Strike out

About the strike by some 24,000 city workers, now in its second third stinky week...

Did you know that most city workers are women? Did you know that ar last half of those are part-timers, who get no sick leave? Did you know that, while the city was relatively generous with male-dominated unions (the police, firefighters etc.), it is demanding all sorts of concessions from those female inside workers now on the picket lines? Did you know that the screw up is by the city which, when it gave SOME workers those controversial sick leaves in exchange for salary concessions, neglected to set aside funding to pay those sick days out?

All this focus on garbage is garbage.

I'll say it again. Collective bargaining floats all our boats.

Which leads to this wonderful little video from the UK.

Comments

[Kat]

I think you nailed the problem on the head. I asked some co-workers yesterday if anyone knew the actual list of issues that caused the strike. (We're all non-union, salary types.) From my own perusal of the news I didn't have a good picture -- if I researched it especially I probably would, but I've just been following it like any other headline story, reading bits here and there.

Most of the group knew it was about sick days. But no-one, including raised-to-be-pro-union-and-am me, knew all the things you just listed in your post.

I'm not blaming the press -- that's just as bad as blaming the strikers. Besides, in this situation, you often learn things from your neighbour/cousin/friend who is in the union. But the point is, no, people don't know.

When I was a teacher I took part in the Days of Protest. Even some of teachers on the picket lines thought we were protesting about pay. We weren't. There's nothing quite like explaining what's going on to someone who's already carrying a sign.

I've seen it with strikes over and over again -- the emphasis is on the strike, not what caused it or what could solve it. I think we need to refocus.

[Leslie]

Fabulous video. Even better remarks by you! I hope maybe you'll be focusing on the gender element of this strike at some point soon in one of your articles as well!

[Evelyn Steinberg]

We need to let Mayor Miller know that it isn't the strikers Torontonians are fed up with (as he is quoted in today's Star)- we are fed up with the Mayor and Council who precipitated this strike - just another of their incompetent moves.

[Marina DeLuca-Howard]

Thank you very much for your coverage of the strike. I always enjoy your articles, and am really appreciating them now.

One of the most interesting things I learned picketing is how much of society's assumptions about labour are wrong. I have had to explain to all sorts of people, including lawyers how stiking works, and that, yes, we are a legal picket line :)

By the way I have a university story similar to your high school one, though my parents never heard of it. I walked into an all-male poli sci class. One of the students breathed a sigh of relief and said..."I am so glad you're hear, now we will get a woman's perspective". My response: "I don't plan on checking my vagina at the door". Mouths hung. That kind set the tone for all my comments for the duration of the half course(on revolutions/centre periphery relations).

Would you consider doing an article on the TDSB's only democratic middle school, Alpha 2, located at Dufferin and Bloor? We(the parents) have tried to add grade nine and have failed twice. Three times is the charm, I know, and perhaps you'd lend us your charm. Alpha2 students have no requirements, other than to learn. They decide how and when. It is quite radical, and children of course are still left out of most social justice discourse, which seems to be a passion of yours.

Again, thank you for the interesting perspectives, as it is nice to see my views reflected somewhere in the media. (My gender, too but that is another matter altogether)

Marina (p/t worker, Cupe Local 79)

[The Stygian and his Shemitish Dogs]

remember, a garbage strike was a vital factor in bringing Margaret Thatcher to power 30 years ago .....

[Tony Oliveira]

I see you are a straight girl . I mean just. Will you consider visit the men outside the TD Centre that were locked out by Cadillac Fairview.In my opinion they are victims of a big injustice also.
Tony O