CFN – Bus drivers in Cornwall Ontario are mulling whether to go on strike. They cite low wages and a low offer of only about 2% from the city.
What I think many of them don’t realize is that taxes have been going up for many reasons, mostly the wrong ones, but they have been going up.
Where does it end? Is it fair to compare wages for bus drivers or any service funded by taxpayers in a city the size of Cornwall to Ottawa or Toronto? Really?
The problem is that in Cornwall like many cities we have politicians, especially when fighting for their political lives like the pathetic mess that our mayor and council are collectively, that will capitulate to unions hoping to get member support at the ballot box.
Where does that end? While transit service is very important where is that extra money supposed to come from? We already have under used buses zipping around; will raising fares help that situation?
I think most of our Cornwall Transit team are awesome and provide a needed service. I also think that this union should take the 2% can smile because in Cornwall far more people will not be getting any raise and would be grateful just to have a job than watch these guys and gals try and score a big deal that our weak politicians would most likely pony up.
It’s time for our mayor and council to stand up for taxpayers and draw a line.
Most of the time it is not just wages that is the problem. also
It seems that if everybody in the city gets 2% , it looks fair , right. NOT
The wage for a fireman or policeman keeps getting higher and higher beacause they make much more to start with. So their 2% is more than the the bus driver, or municiple worker etc…
So after years of falling behind they must feel jilted, right.
So now you know.
bus drivers vs ridership who would care if they go on strike. The only people who would lose the most with the strike or the drivers for the riders would find other means to get around.
There union ought to accept the 2 % rise it’s better then nothing. A greater wage increase would force the city to once again raise the fares. The only downfall to raising the fares they would be running around town with a lot less ridership.
As far as comparing their wages to those drivers in ottawa or toronto is generally a slap in our face. Lets face it how can they compare the driving in our city to the driving in the a for mentioned cities. No comparison at all.
In conclusion in the long run the drivers should take what is given to then and do like the rest of the working force in cornwall. We do our job and seem to make ends meet.
This is the reponse to Jamie Gilicig and steve: First of all we were not offered a 2% raise, so that is wrong info, second of all we are never compared to Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, we are compared to cities the same size as Cornwall or even smaller, so that info is wrong. I did not see either one of you in our room negotiating , or were a fly on the wall, so please if you do not have the correct info to post, please do not post anything at all. And to say the busses are running around empty, again you are saying this because you may see one bus at night , when its slow out there , just like you see a car or too at Walmart because most people are home. Get the facts before you post because this shows the public the wrong view , no matter for Transit or any business. Thank you
No Jamie Bus drivers should get their raise to have parity with Toronto and Ottawa its only fair after all I mean firefighters police and many other public sector employees here have fought and got parity with big cities.
But lets be fair to Tax payers too who have to face the ever increasing tax burden spread out on so few , the reason bus drivers in Ottawa, Toronto etc have to earn such a large income is the high expense of living in a large city just look at there property taxes a simple bungalow here would fetch well over a million dollars in toronto and just think of the city taxes on such a property so the answer is give parity but come up with a property tax on employees in both public and union jobs that have won parity where the tax assessments on their properties be tied to toronto values now that would be fair right ÉÉ
okay laugh but i think you get the point!!!!! Here in Cornwall should parity not be tied to the cost of local living and reality after all many have moved here in their retirement by selling a house they bough years ago for several million today and moved here to escape the high taxes and living expenses and now live in a house sometimes much nicer than the one they left behind with a large nest egg in the bank .
Of course if the dollar number is whats important to a worker he could move to toronto and live in a two bedroom apartment in a high rise for a couple thousand a month in rent
Come to think of i kinda like a made in Cornwall salary reflecting our economy education responsibility physical output etc dam ever watch a tim horton worker with the never ending lines they amaze me they probably love to have a cushioned seat like a bus driver ,maybe their salary would be significantly increased lol
Yesterday, My wife and I spent the day visiting Kingston- Busfare there for adults $2.50 in Cornwall $2.75. In Kingston, buses run 7 days a week past midnight. In Cornwall, regular buses stop at 11:15 and only run 6 days a week. More buses run around Kingston and the people that I talked to there love their transit system. In Cornwall ,our people like to slam our service and drivers for no reason or understanding. I do not feel the problem here is money for the drivers but the lack of benefits the city and union won’t negotiate for them starting with sick days. I hope a strike is not needed here but I for one will support our drivers and let city management know that the real problem is on their side and not with the union or drivers.
