Nortel execs give themselves raises
Are they effing kidding? Their only function right now seems to be to parcel up chunks of the former corporate behemoth and sell it off garage sale like.
Penny beaver: museum workers still looking for a deal
To Victor Rabinovitch: a raise for museum workers, already
When I was off work looking after Mallory, one of my – and her – favourite things to do was go to the Museum of Science and Technology. Some of the reasons for that have nothing to do with the strike by 420 PSAC members who work at the War Museum and Museum of Civilization. But one thing that struck me about this strike – the revolving door staff issues they have – have everything to do about why the Children’s museum isn’t that great for children.
Who signs the cheques, who’s got the keys?
There’s much online kvetching about all the power unions have as garbage piles up in Toronto, Windsor and as a strike deadline at VIA Rail approaches. But when I hear someone complain that unions have too much power, I understand they’re complaining that unions have any power at all.
Wage karma
People pay taxes. Those taxes pay wages of people who provide services. Those wages (also taxed) buy groceries, pay mortgages, loans, buy cars, hire snow shovellers. Their deferred wages (aka pensions) fuel Bay Street.
Relative greed
How to say this nicely. I’m bombarded with negative feedback about the municipal strike in Toronto and Windsor. It’s mostly over the top, often violent, homophobic and abusive. It seems to come from a limited number of voices – men universally.
Murray Dobbin asks a lot of Toronto strikers
Murray Dobbin’s post on the Toronto municipal strike points out how much effort goes into making public sector workers unpopular. He’s big on the value of the public sector and here I agree with him.
When would be a good time to strike
On the face of it, striking during a recession would seem to be pretty daft.
Pickets, PR and inconvenience
Someone tweeted this Windsor Star story on strike strategy and I just had to say something. It’s May Day, after all. I’ll find a way to tweet it later.
Dalton McGuinty is no friend of the working class
So after a remarkably long strike at York University, the Ontario government announces it’s going to legislate the 3300-odd teaching assistants, research assistants and contract lecturers – members of CUPE 3903 – back to work.
I’m voting for Clive Doucet
I think he’s wrong about getting OC Transpo declared an essential service, but he’s right to slam City Council and Mayor Larry O’Brien for letting the OC Transpo strike drag on. Stupid city council talking about sanctioning him. Sanction Larry O’Brien. Take away his car for the duration of the strike.
Something nice to say about ATU
The first few days of the OC Transpo strike had me utterly in awe of the ATU’s communications ineptitude. But I do have something nice to say about the union.
Labourtech: how I spent my weekend
Whew. That’s a relief. I’m sitting on a plane on my way back to Ottawa after spending the weekend at the Labourtech conference in Toronto.
Wal Mart are scum
I applaud the UFCW for their persistence. But Wal Mart is just shameless.
André Cornellier needs a PR course
I work for a union. I’ve been a union supporter for all my adult life. For all their imperfections I believe working people are almost always better off with a union than without. But the president of the Ottawa local of the Amalgamated Transit Union has me getting off the union bus.
