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Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) Workers on STRIKE!

Aginst Wage-Labour

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:16:00

Saturday, April 26, 2008 – Suddenly Saturday morning all transit stopped.

Transit workers rejected a tentative contract settlement (which had prevented a work stoppage a week ago). This tentative deal was rejected by 65% of the 9,000 members. The union had previously stated that it would provide 48 hours notice of a strike but due to the concern of fear for the safety and assaults that occur with such notice, the union gave 1-hour notice and walked off the job much to the criticism of the Mayor of Toronto and the Chair of the TTC. They will be back at the table at 1 p.m. today and in the interim the government will scramble to put in back-to-work legislation so that commuters are not inconvenienced by the work stoppage – this is information taken from Toronto newspapers.

The tentative deal is said to have cracks in the language which did not include job security for the mechanics and the maintenance workers who are purportedly a more militant wing within the membership are disgruntled due to not being included in the clause stating that TTC operators be the best paid in the Greater Toronto Area and are also concerned that the bus repairs would be contracted out due to the warranties. The rank and file membership is finally exerting their power to both the union bosses and the union leadership. Furthermore, it seems questionable that members of the public would actually hurt (whether verbally or physically) the TTC operators if 48 hours notice had been given; therefore it is suffice to state that the rank and file are angry and will not be undermined by a weak contract that the union leadership is pushing and negotiating with the bosses.

This is the power of the workers. The union leadership drew up a new tentative contract and it was the rank and file that said “No”. This rejection shows that they are strong and willing to fight back – it is amazing. Practical solidarity must ensue. Their resoluteness in this refusal to be exploited further is a message to all workers. The strength and the show of power is happening now and must be supported at a practical level. All workers must realize the importance of this militant step the rank and file members are taking right now; that it is in all workers’ best interests that these workers not concede anything. Other workers must take a stand and walk out in support of the TTC workers; if the GM factory workers walked out in a fierce show of solidarity this shows the class consciousness and is a necessary step in the fight against capital and their fellow class members, the union leaders. The erosion of wages, benefits, and security affects laterally to all workers as well as to future workers, our kids. Workers must understand the relationship that all workers are linked and must not be divided, that in most cases, union leadership makes concessions to maintain their powerful role as sales agents of the labour power of the union members. However, here the members, the rank and file workers, are showing that they will not compromise their livelihoods (salaries, benefits etcetera) and this must be commended and supported by all.

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