Watawa life » Bike rider

Bike rider

Robin Kelsey — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 03:07:52 +0000

Bank & Somerset.

A year ago today:
Pic 1088
Showdown on Sparks St.

March 22, 2011

Two years ago:
Pic 748
1128 Wellington

March 22, 2010

Three years:
Pic 398
Tree

March 22, 2009

The long riders

Robin Kelsey — Thu, 14 May 2009 23:53:51 +0000

Bike rider 3

Robin Kelsey — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 03:32:27 +0000

I like seeing girls on bikes.

Bike rider 2

Robin Kelsey — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:50:34 +0000

Bike rider

Robin Kelsey — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 05:01:07 +0000

The transit strike

I still don’t think the right of older drivers to pick their own schedules and rack up overtime is worth striking over. I predict that the rank and file will see it my way and vote to accept the latest offer.

I think the fact that union president André “No!” Cornellier doesn’t want union members to be allowed to vote on this offer is a very good reason to ask them to vote on it.

Cornellier says allowing a vote will split the union, because only a few hundred drivers are actually affected by the scheduling issue. (There are 2300 drivers.)

I say, “Hmmm.”

It’s mortifying for me to find myself in agreement with Mayor Larry and Rona Ambrose, but nobody can be wrong about everything. Not even Larry and Rona.

Come on, get it done. We’re sick of it.

For a lot more strike talk, including plenty of input from drivers, visit the OC Transpo Community blog.

For a reasonably neutral account of what’s going on, see http://www.cfrb.com/node/851282.

Transit strike

Robin Kelsey — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 01:47:07 +0000

Let me get this straight. They’re striking for the right of long-time drivers to pick which shifts they want to work?

Oh, brother.

Updated Dec.13:
I’m trying to figure it out. I get that the union guys sincerely feel that the right to pick their shifts is the only perk that goes with seniority, because they are all paid the same.

But I’m not sure that their desire to have a perk is a compelling reason to strike. The job is bus driver. It pays pretty well for unskilled work. Who says they’re going to get perks too?

Citizen columnist Randall Denley argues that management needs to have the right to manage driver schedules, especially because uncontrolled scheduling has been identified as a major money-loser by the auditor general. I agree with Denley: management has to be able to manage.

I think this strike is doomed and the city should win it.

For a lot more strike talk, including arguments from drivers, visit the OC Transpo Community blog.