Public discussion of Burlington's transit system yields
diverse viewpoints
Bob Wood Special to Burlington Post
Burlington Post | 3 hours ago
Burlington
Mayor Rick Goldring was among members of council who accepted a
challenge to ride city transit for five days in the same month.
Last
Saturday’s transit users forum at the Central Library was structured
differently than most public meetings you might attend.
Typically,
you will find a roomful of charts and exhibits and staff ready to
interpret the graphs and maps and answer your questions.
But this day belonged to the riders.
It was their day for input, according to Burlington for Accessible Sustainable Transit (BFAST), the organizers of the event.
The
approximately 85 people attending had good opportunity to air their
concerns. While four of the seven members of Burlington council and
Burlington MPP Eleanor McMahon heard about what was wrong with public
transit in the city; there was much that was positive articulated as
well.
A short film called theBurlington Youth Transit Surveykicked
off the morning, followed by a transit user panel. During the last
portion of the forum, participants moved into small groups for
discussions.
In
the panel discussion a comment about the great work done by the bus
drivers was met with applause. The prevailing attitude seemed to be that
system shortcomings such as poor signage, inadequate shelters, poor
communication and scheduling conflicts and gaps are not the fault of the
drivers.
Panelist
Glenna Cranston noted, for example, that keeping on tight schedules was
difficult for the drivers particularly on some routes like No. 10.
Cathie
Pym was very pleased with the Handi-Van service that is used by people
who, due to a functional limitation, cannot use the conventional system.
With some of the bad weather conditions this year, “no one else made it but Handi-Van,” she declared.
Another
Handi-Van user, Paul Benson, prefers using the conventional system as
it offers him more flexibility. He uses Handi–Van occasionally.
He characterized his trips as “fairly successful, on most occasions.”
That’s
because connecting with different routes and different systems — Benson
often goes to Oakville for appointments — isn’t always easy.
Enduring
40-minute waits, with riders sometimes forced to sit in unsheltered
transfer locations, particularly in winter, poses such challenges for
seniors and others that people may not go out. Social isolation may be a
consequence.
One
panelist described how while attending a Realtor’s open house a bus
drove by. On the spot she decided to buy the house because it was on
that bus route.
That
was 17 years ago. In 2013, however, that route (No. 4) was deleted.
Users got together with Burlington Transit (BT) staff and “a really
clever solution” to revise the route was fashioned.
Unfortunately,
the solution was only effective for the morning rush hour. In the
evening, riders often face 40-minute delays when transferring from the
GO train to BT buses.
From
youth, there was a concern that many young people want to continue to
live in Burlington but may not be able to stay unless they can afford a
car.
Longtime
users of BT recalled how most routes use to run every 15 minutes and
there was very little GO service. Today, GO trains are more frequent
than BT buses and the percentage of travellers using public
transportation has dropped from seven per cent to just under two per
cent, commuter James Smith told the forum.
“It’s all about money,” said Smith. “We need to re-invest in transit.”
But Burlington appears to be going in the opposite direction.
Judy
Goodings, who facilitated one of the discussion groups, reported that
Burlington’s “spending per capita is 50 per cent less than other
municipalities.”
All participants were asked to fill in comment sheets.
BFAST
will be organizing the comments and putting a report together that will
be forwarded to council and available to all who attended.
Earlier
this year, BFAST had challenged the city’s mayor and councillors to
spend five days in a month using Burlington’s transit system.
At the meeting BFAST Chair Doug Brown acknowledged those council members who had accepted the challenge.
“You can’t really understand how the system works without getting on a bus,” said Brown.
Bfast
will produce a report once they’ve gone through the comments that came
from the several breakout groups that were created. Expected to be
completed by the end of April, it will be a solid, fact based report.
“Union spokesman Dean Mainville argues that the employees are being compensated poorly when compared to counterparts in neighbouring municipalities, like Oakville and Hamilton.” and “Talks will resume on June 29, in advance of a legal strike or lockout date of July 2.” http://www.900chml.com/2015/06/16/37699/
If there was a strike, it would include the Handi-Van services as well. Burlington City Councillors, how could you?
Susan Lewis
If the transit workers want to apply for jobs there to increase their wages the have the option.
Does anyone in our local government ask these workers what they plan to add to their services to earn a wage increase.
You don’t get an increase for just showing up !