Thanks Gary W. Samler for the support appreciate it very much.
And you know the things in the press that we are asking for lunch money is NOT TRUE , never asked for it, thanks for the support
Derek Sheppard
A proud Cornwall Transit Coach Operator
Just want to thank our Cornwall Transit passengers for the support , we are here for you to make your life better safely and on time, but safety is first
Derek Sheppard
Thanks Gary hope you spread the word, we are NOT asking for the moon, everyone else in Cornwall employed get so many sick days (?) we don’t get any! Why?
We will not go on strike unless !
Make it a great day Gary
I am sure all will be ok !
Hey steve from Sept 20.2013, @ 5:53 Am, who would care if the Cornwall Transit Drivers go on Strike ? WOW …I heard it many times before, and NOW Sir we are transporting many people like you ? In a Wheel-Chair with no legs because of a sickness, lets hope it does not happen to you, but sir I would gladly take you to the hospital…Take care sir make it a great day !
This may not be popular but here goes anyways for the simple reason that I am a taxpayer and fed up with the current state of affairs.
Cornwall is a small city that enjoys a lower cost of living when compared to larger communities. The average cost of a home in Cornwall is well below the $360,000 plus, national average. Cost of commuting to work is minimal when compared to a larger center from not only a cost perspective but a time perspective as well.
A 20% differential in pay from a major centre like Toronto or Ottawa was the norm for a substantial period of time.
Number one likely to be unpopular, I do not believe that individuals that work on the taxpayers dime should have the right to strike. If you feel that holding the public ransom for your own personal gain is the only way for you to get what you want ( not to be confused with what you may deserve ) then you should think again and possible seek other employment opportunities.
Number two likely to be unpopular, quite simply if you think you are hard done by then why not quit and move to Ottawa or Toronto. Or simply step aside and let someone who could do the job just as well and who is struggling on far less income give the job a whirl.
In the harder times that likely lie ahead in a financially devastated province such as Ontario people should be happy to HAVE a job, particularly one provided by a cash strapped public.
We continue to shoot ourselves in the foot permitting wages and benefits to outpace the true rate of inflation. Somehow we moved into a utopian world where many feel ENTITLED to increases in compensation regardless of MERIT. Time we all woke up to the reality that this is NOT A SUSTAINABLE concept !
Governments on all levels are not businesses that generate income. They are management systems that collect and redistribute OUR MONEY. YOURS AND MINE. When finally your entire paycheck ( currently if you are earning a reasonable income, approximately 70% is eaten up by the various levels of taxation, fees, etc. Do the math or speak to an accountant. ) is handed over and doled back out you will know that you have woken up into a nightmare version of ANIMAL FARM.
But for now just laugh this off as science fiction and give everybody whatever they want and get back to your favourite T.V. show and deal with what is really important to the average Canadian, doing nothing of real value.
Re: David Oldham
With respect of your letter sir , we also are taxpayers, and please re-read my posting, we are not asking for lunch money and we are not asking to be compared to larger cities. Thanks
Derek Sheppard
DERECK SHEPPARD then why not accept the offer that is on the table? Unless something has changed E.I. offers benefits if a period of illness lasts longer than two weeks I believe. If an individual is sick for a day or so here or there during the course of the year then suck it up and consider yourself fortunate. I have been self employed for most of my life and have looked after myself during periods of illness without benefits or assistance. Stop the bellyaching and consider yourself lucky to have what you have. Every time fares increase those that can least afford it suffer. If the current system was running at an profit I would be all for some form of profit sharing for your membership, but that is not the case or am I wrong on that issue Dereck?
Keep in mind Derek municipal government is NOT a business it IS a system. All businesses that CAN NOT be profitable simply go out of business and then the jobs are lost. Again consider yourself fortunate that an unprofitable situation continues to pay for the roof over your head and puts food on your table.
