Thank goodness what's happening in Wisconsin could never happen here

[james_davis_nicoll]

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty's government introduced legislation Tuesday afternoon that will strip unionized TTC workers of the right to strike.

Comments

[dlacey.livejournal.com]

A lot of people can't get into work though and therefore don't get paid. Usually these are the people that can least afford to lose wages.

[joenotcharles.livejournal.com]

Do they die?

[dlacey.livejournal.com]

Not being able to pay rent or feed your children? That's nothing? People commit suicide over less.

[joenotcharles.livejournal.com]

I didn't ask, "Is that nothing?" I asked, "Do they die?"

So if you're saying that transit strikes drive people to suicide, I guess transit workers are essential. I'd like to see some actual statistics on how common that is, though.

[anton-p-nym.livejournal.com]

Suicide? Not often.

However, it does interfere with patient health; many elderly with low incomes rely upon public transit to reach primary care physicians or treatment clinics. The loss of Wheeltrans in particular leaves folks in desperate straits.

I was lucky; I didn't have any chronic or life-threatening illnesses, and was in reasonably good physical condition. I could afford to take cabs and carpool to reach work during our month-long transit strike. (Though I spent more on cabs during the strike than I did on transit for the next five months.) I didn't miss doctor or dentist appointments (though I likely would have had to reschedule a few had the strike lasted longer) and I was within walking distance of my grocery store and pharmacy.

Let me put this in automotive terms; a transit strike is as limiting for transit riders as if workers picketed the driveway of every commuter.

-- Steve still doesn't know what the right balance is on this issue, but thinks it's far less straightforward than a knee-jerk "solidarity forever" or "fire 'em and hire a new batch" reaction.