Calgary Transit Strike - Who is going to suffer?
May 6th, 2007 posted by BikiThe Calgary City and its Transit workers are going for talks, but the tension is still looming, as the city now wants power to lock them out. The Calgary city municipal board applied to the Alberta Labor Board for the lock out power ability. If this happens it will be an unusual move for the municipal board of Calgary.
According to Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier this power seeking action is to protect the city in case of any problem caused by transit workers. Bronconnier said:
“The city is looking at a number of contingencies and we’ll be bringing them forward next week, as we’ve heard, certainly from the union president, he’s determined to make this as inconvenient for Calgarians as possible, with rotating strikes.”
The move comes as a result of last Thursday’s vote. The Transit Union voted and a strike was favored over any other move by the voting. Transit union president Mike Mahar is aware of the happenings and is not so worried about the move that he described as obvious.
“I’m not really surprised — they’re not overly concerned about the damage. I don’t think they would use it prior to (strike action), that would be political suicide, but you never know with these guys — they’re reckless.” Mahar said.
Both of the parties are busy planning for the next move. As a Calgary citizen you will come to know about it in about 72 hours, as there will be a notice of the action before this time is up.
84.3% of the participating voters voted in favor of the strike. But the voters numbers was less. Only 59% of eligible union members of transit workers participated in the voting.
In that situation we, the residents are going to suffer. Both of the parties should think about the public. Shouldn’t they? They can apply some other type of move. Can’t they?
News Source: Calgary Herald and Calgary Sun
May 9th, 2007 at 1:59 pm
Who will suffer?
The general public will suffer, whether they use transit to get around or whether they drive. In addition to the basic inconvenience is the stress of worrying over the logistics of simply getting to work.
Transit workers will suffer, both through trying to make ends meet during a strike and as the public face of an organization that has roused the ire of the people of the city.
The negotiators (on both sides) will suffer, as they will have to bear the responsibility should negotiations break down again.
The City will suffer, both from the negative press generated by any such strike, and from the comments and votes of irate citizenry.
In short, everyone in Calgary will suffer, and in fact already is. The time consumed discussing this issue is bleeding productivity away from businesses across the city. The stress of this issue is sufficient to affect the health of some.
The sooner this is solved, the sooner we can all get back to our normal lives.
May 10th, 2007 at 8:22 am
Good comment. Completely agree with you. In easer case general public will suffer.
May 12th, 2007 at 10:02 pm
[…] with two stubborn sides insisting that the other is in the wrong. Unfortunately, it will be the citizens who will pay should these two not get together in the near […]
May 17th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
I am at a loss to understand why Edmonton transit and Lethbridge transit do not have a problem with their workers. They are never so much a I have heard been without a contract. I think that the transit workers in these cities have a much better working relationship with their transit unions than Calgary has with their transit workers. I think that the city and the union should work towards building a better working relationship with each other and the time to start is now.
May 18th, 2007 at 6:38 pm
Simple Edmonton gets a decent wage and never has to fight for it, unlike in Calgary where city hall doesn’t know how to balance a budget unless they increase taxes. In Edmonton shuttle bus drivers can get paid up to 21 an hour , Calgary the same job pays 14.85, with a big proposed increase to 17 woo hoo!Cardinal and Southland school bus drivers have been making 19 bucks an hour for the last year! Whats the matter with the management of this city? No wonder their so short staffed its not rocket science!
May 27th, 2007 at 10:28 am
very cool and useful info
May 30th, 2007 at 8:31 pm
Sorry, but I think you might be a little confused.
A part-time Southland driver makes $12/hour on a loaded bus… as indicated on their website.
Emonton transit shuttle bus operators make a range between $17.18-$19.09 per hour, as indicated on the City of Edmonton website.