Calgary News Watch

It began before it went National back in 2001. Last year, over 38,000 people participated.

Sunday, June 3^rd, marked the beginning of this year’s week long challenge. Commute. Put your shoes on the pedals; take public transportation; or just hitch up your shoe laces and walk.

This kicks off Canada’s Environment Week.

Last year’s results with 38,000 participants equaled the usage of 704 less cars for an entire year. Read the rest of this article »

Commuters can release the breath they’ve been holding since the talks between Calgary and the transit union began to get nasty. Union members voted 69% to accept the city’s last minute deal.

In perhaps what is a fitting finale for this upheaval, Mayor Dave Bronconnier described the majority of the union members (1,464 voted) were in support of the deal which offered a 12% pay raise. He also points out that perhaps the bus and the C-Train drivers didn’t really want to strike after all.

“I don’t believe our employees really wanted to go on strike – they wanted a fair settlement and they got one.”

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The fallout from the bitter transit union and the city of Calgary is just beginning to hit. Morale for union workers with city contracts is at an all time low.

Union leaders have watched the past goings on with the transit union and it doesn’t bode well. The city is currently or will be negotiating an additional four contracts.

While the firefighters aren’t allowed to strike, they’re been without a contract and the city is set to begin negotiating with the paramedics on Monday. The paramedics are not considered essential to the city; they could call for a strike. Read the rest of this article »