As a bus driver, I am so happy that Jamie Gilcig has weighed in on our issue. I am glad that a two-bit hack of a writer that couldn’t make it in Montreal spews his garbage opinion all over Cornwall’s issues. Almost every article that Jamie writes looks to stir up shit with Bob Kilger and the council. We get it, you don’t like them. The horse is dead Jamie, stop kicking it.
From the moderator: We decided to allow this comment to go through not because it slurs the founder and editor of CFN or because it’s accurate; but to mirror back to its writer what they truly make they and their friends look like. Boy there’s a lot of hate and ignorance in our community sadly.
ADMIN I choose to believe that the individual using the moniker CORNWALL BUS DRIVER and claiming to be a bus driver is not truly representative of his purported colleagues. His neanderthal approach and inane comments are likely a unilateral action.
I have had the occasion to meet and speak with a bus driver and their functional capabilities most certainly surpassed this cretin.
The only solace in his remarks is that he understands that Bob Kilger and his council of are not well liked. He gets it. Actually I think without going back to review, he stated that they all got it. Perhaps he is a spokesman of sorts. Of course that would be pure speculation on my part. He probably couldn’t pass the drivers test and simple has an axe to grind. Perhaps anger management would help. Again, pure speculation…
How much does a Cornwall bus driver make in dollars/hour? Do they get a full forty hours per week?
Re: David Oldham
With all respect to your letter posting why are you attacking a bus driver? Why don’t you go after the other people in the city that have 20 F—– Sick days a year per employee, management included, and I as a bus driver get coughed at spit at , sneezed at , get cigarette smoke blown at my face , get puked on, don’t get a f—– day off sick , as you say you are self employed right, no body shits on you ? Go after the people that are abusing the system , not us sir, and yes I am a tax payer to this city . I am also a very proud city of Cornwall employee, that’s wants fairness, just like a farmer , fair is fair, and yes I do take care of myself and family sir !. Fed up of bullshit like yours. Make it a great day David hope you and family are well Also next time use spell check ?
The problem here is that everyone think they are no it alls, they do NOT know the whole story, and the truth, and most just want to vent out as Tax Payers to the City of Cornwall. Well may I remind all of you we as Coach Operators for the City of Cornwall are Tax Payers also. We do our job each and every day to 100% of our capabilities in all sorts of weather. We deal with all kinds of people with every disability there is, so please do not say we just sit on our duffs? it just shows how out of touch you are. I have been told many times that I have no use for Transit, no he/she would just rather use a car and send carbon monoxide into the air we all breathe, but I have seen it so many times that same person that said he/she has no use for Transit, well guess who’s calling for Handi Transit ?
Re Cornwall Bus Driver
Thumbs Up my friend ?
Re David Oldham
Re: Then why not accept what is offered?
That just shows you have no clue what is being offered and what they want in return…unless you were a fly on the wall sir, you do not have a god darn clue DO YOU ???? suck it up
Fed up all the bullshit from people who pass their opinion that have no dam clue what is being offered from both sides, attack us go ahead, but make sure you attack them also or is that different Sir ?
In Cornwall young and healthy people can walk if the drivers go on strike and Cornwall is so mighty small that you can get around very easily unlike Ottawa where you need public transit desperately. There is no way that you can compare wages in Ottawa and other big cities to Cornwall and for Cornwall it would be ridiculous.
I do know that the job of a bus driver is stressful here in Ottawa and the big cities. When I used to ride the bus in Cornwall in past years there was no stress and he drivers were the best and very friendly. In Ottawa the stress and what the drivers have to put up with is something else. You cannot compare apples to oranges. Not only that but the buses do not run as long. Here in Ottawa some buses run longer than others. Where I live they end at 1 a.m. and in some other areas till 2 a.m. The drivers start very early in the morning as well and they have to get to the garages where the buses are stored (there must be at least 3) here in Ottawa or more in different parts of the city.
Yes renting a small 2 bedroom is very expensive indeed and buying a house is insanity and the taxes are insane as well. Many people are selling to get out of what is coming and I would not buy knowing what I know. I know way too many things.
To David Oldham
Re Then why not accept what is offered on the table!
Sir you seem to know a lot ! You please tell me what is offered on the table ?
