a 15% in 3 years, guess what will happen?

It's also Bronco's fault for firing the CEO that stands up to him. We now have no check and balance in shitty hall. Everyone just spends, spends and spends. When you don't have enough, come out and bitch at premier not giving us the allowance.

Bronco is the problem, just that most people don't see it that way.

[Gravy_83]

so how does it stand right now??? strike imminent or not??? Can't get to SAIT on foot from Lake chaparall hahah shit.

[jay42w8]

Monday May 7

[Gravy_83]

what??? seriously....well I guess I'm not going to sait then fuckin bunch of whiners and complainers

[jay42w8]

yeah strike vote is this thursday nite....then the strike begins in 72 hours...its a for sure thing, AS IF the majority of the union is NOT gonna vote to strike

[Gravy_83]

so does that mean like no service at all....how do they expect people to get all across town. calgary municipal government sucks balls...they only cater to the rich

[D'z Nutz]

This sucks, but if they strike, atleast I can work from home. This will be the closest I'll ever get to showing up on the job in my underwear

[jay42w8]

they said something about SOME supervisors working....don't know what....and downtown will be a nightmare...so many workers won't be able to work...there's NOT even enough parking spaces downtown...this is gonna be fuked up

[DayGlow]

Originally posted by Roadrage


Just wondering...you work or worked at city hall to know the ins and outs? Anyways...how are you going to "revamp the whole system" if the union won't obviously agree...except with more money and benefits?

Again I ask...why should the union or anyone be guaranteed a raise no matter what?

are they asking for a raise? They are asking that the increase matches the inflation of the city. Is it wrong to expect that the amount of money you make in 3 years is worth the same as it is today?

[Bigwave]

Originally posted by DayGlow


are they asking for a raise? They are asking that the increase matches the inflation of the city. Is it wrong to expect that the amount of money you make in 3 years is worth the same as it is today?

I totally agree. The transit workers wouldn't even be getting a raise at 5% per year, they'd actually be losing money since inflation is over 6% in Calgary.

Mayor Bronco better get his head out of the sand and realize whats going to happen.

The alderman seemed to NEED, and gave themselves a 10% raise this year if I remember correctly....so why is it ok for them and not the other city employees?

I am, and will back any worker that fights for the right to keep up with inflation in this city.

[Roadrage]

Originally posted by Bigwave


I totally agree. The transit workers wouldn't even be getting a raise at 5% per year, they'd actually be losing money since inflation is over 6% in Calgary.

Mayor Bronco better get his head out of the sand and realize whats going to happen.

The alderman seemed to NEED, and gave themselves a 10% raise this year if I remember correctly....so why is it ok for them and not the other city employees?

I am, and will back any worker that fights for the right to keep up with inflation in this city.

I too would back a worker that fights to keep up with inflation...if they deserve it. My question was why should they be guaranteed one without any reprocussions or ways to justify it (I highly doubt everyone in Calgary deserves a inflation increase just because of inflation). Think of the imbecile that works with you in the next cubicle/office over.

City Hall can vote themselves a raise but they do also have to run in an election again every few years and could possibly lose his/her job if they perform poorly. Union drivers are almost impossible to repremand let alone terminate for poor performance/attitude.

[Bigwave]

Originally posted by Roadrage


I too would back a worker that fights to keep up with inflation...if they deserve it. My question was why should they be guaranteed one without any reprocussions or ways to justify it (I highly doubt everyone in Calgary deserves a inflation increase just because of inflation). Think of the imbecile that works with you in the next cubicle/office over.

City Hall can vote themselves a raise but they do also have to run in an election again every few years and could possibly lose his/her job if they perform poorly. Union drivers are almost impossible to repremand let alone terminate for poor performance/attitude.

I understand what you're saying, but I'm a little unclear as to why you think they don't deserve it. For all I know the transit employees work a lot harder than we think. Sure they just drive around, but I'm guessing the busses\trains that are filled to the rafters, and the traffic that's been a big issue in this city aren't easy on the worker in terms of stress.

Those guys\gals have a lot of peoples lives in their hands all day long, and with that a lot of responsibility on their shoulders which equals high stress.

I don't see why they don't deserve to keep up with inflation. Pretty soon we'll lose lots of those drivers if the city doesn't step up to the plate and realize that a large portion of them could make just as good, if not better money driving gravel trucks in the oil sands etc.

Then what will the city do.....Over work the ones that stay? (Sounds like an issue already from what I've heard from some of them.)

[DayGlow]

Originally posted by Roadrage


I too would back a worker that fights to keep up with inflation...if they deserve it. My question was why should they be guaranteed one without any reprocussions or ways to justify it (I highly doubt everyone in Calgary deserves a inflation increase just because of inflation). Think of the imbecile that works with you in the next cubicle/office over.

