The legality issues of these two strikes are different, but the 'jist' works.....
On August 3, 1981 nearly 13,000 of the 17,500 members of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization walked off the job, hoping to disrupt the nation's transportation system to the extent that the federal government would accede to its demands for higher wages, a shorter work week, and better benefits. At a press conference in the White House Rose Garden that same day, President Reagan responded with a stern ultimatum: The strikers were to return to work within 48 hours or face termination. 11,000 strikers who refused to return to work were terminated and barred from ever being rehired. The public showed little support for the controllers, who were already making salaries well above the national average.
1. As an employment counsellor I have a hundred clients who could do (and would be grateful to have) a bus driver position, even with just their BASE salary. It's pretty cavalier to hold out on strike when the economy is tanking and thousands of the people who ride their buses every day are working part-time, contract, and entry-level jobs.
2. I could make $20,000 more a year if my boss would allow me to add 12 hours onto my work week. That would spring for a lot of popcorn and beer! Somehow, I don't think that's going to happen. I can lament...still not going to happen.
3. I called the union "terrorists" and people balked. They wouldn't even agree not to block school buses!! Who does that? (Insert mawkish, righteously indignant voice) "Interfering with the education of the little children...the future generation...." It's like beating a baby seal or tossing your McDonalds bag out the window on the Queensway....you just can't do that.
4. Man, the first day back to work is going to be a charmer!! With all my talk about Canadians being polite, I think I'd rather repel into the Koyunbaba to shovel bat shit in Turkey than face Ottawans stepping back onto the bus that first day. And I can picture the typically benign, passive mini-vanners donning bitter faces as the brandishing of the post-strike, one-finger salute ripples throughout the city. It could be marvelous!
5. When the union-loving hippies aren't even behind you there's a problem. Ironically, the people who are most likely to politically support a strike are the people who actually use the bus to get around....the liberal fervor is jumping ship! It's a sign.
6. Never underestimate the satisfaction that comes from composing a strongly worded letter to your local official:
Dear Mayor O'Brien, (larry.obrien@ottawa.ca)
For the past several weeks I have attempted, along with everyone else, to be patient as the City attempts to negotiate with the OC Transpo drivers. For the most part, people seem to be making due, pulling together to find transportation solutions, and 'waiting it out'. However, when the complex issues related to the Transpo strike are compounded by the inefficiency of other city services it becomes quite difficult to remain patient.
Case in point, on my daily commute across the city I have seen only one snow plow since the strike began (I nearly blew kisses). The condition of the city's roads has been as bad as I've seen, even with only moderate snowfall. There seems to be less salting/sanding in addition to the epochs between plowing. I do not have evidence that there have been more accidents due to the condition of the roads of late, but at the very least this is adding to the insane commute times and parking woes faced by drivers during the strike.
Is this related to the strike? Has the city altered their snow removal regiment? Has everyone with a driving job in the city decided to stay home in their jammies and watch the soaps? Are the plows being kept from the roads by strikers....or by the increase in traffic? Regardless of where the culpability lies, it is my sincere hope that both of these issues can be resolved immediately. AND I would like to express my support of the City using a strong arm to return these services to the people who pay for them. I'm sure a short read on the Presidency of Ronald Reagan would provide a suffice solution should the drivers reject the offer this evening.
Thank You!
On August 3, 1981 nearly 13,000 of the 17,500 members of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization walked off the job, hoping to disrupt the nation's transportation system to the extent that the federal government would accede to its demands for higher wages, a shorter work week, and better benefits. At a press conference in the White House Rose Garden that same day, President Reagan responded with a stern ultimatum: The strikers were to return to work within 48 hours or face termination. 11,000 strikers who refused to return to work were terminated and barred from ever being rehired. The public showed little support for the controllers, who were already making salaries well above the national average.
1. As an employment counsellor I have a hundred clients who could do (and would be grateful to have) a bus driver position, even with just their BASE salary. It's pretty cavalier to hold out on strike when the economy is tanking and thousands of the people who ride their buses every day are working part-time, contract, and entry-level jobs.
2. I could make $20,000 more a year if my boss would allow me to add 12 hours onto my work week. That would spring for a lot of popcorn and beer! Somehow, I don't think that's going to happen. I can lament...still not going to happen.
3. I called the union "terrorists" and people balked. They wouldn't even agree not to block school buses!! Who does that? (Insert mawkish, righteously indignant voice) "Interfering with the education of the little children...the future generation...." It's like beating a baby seal or tossing your McDonalds bag out the window on the Queensway....you just can't do that.
4. Man, the first day back to work is going to be a charmer!! With all my talk about Canadians being polite, I think I'd rather repel into the Koyunbaba to shovel bat shit in Turkey than face Ottawans stepping back onto the bus that first day. And I can picture the typically benign, passive mini-vanners donning bitter faces as the brandishing of the post-strike, one-finger salute ripples throughout the city. It could be marvelous!
5. When the union-loving hippies aren't even behind you there's a problem. Ironically, the people who are most likely to politically support a strike are the people who actually use the bus to get around....the liberal fervor is jumping ship! It's a sign.
6. Never underestimate the satisfaction that comes from composing a strongly worded letter to your local official:
Dear Mayor O'Brien, (larry.obrien@ottawa.ca)
For the past several weeks I have attempted, along with everyone else, to be patient as the City attempts to negotiate with the OC Transpo drivers. For the most part, people seem to be making due, pulling together to find transportation solutions, and 'waiting it out'. However, when the complex issues related to the Transpo strike are compounded by the inefficiency of other city services it becomes quite difficult to remain patient.
Case in point, on my daily commute across the city I have seen only one snow plow since the strike began (I nearly blew kisses). The condition of the city's roads has been as bad as I've seen, even with only moderate snowfall. There seems to be less salting/sanding in addition to the epochs between plowing. I do not have evidence that there have been more accidents due to the condition of the roads of late, but at the very least this is adding to the insane commute times and parking woes faced by drivers during the strike.
Is this related to the strike? Has the city altered their snow removal regiment? Has everyone with a driving job in the city decided to stay home in their jammies and watch the soaps? Are the plows being kept from the roads by strikers....or by the increase in traffic? Regardless of where the culpability lies, it is my sincere hope that both of these issues can be resolved immediately. AND I would like to express my support of the City using a strong arm to return these services to the people who pay for them. I'm sure a short read on the Presidency of Ronald Reagan would provide a suffice solution should the drivers reject the offer this evening.
Thank You!