Thanks waiting to hear from you I have in front of me what has been offered, so please tell all of us what you know that has been offered? Waiting in limbo
there is a big difference between sitting on a cushioned seat and sitting on your duff . think about that one Derek
Your statement (” get coughed at spit at , sneezed at , get cigarette smoke blown at my face , get puked on, don’t get a f—– day off sick , as you say you are self employed right, no body shits on you “) shows just how much you really don’t understand having a Government job means. there are so many on minimum salary that put up with that every day just speak to anyone that works in a call center who have insults hurled at them for hours or someone that has a unreasonable customer that creates a line up with people reaching there boiling points and taking it out on them.
so inform us which small towns are you compared too ? what are there cost of living expenses and you must know how much a transit worker in Toronto and Ottawa gets paid so educate us help us understand.
And Derek self employed people often work 60 70 hour a week no vacation or sick benefits no breaks and they have so much red tape HST labor laws etc etc they are solely responsible even for the poor work habits of their employees and unlike you paychecks don’t always come every two weeks !
No one has removed your right to quit and become self employed or maybe move to a city that can afford more perks !
DEREK I have attacked no one. You are obviously emotional and I am not going to push you buttons and have you make a fool of yourself. There is no need for sarcasm and making this personal serves no purpose.
I do know that currently (Sept 2013) transit drivers in WINNIPEG start at $17.83 per hour and require a grade 10 education.
I never stated that I knew what was on the “table”. I never said that bus drivers have a easy job. You pointed out some of the downsides of your occupation and my response is this ; if the job is that bad DEREK keep in mind that no one is holding a gun to your head. A far as any offer my suggestion was accept it and consider yourself lucky, there are many more that are not as fortunate out there, be thankful. WINNIPEG is a lot colder in the winter even if they pay 20% more. If it isn’t 20% more than once again DEREK, consider yourself fortunate. Wishing you well.
To all of you who have attacked the bus drivers
We are not asking to be paid for lunch, and we are not comparing our selves to larger cities so please read my posting right, Hey you guys came after us now we fight back ??
Derek not a single person has attacked bus drivers. We need bus drivers. You need to switch to decaf amigo.
THOUGH A COPY OF THE LABOUR LAWS ON EATING AND BREAKS MIGHT BE NEEDED ABOUT NOW FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE AS A GUIDE IN THEIR COMMENTS !
Many people have got use to 2 X15 min breaks and think that’s it law when in reality 30 minutes is the law and 15 min is an acceptable thing if both employee and employers agree. lunch is not paid for and not even guaranteed by law just as long as your given that 30 min break after 5 hours . Seems like the law backs up the city maybe when it comes to breaks for drivers how ever there is a safety component I feel is important and should not be overlooked
Eating periods
20. (1) An employer shall give an employee an eating period of at least 30 minutes at intervals that will result in the employee working no more than five consecutive hours without an eating period. 2000, c. 41, s. 20 (1).
Exception
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the employer and the employee agree, whether or not in writing, that the employee is to be given two eating periods that together total at least 30 minutes in each consecutive five-hour period. 2000, c. 41, s. 20 (2).
http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_00e41_e.htm#BK25
Mr. Sheppard the cost of living in Winnipeg is a great deal more expensive than what it is in Cornwall. Drivers get more money to pay for the high cost of living. The drivers in big cities have way too many problems to deal with and a great deal worse than Cornwall and they deal with gangs, drunks, and passengers with very bad behavior. Some passengers are great and it makes one’s job a lot easier. Winnipeg is a big city and they have big city problems to deal with and the salary is far from enough.
Many people are in line ups looking for work to drive buses and many are former taxi drivers here in Ottawa and immigrants as well. The pay is good but the expenses are horrific to live in these places. The two thousand dollars a month is for an apartment and not a house here in Ottawa and Toronto and elsewhere and that is rent.
There is no place on earth where things are really good to work in unless you work as one of those rip off banksters like Goldman Sachs (aka Goldman Sucks) and the like and the rest of us are pulling hell by the tail just to make ends meet. I have learned over the years how to be frugal and that is the way to live. We don’t need all the junk out there that is only clutter and live below one’s means.
Sick leave is a big issue with our Transit driver. They do have the worst sick leave package of all unions/associations of the City of Cornwall employees. I do hope they don’t strike because there action will impact those with disabilities and lower income tax payers, but collectively they will do what they need to do.