City Hall can vote themselves a raise but they do also have to run in an election again every few years and could possibly lose his/her job if they perform poorly. Union drivers are almost impossible to repremand let alone terminate for poor performance/attitude.

but that imbecile has the right to march into is bosses' office and demand that increase.

CT is doing the same, the difference is that the workforce is organized and doing it in unison. The result is that they have much more clout.

[4DoorGTZ]

Originally posted by Roadrage


Just wondering...you work or worked at city hall to know the ins and outs? Anyways...how are you going to "revamp the whole system" if the union won't obviously agree...except with more money and benefits?

I cant speak to the wage negotiations, I'm not connected to silly hall but CT itself. And As I've typed a few paragraphs out of emotion I deleted them in the interest of not sparking any drawn out complaint post.

Put it this way, I dunno how but the place needs to be run like a private company, from hiring/firing, preformance reviews/raises, to purchasing and maintenance the place is a giant money pit. I'd say a third of the problem is the union and all the ineficiencies it brings and the other 2/3 is upper management's and the way they run... if they can save $0.01 today and get a promotion tomorrow who cares if that decision costs $0.50 next year, they'll be eleswhere earning more money when the bubble bursts.

[Roadrage]

Originally posted by Bigwave
I understand what you're saying, but I'm a little unclear as to why you think they don't deserve it. For all I know the transit employees work a lot harder than we think. Sure they just drive around, but I'm guessing the busses\trains that are filled to the rafters, and the traffic that's been a big issue in this city aren't easy on the worker in terms of stress.

Those guys\gals have a lot of peoples lives in their hands all day long, and with that a lot of responsibility on their shoulders which equals high stress.

I don't see why they don't deserve to keep up with inflation. Pretty soon we'll lose lots of those drivers if the city doesn't step up to the plate and realize that a large portion of them could make just as good, if not better money driving gravel trucks in the oil sands etc.

Then what will the city do.....Over work the ones that stay? (Sounds like an issue already from what I've heard from some of them.)

I never said they didn't deserve it. I just don't think ALL of them deserve it. Do you honestly think they ALL deserve a raise? I also never said they didn't deserve to keep up with inflation...as long as they earned it and not just because they are on the payroll or part of a union.
Let me ask you this...your the manager/owner and you have an employee working under your supervision yet who is not performing to your expectations or doing the bare minimum...you going to give that person a 6% raise each year just because of inflation? What about the other employee who's performed above expectations...he/she should get the exact same raise? Where's the incentive to do better?

[jay42w8]

Originally posted by Roadrage

I never said they didn't deserve it. I just don't think ALL of them deserve it. Do you honestly think they ALL deserve a raise? I also never said they didn't deserve to keep up with inflation...as long as they earned it and not just because they are on the payroll or part of a union.
Let me ask you this...your the manager/owner and you have an employee working under your supervision yet who is not performing to your expectations or doing the bare minimum...you going to give that person a 6% raise each year just because of inflation? What about the other employee who's performed above expectations...he/she should get the exact same raise? Where's the incentive to do better?

lol...its a union..that is the whole point...its like a mini socialist commune ...just be greatful that Alberta is not a union stronghold..go to BC, there is major strike by some group every year...one year its nurses, next year its teachers, next year its ferry workers, next year its busses, next year its garbage collectors...I'm not even exaggerating here

[TimG]

who's up for some union busting?

I couldn't stand all the unions in BC. When I would walk into the secretary's office when their break was about to start and ask them a question that just needed a yes or no answer i got the stare of death. Whenever I asked them to do something it was like pulling teeth. Then there were the guys in the machine shop who took 4 months to build me a metal box and I wasn't allowed to use any of the shop tools myself because that would have made it a union job blablabla

. to unions

[codetrap]

Some interesting reading..

Highlights of the Bargaining.. April 27

City's Analysis Clicky

ATU's website.. Clicky

I wasn't able to find an online copy of the ATU's offer.. only the city propoganda.. if anyone has it, or can find it, that'd be good to provide the alternative view.

[Super_Geo]

Originally posted by codetrap
Hightlights of the Bargaining.. April 27

Someone please tell me why the drivers are bitching when they would be getting paid $59,155/year to drive a C-Train or $55,806/year to drive a bus.

Sure, $38,604/year isn't much for a shuttle bus driver... but you're definately not starving, and actually I believe that's above the national average for salaires. For a shuttle bus driver with a high school diploma.

Sorry folks, not everyone can paid like doctors.