OC Transpo Strike January 2009 Video for Public/Strikers

[lostinlifeforever9]

i blame both union and drivers.

the union because....well... if you watch the news it's self explainitory . And the drivers because they are the ones that give the union the power they need to do what they are doing. with out the support of there members this strike would not have happened nor would it have dragged on for as long as it has.

i feel for those drivers that didn't want to strike but got dragged with it. it seems they need to speak up and make some much needed changes.

[makinawdandy6699]

The people who ride the bus are generally the working poor, the elderly etc. They are the people who got hurt by this. Talked to a taxi driver the other day. He told me about all the working poor people who had to take taxis who couldn't afford it. I heard about old ladies walking in minus 30 degree temps to see their doctors etc. That is what I will remember. I will never forget it.

[bir2187]

City should just privatize public transit... They wouldnt have this problem then, if th eprivate company has a strike, they just get someone else...

[AtraLuna]

But wouldn't that take months to implement anyway? Obviously, it's too late to say this, but I really think Ottawa should've gotten a subway system a long time ago, it just seems more efficient.

[777Diem777]

It's time for the people of Ottawa to rise up and revolt!! Mon Jan 26th Parlament Hill

[Patrick0076]

Yeah they do but they want him gone now too , they all say he's an idiot (Cornellier) Useless idiot !!! Damm i hate him !!!

[steves308]

you do realise that its illegal to take out anything from the contract. if you actually think that its true, well ur the dumb ass

[bigguyfilms2008]

There is no contract right now! They are negotiating a new one and we all know things go up and down when it comes to that.

[steves308]

I know they're negotiating a new contract. but when the employees got forced to vote, atu 279 has to show the full contract and not parts of it. So as i said before, if atu 279 would remove content from the contract, for employees to see, it would be illegal

[bigguyfilms2008]

Someone informed me of the following wityh regard to the question above: They do elect and because of this we are seeing the results

[Patrick0076]

IDZIT Dammit you ppl are so DUMB my father works as a driver there and ITS THE DAMN UNION THAT IS MAKING Them go on strike !!! They presented a FALSE Offer modified by THEM all of the bad none of the good was shown !!! So blame the UNION not the drivers for god's sakes !!! GRRRRRR

[bigguyfilms2008]

Don't the drivers elect the union representatives?

[canucktunes]

This all makes me wonder if the feds should just take over the O-train project and set up a intercity, inter provincial commuting system. :-/

[ubourgeek]

So much for appealing to common sense and dignity. Now the union will have to pay the price for their communist ideals and be legislated back to work.

The poooor babes - getting paid more than a police constable is soooo bad.

Commie saps...

[makinawdandy6699]

I say we hold a citizen's protest.  We should protest with the aim to FIRE THE DRIVERS.

[blueroom79]

A strike should be used in only dire circumstances such as harsh working conditions. It should not be used as a bargaining mechanism. No one gets to pick their schedule these days. I think its time they declare OC Transpo an essential service.

If you don't like your job, then find another one. If you cant find one, then go back to school and upgrade your skills, but don't punish everyone else. OC Transpo workers make 2-3 times as much as any other type of driver (truck, taxi, etc)

[NutMeg2]

VOTE NO. You will be declared an essential service, and never be allowed to strike again :)

[a9059]

i SOOOO hope this happens lmao

drivers vote no and the city makes the service essential the next day

drivers will be forced to go bak to work without a single penny increase on their wages haha watta big middle finger to the face :P

[danw087]

they voted no... CURSES!!!

[bigguyfilms2008]

I guess they don't need the money right now?

[idzit]

As a student, I am completely outraged. For the OC Transpo employees who have children at university, I hope they resent you and aren't speaking to you, b/c you deserve it. I have to walk for nearly an hour to get to my minimum-wage job. For those who follow blindly the lying, scheming and brainwashing union, you probably all have cars, so you don't care what happens to everyone else because you're selfish. The union is getting paid no matter what, so they don't care how long it takes.

[2009MikeMatthews]

I am a supporter of the Union.. What Larry O'Brian did was wrong, instead of trying to take it back to the tables, this vote today is not about what the city is offering, but about, do you want a union, or you don't want a union..and that is all what this vote is about..

[alantmac]

nice try with the "blame it on the man" argument, in this case Mayor O'Brien. This is one issue that City Council is backing the Mayor, a rare event. So much for trade unions looking after the working class, they are the ones affected the most, not the SUV driving Barrhaven types.

[HindaHiks]

I am a student as you know students are always poor, I couldn't go to work in December thanks to you and I have limited OSAP :(... I walk to Ottawa U to catch the shuttle bus to University it takes 1.00 hr to get there , n the shuttle gets late too. overall I waste 3 hrs just commuting. :'( please sir don't you have Children who are going to school/ university :(

[lecture101]

Get back 2 work you bums!!! Your all over paid!! You drive a freakin bus... lol if I had my way I would fire you all. Youre a public servant, serve your public, servant!!!

[lildevillaya]

VOTE YES!! I need to get to work your hurting us all! Be glad your in a union but don't rub it in no job is perfect and never will be!! help your community vote yes please!!!:)

[lildevillaya]

Please vote yes I can't get to work and my grandma depended on the bus since her husband passed away this last year! how can you do this to people in ottawa? what you give goes around! Look at it from the city's perspective its more efficient things will run smoother! Why are you so against your own community! Transpo should be essential! I am so saddened by people! They should hire new buses!!

[redline101]

^^ and thats why you are a retard. Be greatful you work in that garage and get the pay you do, does it matter to you how the city uses their money? OR how much your pay is at the end of the month? This deal has nothing to do with the "new management" you claim.. So what's the real reason you vote no? Because you're the lonely mechanic that has no other choice but to listen to the UNION. Rethink your vote Buddy.

[Erniesbakery]

I will Vote No, It is not a fair deal. The City did not negotiate the whole contract. There is a bribe of $2500, LTD and a block schedule deal. What happened to the rest of negotiations. The City flushed it down the toilet. I am a trade worker and my demands have not been mentioned or negotiated in this deal. A $25 increase in a tool allowance is not a deal. Take the schedule off the table, finish the negotiating and get us back to work.

[Erniesbakery]

I will be voting NO, I am a mechanic, and the City is refusing to even negotiate with us. We have some demands that need to be dealt with. But the City decided to make an offer without completing the negotiations. They say they have been negotiating for months, I would say days. They did not meet through the summer or before the summer.

I would like them to put the scheduling aside, finish negotiations, get us back to work and then meet again to work out the scheduling.

[veerbros]

I am voting No and the reason is the new management has been in control for only 3 1/2 years and have made many mistakes. (Buses, transfer machines, runs, and programs offered employees to better themselvs which end up doing nothing) A lot of bad busses have been bought @ taxpayers expense and I work in the garage and no to many mistakes and little time to fix busses and instead of hiring they are contracting it out and comin back double the cost if we fixed it and not cheap parts that rebreak.

[PhatChick722]

Alain Mercier you did a wonderful job! You get em back to work buddy! :D

[sketchley80]

Shame on you for striking first of all - for taking your issues with the city out on your riders. I once respected OC Transpo greatly - you have lost all of my respect...and so much of the public's respect. Take the offer - stop being greedy. No one owes you a job - grow up and behave like adults once and for all. The amount of damage done to OC Transpo's integrity is incalculable. I hope you don't assume we will all come running to take your buses when this is all over...