This has “International Incident” written all over it
Court decision lets limited number of OC Transpo drivers picket at the World Junior Hockey Tournament in Ottawa. The picketers are allowed to hand out flyers. I am sure a hockey fan from Kazachstan will be very interested to read about the plight of the Ottawa Bus Driver. “Just hang in until next week, then the Hockey comes to town” said local ATU official Andre Cornellier a few weeks back. It seems that was what Andre was trying to blackmail the city with and he was hoping the city would be panicked enough to cave in order to “save” the tournament.
He was wrong.
With Christmas over, a limited picket at the tournament, and people getting used to car-pooling, walking and living down town, I think it is time to let the OC Transpo strike just linger until, say, March, and let them freeze their butts off picketing outside in the cold, rather than sit in a nice warm bus.
It is unfortunate the 25,000 people from all over the world visiting our city in the next two weeks will have to find alternate transportation, but I have seen a number of restaurants and hotels offering free shuttles to the teams’ venues, so as usual and in true conservative fashion, free enterprise steps in where government fails.
Copyright 2010 ERWIN GERRITS. All Rights Reserved.
3 COMMENTS
1 Bruce
I think the judge erred on this one, he should have only let the union have a limited number of pickets at the bus stop.
That said I urge everyone attending the tournament to refuse the union leaflets and let the pickets know in no uncertain terms that this is not the place to resolve a labour dispute.
The judge and union both should go to the penalty box for un-sportsman like conduct.
2 Pat
I quite agree with Bruce. Getting agressive with the fans of Junior Hockey, and it’s naieve to belive that they won’t do that very thing, should be illegal.
Calls of support to the hotels and services that are stepping into the breach would be a good thing.
Pat
3 Anonymous
People are not getting used to the bus strike, people are stuck walking lengthy distances with young children or elderly people in the same situation
It’s absolutely ridiculous to suggest the strike go on till march to punish strikers it’s obviously punishing the lower class and lower class only. That does not include already overpaid transpo workers, that opinion is as pig headed and ignorant as the union’s tactics
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