I'm still against the Ottawa Transit Strike...But...

I am vehemently against unions...especially the Ottawa chapter ATU 279 who are presently still on strike. It has gotten to a point where people are past uncontrollable anger. They are just disgusted. What can they do ? The union is simply not listening at all to us and will not cave. They won't. The City is partially listening to the people by not caving to the unions demands. Someone has to give. Something. The union is being a stubborn child who knows that if they cave their 'power' is diminished. If the City caves they are showing lack of control. I truly believe that the Mayor and 'some' of Council are not being political, and listening to the people they represent....who are angry and fed up with the union holding the City hostage. Look at the union's letter to secondary schools stating that if they accept City funding for assistance in transport, they will be picketed. (come ON !! this is not a direct threat aginst the populace ?) The City is contemplating bringing in non-unionised drivers to help with Para-Transpo....to help with the increase in disabled people requiring transport......disabled people......they too are being threatened with pickets and shutdowns as they are 'scabs'. God, I hate that word. union original. Anyways, you have drivers doing guest columns in the newspaper saying they are sorry for striking but they must continue. You have Ottawa councilors calling pretty much for the Mayor to step down (showboating Mr. Doucet...) You have the public being screwed in 500 different ways. The union saying the City must bend to their will. Stubborn children. At this point, the City and union should go back to the table and work out a 'Fair/Fair deal. Not a Win/Lose deal. What is also expected from the union is celebration. Their mentality through this strike proves that. Take this as you will but at this point it is expected, and tantamount to a terrorist hostage swap and the bad guys thinking it is a victory, and shooting in the streets and celebrating...even tho' they were the bad guys. If the union gets it's demands it should ensure that their members go back to work quietly. No celebrations. No pictures of union members drinking champagne. That will not go over well. The City should take away the signing bonus, give them back their 12.5 (?) hour shift (by removing the extra 1 (one...one...) hour) and adjust the scheduling so that it is a little more fair to newer drivers......junior this. The City will obviously get pressure to end it and cave a bit. But the union has to give also. Do the truce attempts in Gaza sound familiar ? hamas voicing it's demands but still not promising to stop the ongoing rocket attacks and still wanting Israel destroyed. Yes, I am comparing the two as it is similar. If Israel pulls out with no promise from hamas to stop their hatred, and attacks, there will still be celebrating of a 'victory'. This disgusts and boggles people. Such is the World we live in. If the City does end up bending a bit and taking it up the wazoo some, then the union should go back to work quietly....with no celebration. This will just look even worse on your membership. The City has done a good job of standing their ground but as a City Council, it must now think of it's population and end the strike. The union's image will be permanently scarred and there will still be fallout for some time after it's over. Hopefully a certain councilor (Mr. Doucet...) will be tarred and feathered for siding with the bad guys after this is all over. He should have quit politics in disgust if he did not agree with the Mayor and then voice his opinions against the City negotiating team and the Mayor. Bad form dude.

I still hate unions.
Up yours Andre.