After all, paramedics, teaches and many other groups have gone on strike for lessor reasons.
I am concerned that the City could not organized there schedule to meet with a mediator. You would think Union negotiations would have a high priority for Human Resources. Sometimes inaction speaks louder than action.
Diane Shay
I just read Mr. Samler saying that he was on Kingston’s buses and cheaper than Cornwall and operates 6 days a week. Here in Ottawa a bus pass starts around $100./month and other passes like rural are higher. When I go on the bus I use tickets that I purchase and I know that the fare is high but haven’t taken a look lately since it is rare that I get on. Our OC Transpo operates 7 days a week including all holidays and the buses are usually full to half full depending on what time and what day. Weekdays the buses are packed tight at peak hours. People here in Ottawa work shift and a lot of people use the buses.
Cornwall is way too small to charge such an amount. Kingston has a much bigger population and bigger in size so Cornwall should not be charging that amount of money.
About taxes and even the cost of homes in Cornwall is steep – I would say way too steep for what it should be when everything left.
About cops and firemen they earn way too much money for Cornwall but don’t forget you have to pay Kilger’s (Bare Ass’s) sons don’t you and he wants a six figure salary for each one. That also includes “Mac Attack’s” son and all the rest of the clique down there. That is why you are paying out huge salaries that are not merited. The kitty will soon be dry and people will leave Cornwall. I will never forget this Mr. Smith when I used to read the “toilet paper of record – SF” saying how taxes were as high as Toronto and he bought a house in Cornwall and didn’t realize that the taxes were so high. I have a good chuckle now and then thinking about this gentleman what he said and he said that he would have to get himself a job (he is retired) to pay for the taxes and thought that by coming to Cornwall that he would save some money. Boy was he in for a huge surprise. It is all a ripoff and a gigantic Ponzi scheme and one Ponzi scheme that they made legal so as to steal everyone blindly.
Jules maybe u should move into a cabin
In the woods with no essential services.
Might be best for your pitiful altitude .
Mr. Sheppard, Mr. Samler, Jamie and everyone here go on youtube.com and type in OC Transpo and you will see some of the things that drivers as well as security and cops have to put up with. It is hell on earth so you should be thanking the Good Lord that you are in tiny Cornwall. Don’t bicker about wages and other things. Just go on the site I told you all about and watch some of the things that go on. There are fist fights that occur, etc. even on the buses as they are running. The drivers have my deepest sympathy and more. When things occur here at 1 million people can you imagine places like Montreal and Toronto, etc. Please appreciate working in your small town you have no idea what the drivers here in Ottawa have to put up with. People drunk and drugged and mighty abusive. Cornwall’s Barney Fife PD could not handle any of this stuff and they are highly paid. I want all of you hear to see some of the things that go on and nothing is posted in the papers like what you do in little Cornwall. Please everyone go to youtube.com and take a good look at it by typing in OC Transpo.
Re: jules….So you think bus drivers here do not deal with those things you mentioned ? Foolish Make it a great day…And once more jules like I said to others , last time we are not asking for lunch money, and we DO not compare ourselves to LARGER cities, other people said it. I have in front of me what we are looking for and what the city is looking for? So tell me what you have in front of you . ? Waiting ?/
Julles there are many competent local police officers and many have gone through the police training the same as the ottawa cops with the east end rampant with drugs domestic disputes, and heavily armed smugglers in the area I think the term Barney Fife PD is a very demeaning term as you paint every Cop with the same brush. In fact some have moved from Ottawa to Cornwall. I believe you said your husband came from the middle east is he therefore a terrorist after all are not all middle eastern’s terrorist? Get the point I do not think that admin is running a site to diss Cornwall I believe he is trying to improve Cornwall and when something good happens i feel he even happier to allow to appear here , so please try to make your comments count where they must we have good cops we have good bus drivers good nurses,public servants in the trenches a few good politicians in the area etc we also have thousands of hardworking citizens that just are trying to live . Cornwall and area is a fantastic place to live unfortunately the laws don’t seem to be there to clean up the dodo and we are left to step in it everywhere and its costing us a lot to clean up!
