A TTC Randt
What in the world is going on with TTC workers? They have rejected their tentative deal and are on strike. The head of the union, Bob Kinnear, has obviously lost the hearts and minds of his members. The deal would have made them the highest paid among all GTA transit system workers. Imagine making 60 grand for taking subway tickets? The last time I took the subway, the guy in the booth was watching television (not the security TV) and became visibily pissed off when interrupted him to buy tickets.
London and southern France both have truly amazing transit systems; still the locals bitch that it’s not good enough. It’s what you get used to, I suppose. But in London, the double decker buses come along every couple of minutes without fail on the major routes. The “tube”, as they call the subway, reaches out to all corners and is very efficient. In France, the high-speed trains are delightful and the city bus and subway systems are fast, cheap and easy to figure out, even for an Anglo or two.
No one has said a word about what the TTC union plans to do to warrant their new – now defeated – high paid position. Where are the improvements in efficiency? The city is cash-strapped, you know damn well another fare hike will be in the offing, and not a single breath is spent on giving us a promise of stronger, faster or better…anything. “Give us more money, damn it, and throw in job security while you’re at it, and we’ll continue to plod along, sullen and surly and give you the sporadic service you’ve come to know and loathe!” It is no bloody wonder Torontonians are so attached to driving their cars.
I wouldn’t deny a TTC worker a living wage. I wouldn’t drive a bus for anything, not because of the job itself, necessarily, but because you never know who’s getting on. There have been shootings on board, drivers get spit on, it’s no wonder some of them become cynical. But I would like to hear Mr. Kinnear or one of his executive say, you know what Toronto? You’re going to ante up for our salaries and benefits, but here’s what we’re promising to do for YOU.
Now they’re on strike. We can only hope for swift legislation to get them back to work.
