Wow indeed, how can this guy be so oblivious. Public opinion is the key. If the public is against the union, the mayor can feel justified to let the strike go on until the union is broken (young drivers get tired of fighting for those with seniority and want to get back to work). Having been through a strike once, after 2 months we had had enough and basically caved. O'Brien seems dead set on doing this, and the public seems to be on his side. Here are some big mistakes by the union: Striking now to screw over the most people: once again, people seem to be angry with the union. With dark economic times ahead, everyone is sacrificing something, people would like to see OC workers sacrifice as well. Had they struck in September, the city would have caved either before the strike or soon after as they wouldn't have had the "dire economy" card to play. So the strategy of screwing people over in the winter didn't work. News reports of the union blocking city plows from leaving their garage (causing public danger), and not allowing schools to rent yellow buses to get their students to work have also been public relations disasters for the union. These, plus the pathetic arrogance of the union spokesman have caused me, usually a fence-sitter, or pro-union, to be very much against the union in this case. I even e-mailed the Mayor giving him my support in holding out. To me, this is the key issue: overtime. Isn't it logical, in bad economic times, to eliminate overtime for drivers, cap them at 40 hours per week, and hire 80 new drivers to work these extra hours at time instead of time and a half to pick up the extra work ? Ironic that unions were built on "share the wealth", but this union wants to "keep the wealth" for its senior members instead of "sharing" it with new workers. With unemployment on the rise, hiring more bus drivers is good for everyone except the seniors who get to work 60 hours a week now. I'm sorry, but for public service workers, being able to work lots of overtime, paid from the public coffers, instead of having another worker do these hours is NOT a right. No offense to the bus driver here, it's the union's bad advice and timing that is at fault here. The sooner you and your colleagues pressure the union to lower its demands, the sooner you'll be back at work. With the public firmly on the city's side, the mayor will feel empowered to let this ride until the drivers come crawling back. It may be ugly, and it may last months, and eventually the city will win. Sorry to be blunt, but I call it as I see it. You should have struck 3 months ago. They it would have been short, and you probably would have won. It's a shame the union spokesman is such an unrepentant thug. It would be intimidating to be a member and be afraid to take action to get rid of this guy. You'd be accused of treason. Rock, meet hard place. add: from the Sun: " City councillors are receiving thousands of e-mails from residents pleading with them not to cave in to the transit union's demands. Innes Coun. Rainer Bloess received almost 400 e-mails yesterday from commuters who are experiencing hardship but don't want the city to budge from its bargaining position. West Carleton-March Coun. Eli El-Chantiry said he has also received hundreds of e-mails from residents who want city negotiators to stand their ground. 'STAND UP' "They are asking the city to stand up and not be bullied," he said. "I haven't had one asking the city to give in." " Unprecedented support for the city. Very unusual that so few support the union. OC should just pack it in and get back to work before it gets worse. Just think: the longer the strike lasts, the more anger bus drivers will have to put up with from people when work resumes. Plus, if it lasts awhile they'll be out of tons of cash. Savings = $ 3 million per week