And Derek its time you put here in print right on the table what you are looking at whats wrong you frightened too? Don’t leave out a thing please
DEREK SHEPPARD you are slowly eroding our admiration for the valuable service to the community provided to us by drivers. Your fixation on the “not asking for lunch money” and you insistent demand that someone tell you what is on the table in front of them is in all likely hood diminishing your support and not furthering your cause.
So here it is and I know that I am not alone. Everybody would like to make more money, DEREK, hands down no disagreement there. Private business functions on profit therefore the potential for compensation levels is tied directly to profitability. Municipal governments are systems funded solely by taxpayers and there are no profits only costs. The transit system runs on a deficit basis, the ridership doesn’t cover the costs of operation. There is no money for increases in pay or benefits as a result unless ALL of us in the community dig further into our empty or near empty pockets. If you as a driver are currently making $15.00 per hour or more for your skill set then be happy, you are not hard done by. If you want more in these financially troubled times then my suggestion would be to look elsewhere or seek training for a better paying career.
Many individuals in this community are having to function on far less so trying to garner support in the manner in which you are currently doing is not a recipe for success.
i was on the run and borrowed a computer when i made two comments today not sure i know where my head was but reality plus is me lol time to have my brain defragged the hard drive is getting full and working slow please excuse my old brain!
“Reality plus” how dare you call my husband a Middle Eastern terrorist. My husband is a Christian-Maronite (like you terrorist westerners who murder innocent people abroad) call Catholics but it is a slight break off from the Roman Church. We had an Islamic friend here a while ago and I missed my walk and most are very good people. Only the “fanatics” are terrorists sponsored by the west mainly the US.
Mr. Sheppard and everyone yes the east end of Cornwall is having terrible problems with the drugs and even here in Ottawa it is the same story even in the better neighborhoods. A lot of these druggies and drug dealers inhabit very expensive homes because they can afford them with their drug trade and you don’t know who your neighbor is from a hole in the ground. There is not one day that I don’t hear at least between ten to twenty times a day of emergency vehicles of all kinds go by. Our friend said to us a while ago “my it is very noisy here and how can you stand that noise” and we laughed and told him that it was a part of us after all these years.
Again “reality check” no wonder I would not live in Cornwall at all whatsoever. You people cannot deal with multiculturalism at all and think that everyone is a terrorist. Get your heads straight out of the sand and most people are good people. There are many terrorists who are Christian as well as Jewish (Israeli). We have Jewish people in our building and we all get along. Nobody is hurt or dead and we talk to them sometimes when we see them. The people of the Middle East are wonderful people. Every time that my sister in law gets sick and needs to get to the hospital it is their neighbors that come over to help and take her there. Before you fling insults and bad things across think again.
As for your Barney Fife PD they are just that “gone fishing” and when we lived in Cornwall they only respond to certain people and not the rest. Oh we know very well how things work down there and never again would we live there at all.
A while ago I asked my son what the cash fair on OC Transpo was and he said it is either $3.25 or 3.50 and cannot remember since he does a lot of driving. He takes the bus every now and then and pays and he said that it is one of those fairs.
Admin. (Jamie) sorry for all my posts but I have to get my point across. Yesterday I read a very long post from someone and I saw that I wasn’t the only one and I have some competition. LOL LOL.
Jules I want to you to know that I was offered to move CFN to Ottawa and I chose to stay in Cornwall. I’ve lived in Ottawa and wouldn’t choose it over this little city even if it’s being run by a few corrupt cliques.
Corruption is everywhere. We all have a responsibility to take care of our “homes” and sometimes that means working towards change and fixing things up.
