[darkpuppet]

oldeguy,Apr 28 2008, 08:05 AM Wrote:As a member of a public service union, that has been on strike, two too many times, I can understand the viewpoint of the Maintenance workers for the TTC. Once an employer sees that they can save money using outside workers, at least on paper, they jump at the opportunity. However, the use of "outside workers" has it's pitfalls, from poor workmanship to constant callbacks, which may or maynot be at an additional charge to the employer. With these new buses being under warranty, I can see why the TTC is having them repaired by the manufacturer. But, it should have been part of the purchase contract that the manufacturer train the TTC workers in the new technology within the buses.

here's the thing I don't get... If this is indeed the case, that the workmanship is lower, and the overall cost higher -- then why couldn't the union write it up and present the business case back to the TTC board?

I'm sort of two minds on this.

On the one hand, outsourcing does suck for those who's jobs are being outsourced. However, on the other hand, a lot of outsourced jobs aren't necessarily jobs lost. It's just that people don't want to leave their unionized jobs or lose their seniority. It's not like the outsourcing company has enough employees to replace every TTC worker.

There are times when I welcome outsourcing. It frees me up to do more exciting things and to move up the ladder, and when it fails, it's good job security... even if frustrating at times.

Quote: The only bad move that the union did in walking out was not giving more notice to the "customers" of their walkout. Mind you, I think giving 48 hours notice, from a Union standpoint is not a good move.  I've heard it was the management that closed down the system at midnight, and also that the union thought it would be safer for it's members to not give notice.

Irregardless, the union had every right to reject the offer, and to walkout.
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After leaving a downtown core filled with drunks who now had to walk or drive home on Friday, or adversely affecting students, the union bought no favour with it's 'customer', and put a lot of people at risk (read women and children). That action alone undoes all the years of PR the TTC put in to give them an image of a TTC that cares about it's ridership.

But on the other hand, it was almost sort of a smart move. You do it right at the beginning of a weekend to force the government to put legislation back in before Monday. The TTC may have in fact done us all a big favour.

Regardless, striking for job security doesn't work anymore... the last 2 major strikes I witnessed (OPSEU and Safeway) resulted in more lost jobs after the strike than what they would have had otherwise. Companies are no longer willing to take the financial hit to please unreasonable employment demands -- union or not.