College support staff strike

[Mitchell3]

Holy f. Did anyone else have a traffic nightmare this morning!? This strike made the area of Conestoga College (Kitchener) insane traffic wise. These strikers have the entrances sealed off, and make each car wait 20 seconds while they explain why they are striking. Backlogged from the entrance down the entire block down to Homerwatson (major street here) down that street to the 401, and down the 401 all the way to the previous exit. Considering thats only the route I took, and that this was only quarter to 8am, I imagine it got worse later on. The farther you got from the strike the worse it was to get there because of people letting people in up ahead; on the 401 you couldn't move lol. I beleive the other direction down homerwatson was just as bad, apparently there was construction+a car accident. Apparently the one intersection just turned into a free for all after I went through, :chuckle I cheated my way around most of it. but my friend was ahead of me, and I got there before him and he didnt make it for another 2 hours :chuckle. These strikers are going to indirectly kill someone when someone doesn't see the stopped lanes on the 401.

:PThats my rant, anyone elses stories or opinions? Im quite interested to see how ballsy people get with this blockade, already saw one person try driving through.

[SilentJay]

I didn't bother going to night school yesterday - just don't want to end up getting cheesed off and running over a bunch of overzealous union heads.

[PEPSIGIXXER]

The same thing is happening here in Orangeville right around the corner from my work and they are blocking traffic. They stopped me the other day and i told them if they dont move i was not going to be responsible for running there asses over as i was not going to be late for work becasue they need or want more money.

[Mitchell3]

Lol and these guys have balls too, one guy charged the line a bit but they barely moved lol. Also they have the nerve after making you wait an hour to ask you how you are today. I think they angered enough people they didnt hold people as long today. I dont know what they were thinking trying to gain peoples support by making them all at least half an hour late.

[greaves82]

Its stupid in my opinion, what benefit do they get for blocking the students??? We dont control their employment so why stop us. Took me little less then 30 minutes to get through the campus entrance at Seneca (king campus) STUPID

[Slade]

I agree they shouldn't be allowed to block students who are paying thousands of dollars to go there, that is wrong, even the union should be smart enough to see that.

Sucks you guys are having to deal with it..

Maybe try and borrow one of these tomorrow.

http://www.engineeringcivil.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/front_loader_construction_equipment.jpg

[Fuman]

They are adding a good 15-20 minutes to my morning commute, because 404 exit to finch is backed up.
They need to find a different way of protesting, people are now made at them for striking, and not feeling sorry for them.

[Mitchell3]

I think their just playing a dirty card. Make us angry so we eventually side with them to get them to stop. It affects the other staff trying to get to work, students who paid for school and services they cant or now have limited access to, and all other commuters that take these routes. They handed out contact information of the college presidents today encouraging people to complain to them essentially lol. Thats a lot of people nagging at the colleges if they get pestered enough lol. I still side with the colleges though.

[JonsMazda]

I am surprised that no one is doing anything about them blocking the roads, it is a safety issue both for the protesters and drivers. I wouldn't be surprised to see if some road rage driver decides to plow through the people.

[Zuluwun]

I think their just playing a dirty card. Make us angry so we eventually side with them to get them to stop. It affects the other staff trying to get to work, students who paid for school and services they cant or now have limited access to, and all other commuters that take these routes. They handed out contact information of the college presidents today encouraging people to complain to them essentially lol. Thats a lot of people nagging at the colleges if they get pestered enough lol. I still side with the colleges though.

This.

The strike has shut down flight operations at Seneca (I'm in aviation), so until they come to a resolution, mine and a couple hundred other students' flight training is on hold. The picketers have no idea, and when I told them, they strongly encouraged me to email the president. Really? They don't seem aware of how this strike is impacting the students, no wonder things get tense at the picket lines. And it's only the second day!


I am surprised that no one is doing anything about them blocking the roads, it is a safety issue both for the protesters and drivers. I wouldn't be surprised to see if some road rage driver decides to plow through the people.

I believe they are exercising their right to lawfully protest. I know, right? Seneca security are actually physically at each entrance and taping the picket lines at Markham. If something goes down at least they're there.

[Mitchell3]

I am surprised that no one is doing anything about them blocking the roads, it is a safety issue both for the protesters and drivers. I wouldn't be surprised to see if some road rage driver decides to plow through the people.

Legally they are allowed to stop each car entering up to 3 minutes (afaik from the news). lol could you imagine if they stopped everyone for the max... So dumb though, still shouldn't be allowed.

[electricf3el]

This happened when i was at seneca markham during exam time. Cafeteria workers went on strike and they blocked the entrances. During one exam they all ran through the halls with fog horns, screaming.

THIS happened later on .. "UNITE HERE repeatedly called York Region Police to their picket line last week after striking workers were hit by cars. In one incident, a man jumped from his still moving car after hitting a man on the picket line and threatened the striking workers. Police have laid charges in a number of incidents, including one for dangerous driving. "

[n00bMeiSter]

They're on strike AGAIN?! wtf.... Every 3-4 years it seems. wtf...




The strike has shut down flight operations at Seneca (I'm in aviation), so until they come to a resolution, mine and a couple hundred other students' flight training is on hold. The picketers have no idea, and when I told them, they strongly encouraged me to email the president. Really? They don't seem aware of how this strike is impacting the students, no wonder things get tense at the picket lines. And it's only the second day!