As for our PD; frankly I prefer it warts and all to the OPP. There is good and bad all over in all services, but frankly I don’t think you can paint our police force with one brush as you do.
wow Jules you did get the point people feel insulted when someone makes a blanket statement like you did and continue to do Please read the statement carefully I never said he was a terrorist I was making a point do we paint everyone with the same brush. this is what i said ” is he therefore a terrorist after all are not all middle eastern’s terrorist? Get the point ” is he is a long way from he is and anyone reading it i sure would agree i was making a point not an accusation .
you now have written ” As for your Barney Fife PD they are just that “gone fishing” and when we lived in Cornwall they only respond to certain people and not the rest. The key words i read is when we lived in Cornwall did you know there have been dozens of new policemen hired recently they were not here when you lived here yet you painted all of them with same brush. Shame on passing judgement ! For the record i do not see middle eastern people nor Muslims as terrorist they are individual humans like many of our good policemen here in Cornwall . A terrorist is a terrorist but not all policemen are Barney Fife PD as you claim
wow how off topic we have got Sorry
To all of you who have posted comments about us bus drivers here in Cornwall. Ok we all expressed our feelings and I thank you , This ATU Local 946 do not want a stike as it will hurt a lot of people. All of us have families , children grandchildren and great grandchildren, and payments on our homes, cars, so we will work this out with The City of Cornwall in fairness to The City of Cornwall, Taxpayers, and to ATU Local 946. We as Cornwall Transit Drivers live here, buy here, and support everything that Cornwall means to all of us. Thanks to all of you who have posted , and thanks to Cornwall Free News and Jamie Gilcig.
I am sure every thing will be worked out fine. Give a bit here and there and all will be fine. Make it a great night everyone and Thanks we as Drivers got a lot of input from the postings.
Derek Sheppard Proud ATU Local 946 Coach Operator .
Good luck Derek. I think most of us are behind all of our bus drivers and city staff who work hard and deserve to be treated respectfully, and as well as we can afford.
Re Good Luck Derek , I totally agree ,
Make it a great day
David Oldham September 24, 2013 at 7:31 am
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
DEREK SHEPPARD you are slowly eroding our admiration for the valuable service to the community provided to us by drivers. Your fixation on the “not asking for lunch money” and you insistent demand that someone tell you what is on the table in front of them is in all likely hood diminishing your support and not furthering your cause.
So here it is and I know that I am not alone. Everybody would like to make more money, DEREK, hands down no disagreement there. Private business functions on profit therefore the potential for compensation levels is tied directly to profitability. Municipal governments are systems funded solely by taxpayers and there are no profits only costs. The transit system runs on a deficit basis, the ridership doesn’t cover the costs of operation. There is no money for increases in pay or benefits as a result unless ALL of us in the community dig further into our empty or near empty pockets. If you as a driver are currently making $15.00 per hour or more for your skill set then be happy, you are not hard done by. If you want more in these financially troubled times then my suggestion would be to look elsewhere or seek training for a better paying career.
Many individuals in this community are having to function on far less so trying to garner support in the manner in which you are currently doing is not a recipe for success.
Some people have the answers to all the problems of the world, how fortunate we are.
Interesting stats
Yesterday the Conference Board of Canada came out with a report calculating that absenteeism from work costs the Canadian economy $16.6 billion a year.
Public-sector workers (12.9 days) took off more time than private-sector workers (8.2 days).
Union members (13.2 days) were absent more often than non-unionized employees (7.5 days).
“It seems to me that unions have just been more effective over the past number of years in negotiating more collective leave into the agreement,” said Karla Thorpe, director of the leadership at the Conference Board, in an interview with CBC’s Lang & O’Leary Exchange.
Derek never posted their demands wonder why ? The conference report was interesting if you have it they take it after all sick time is owed to them so use it all up at the end of the year
Re: reality check, steve, jules, david,
I know what we are looking for ! but you guys /gals seem to know also with all your stupid comments, but I do know that how can we take sick leave that is owed to them and use it all up at the end of the year, ? when we do not have any ? from reality check , and david I see that your comment is still in limbo.
Jamie I just watched the video when they pushed the panic button . Funny to watch
You know after all of our comments I posted a nice letter to all of you but some still came back bitter. And to the writer who said Winnipeg is making $17.83 an hour, better brush up on your work ?
Goodnight all , and I will say this All will be ok in Cornwall for Transit, but steve your point of saying who would care, just shows how out of touch you are with Transit Sir!
Re: David Oldham
You did attack the bus drivers but then you say we need them ?
Make up your mind sir
Derek Sheppard A Proud Cornwall Employee and ATU Local 946
and A City of Cornwall Tax Payer
Thanks
Thanks Jamie
Good luck
Derek
Re : reality check
Interesting stats:
So what year was yesterday É