April 26, 2008
Sudden transit strike cripples Toronto
The TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) is on strike as of midnight last night. Toronto is Canada's largest city, and the city has been involved with contract negotiations for the past month or so with TTC union reps. A tentative deal was struck this week, but was voted down by union members on Friday.
Rather than give the public 48 hours notice as initially promised, bus drivers kicked everyone off their buses, streetcars, and subways at midnight, regardless of where said vehicles were.
The TTC had little public support during the whole negotiation process - workers make roughly $50,000 annually, which is more than any other public transit employees in the region. Now, forcing people off their service, stranding thousands of people mid-commute, has cost the TTC any remaining public support it had previously mustered.
So what are Toronto residents doing about it? Well, there's an influx of cars and bicycles on the roads, and taxi drivers are in their own little version of heaven. Realistically, not everyone can afford taxi rides. Nor is it realistic for everyone to walk or bike to where they need to go, be it because of distance, lack of resources, or physical constitution.
Officials for the city and union like are are remaining extremely tight-lipped on the whole process, giving riders no clue when service may resume, and holding the city hostage. It's Saturday morning, and the city is experiencing gridlock, while others are simply stranded.
Personally? I can bike to work come Monday, but my roommate is screwed.
Rather than give the public 48 hours notice as initially promised, bus drivers kicked everyone off their buses, streetcars, and subways at midnight, regardless of where said vehicles were.
The TTC had little public support during the whole negotiation process - workers make roughly $50,000 annually, which is more than any other public transit employees in the region. Now, forcing people off their service, stranding thousands of people mid-commute, has cost the TTC any remaining public support it had previously mustered.
So what are Toronto residents doing about it? Well, there's an influx of cars and bicycles on the roads, and taxi drivers are in their own little version of heaven. Realistically, not everyone can afford taxi rides. Nor is it realistic for everyone to walk or bike to where they need to go, be it because of distance, lack of resources, or physical constitution.
Officials for the city and union like are are remaining extremely tight-lipped on the whole process, giving riders no clue when service may resume, and holding the city hostage. It's Saturday morning, and the city is experiencing gridlock, while others are simply stranded.
Personally? I can bike to work come Monday, but my roommate is screwed.
// posted by VB @ 4/26/2008 
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