Sunday, April 27, 2008

Brief thoughts on the TTC strike

I've got a hugeass TLDR post coming up with more in depth on the TTC strike and other things, but a couple of quick things that don't fit into there:

- I think if the TTC was declared an essential service, that might result in more public goodwill and better salaries and benefits in the long term. After all, you don't hear people complaining that firefighters and paramedics and nurses are overpaid. (Police officers sometimes, but that's not because we think they're overpaid for protecting us and catching bad guys, but because we think they're overpaid for beating us up and knocking our teeth out when we're just peacefully protesting, and tasing us to death when we're frightened and confused.)

- Perhaps it would have been better for the union to announce that the 48 hours notice is no longer in effect. If they had specifically announced that because their workers had been threatened during the last 48 hours, they could no longer give 48 hours notice, that would be one thing. But not giving notice when all signs seeme dot indicate that your previous offer of notice still stood is just not going to help in the public goodwill area.

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