If I can't get to my plane, someone's going to die.

[SilentJay]

Full-time pay for part-time work! Guaranteed job security! Increased wages despite an economic downturn!


I wonder how this would fly in a non-unionized environment? Useless nubs. The police won't do anything to deter traffic blocking, despite it being a public nuissance and endangerment as a sign of solidarity... Double standards much?

[Slade]

Take a fog horn with you, when they go to stop you roll your window down and let it scream at them.

Just a thought...

[n00bMeiSter]

Take a fog horn with you, when they go to stop you roll your window down and let it scream at them.

Just a thought...

Train horn FTW lol

[terapr0]

someone needs to run these fools over.
We had to deal with the same shit when the CAW tried to get into the company I work for. They were stopping cars on the way into our lot and giving them some pathetic speech about the merits (lol) of union membership. I'm lucky that I start about an hr later than our production workers, otherwise I'd have probably gotten in trouble for hitting somebody.

If these workers think they're so hot-shit they should quit and market themselves on the open market. If they're as talented and in-demand as they so often claim, they'll all have jobs in no time. As a hard working non-unionized engineer I have absolutely NO sympathy for these people. If I want a raise, I have to work my ass off and negotiate for one...it doesnt just happen every few years without good reason. This isnt 1850 - they're not being opressed....they're free to leave and pursue employment elsewhere at any time, and if they're so fed up, I'd encourage them to do just that. There was a time and a place when unions were needed to protect workers and ensure safe and healthy working conditions - that time has LONG since past. Workers rights have been legislated, and there are many ways to protect yourself outside of union membership. In my experience dealing with unions (mostly CAW), they protect the ignorant, hold down the ambitious, and place a higher value on seniority than ability and talent. They foster an attitude of resentment towards management and cost companies both time and money. They make businesses less competitive and create only problems for anyone involved. If the CAW ever gets in here, I quit.

$0.02

[greaves82]

It was even worse this morning. It took me 25 mins to move one block, traffic was so backed up the cops had to step in to get things moving

[jonjon72]

Went to Seneca at Finch and Don Mills yesterday to pick up the GF, and while I was waiting to make my right right into the campus, the strikers were walking at a snails pace crossing the street. This one guy saw that I was ready to make the turn and was about to stop in front of my car! He saw the look on my face and decided to move. I had just fired an employee and made another cry.......I was not in the mood for any crap.

[Slade]

Anyone have a diesel truck? Smoke them out :headbang ....Thank god I don't have to deal with anything like that on my commute, only the only idiots on the QEW with me haha.

And be sure to tape it lol

[gabbygenier]

like this you mean???? hahaha

http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?56600-Do-you-smoke&highlight=

[Fuyuzora]

If I had these tools blocking me from getting to class I'd be installing quad (or maybe six?) Hella Supertones in a hurry.

If they want to stop me for three minutes, they're welcome to be on the receiving end of 118dB of acoustic fury for three minutes.

[Slade]

like this you mean???? hahaha

http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?56600-Do-you-smoke&highlight=


Exactly what I was referring to lol

[SilentJay]

=/ Greedy selfish bastids. Someone ought to start a petition to get these clowns back to work... Being election time, i'm sure some politicians would love to make this election fodder...

[Fuyuzora]

=/ Greedy selfish bastids. Someone ought to start a petition to get these clowns back to work... Being election time, i'm sure some politicians would love to make this election fodder...

Agreed, but most politicians think students don't vote. :(

- Sent from my Android smartphone using Tapatalk

[SilentJay]

The GTA is being seen as the determining factor in the provincial elections - as long as the media blows everything out of proportion like they normally do, McGuinty would be scrambling to force these oafs back to work.

[jonjon72]

And here you go...........

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1051085--striking-worker-hit-by-car-on-picket-line-at-seneca-college?bn=1

[SilentJay]

The first of many perhaps?

[-|CHECKMATE2012|-]

The first of many perhaps?

:pop:give beer:pop

[Mitchell3]

:D no wait again this morning, they ran out of flyers so I guess they didnt bother :chuckle. They are oddly friendly now and not really causing disruptions anymore; for me at least, they stopped other people :chuckle

It really isnt surprising that someone got hit. With road raged people waiting in line are ready to blow through and some of the support workers are so out of it, standing on the road not paying attention to anything!

[Zuluwun]

Kind of not surprised it happened at Markham. There are only two entrances and, for some reason, they seem to be particularly aggravating at the same one every day. It's like they're trying to piss off drivers. That said, I did see a couple picketers jump in front of a civic that tried charging the line. So really it was a matter of time before this happened.

[bryansbestwax]

it is slow as hell getting into Durham College. My wife bitched them out today, quite funny.

[Kiyomi]

Went to Seneca at Finch and Don Mills yesterday to pick up the GF, and while I was waiting to make my right right into the campus, the strikers were walking at a snails pace crossing the street. This one guy saw that I was ready to make the turn and was about to stop in front of my car! He saw the look on my face and decided to move. I had just fired an employee and made another cry.......I was not in the mood for any crap.

me:pop JonJon:complain:flaming