I'm feeling a little ranty today.
Yesterday I read some of the stupidest stuff in the local "media" about what the (inevitable) strike action means to people. One couple suggested they were going to sue the union local that is in charge of staffing community centres because the couple booked a wedding at one for the end of the month and were told they might not be able to hold it at the community centre because of job action. The guy said that, because workers have been working without a contract since last year, they should have told them then that there might be a strike. (There are so many things inherently wrong about that statement, the first being the guy seems non-plussed that people have been doing their jobs well for more than half a year without a fucking contract, indicating there might be some sort of long-term problem.) Seriously, who would think that it would take over 7 months to discuss a contract that, at the very least, offers the cost of inflation? I sure as hell didn't think my local would be in a position to strike, yet here we are. The city's representative is such a smarmy spin doctor that I almost went to city hall to kick him in the shins. THE SHINS!!!
One of the free papers had a small, three-person questionnaire asking which of the services they would miss most if a city-wide strike happened, then listed three. I'm guessing the "reporter" went to Lululemon or TNA and asked the first three girls she/he saw. The answers were so unbelievably stupid, with each admitting that they don't go to the library or parks or community centres or anywhere except their trash bins. Is it really possible to live in this fricking city and not go anywhere that offers city services? Balanced reporting... that's for the newspapers that cost money.
Regardless, I'm tired of having to defend myself against union haters who don't understand how unions actually work. My union has been trying to negotiate (which means ANY sort of actual discussion with the employer) for months and has gotten nowhere because the GVRD has, effectively, ensured that my local can't talk AT ALL during the negotiation process. The offers they've made to other Vancouver locals essentially mean paycuts, despite the fact the city manager got a raise for 1.5 times more than I make a year (she's getting a $43,000 RAISE). It's absolute cockshit.
By the way, it isn't always the union's fault that strikes happen. Just so you know.
Soapbox away.
Currently listening :
60 Second Wipe Out
By Atari Teenage Riot
Release date: 11 May, 1999
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