I don’t take the bus so can’t comment on transit but the men and women who keep our streets & public spaces clean and maintained must do more then show up. Take a good look at other cities and reflect back to ours. Sure it’s not absolutely perfect but to me looks clean and maintained. I’ve called in complaints and the service turnaround is reasonable. I’ve lived in other municipalities that took months for someone to show up. I also recall the ice storm 2 years ago seeing staff working Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day opening roads and removing limbs and trees form roads and sidewalks. I’m sure it was voluntary to come in and they choose to serve us over important holiday time with their loved ones.
I do think wages for similar work in the GTA should be used as a benchmark. Seems to work for the Sunshine club at City Hall?
From 2012 Inside Halton Story
“The non-unionized salaries, which are approved by council, are based on other municipalities, according to Roy Male, executive director of human resources
Nine city staff made between $150,000 and $200,000, with the top earners in this bracket being Kim Phillips, general manager of community services at $191,808, with $8,905 in taxable benefits; Roy Male, executive director of human resources, at $182,435 and $969 in taxable benefits, and Allan Magi, executive director of corporate strategic initiatives at $172,529, with $945 in taxable benefits.”
http://www.insidehalton.com/news-story/2909593-mayor-weighs-in-on-sunshine-list/http://www.insidehalton.com/news-story/2909593-mayor-weighs-in-on-sunshine-list/
Don’t like your job? Quit. Think you should be paid more for picking up garbage or driving a bus, well I’m sorry, you should have thought about that when you were skipping classes in high school. That was your decision, not ours. You knew what the job paid when you took it. If that’s not good enough for you now then go find something else that pays more. That’s on you, not us.
Without a blink of an eye I’d fire each and every union member who so much as thought about going on strike. Do they not realize there is a line forming of people that would replace them, and most likely do their jobs better? Great salaries and smaller workloads… what’s not to like?
This union mentality is killing us, and the worst part is the union members are so bloody brainwashed into believing the union propaganda, they don’t even realize it. It’s time to abolish these self-serving and entitlement-minded unions once and for all!!
I’m sorry public sector, but we just can’t afford to keep elevating your remuneration and lifestyle at the expense of ours, when you’re already so far ahead. But you don’t get that… do you?
The province doesn’t have the money…..FYI teachers.
Perhaps this council and mayor could find the courage to be pioneers and reverse the status quo.
If not they should be considered average and not suitable for reselection and certainly not for advancement.
As for the province, teachers and their union, not so long ago they went out on an illegal strike.
When they did Mike Harris (love him or hate him) set a very important precedent.
He sent out the saving to parents with children in school at the time.
Unfortunately for him he did not remember that all tax payers contributed to the education costs and did not reimburse those without children. Effectively making the education tax a user fee.
If our municipal unions can’t find reason in their demands maybe a tax credit for all would ease the pain for the loss of service.
Actually, when it comes to government, some do get a raise for just showing up. An example would be our elected City Councillors: Jan. 25, 2012 “With all the unionized workers working for the City of Burlington having settled their contracts, with a reasonable increase in their salaries of 1.5 per cent, 1.9 per cent and 1.9 per cent each year in a three-year contract, it is with awe that I heard councillors increase their salary by 3.2 per cent … while non-unionized staff were held to zero per cent and the unionized workers were reasonable in their demands.” http://m.insidehalton.com/opinion-story/2895738-cupe-upset-with-councilhttp://m.insidehalton.com/opinion-story/2895738-cupe-upset-with-council Most people in Canada also get a raise for “just showing up”, it’s referred to as a cost of living increase. Even C.P.P. gets a cost of living increase and no seniors are asked to show up anywhere.
As far as service is concerned, people who use the system have been rating our drivers as the best they have ever encountered anywhere.”
Excellent pension, pay incentives, training
To the members in the union – you do an excellent job for the city however if you consider your condition unacceptable – nobody is forcing you to stay
PLEASE LEAVE AND QUICKLY AND NOW – RIGHT NOW
As their will be 5 people lining up for every new position that open and by the way they will be well qualified and ready to work
There is an expectation that comes with any position. If a man makes a dollar today that same job in 10 years should afford that person the same goods and services with enough in his pocket to pay for it. That is a dignity that ALL Canadians regardless of job should expect in this country. That should be YOUR goal if you want this Burlington to remain a vibrant place to work and live. It appears your are prepared to settle for second best and race to the bottom for the sake of votes.
The capitalist society we live in is revolving faster each day.
The notion of doing the same thing for 10 years without skill or service improvements and expecting the same standard of living has long past.
Unionized workers have been giving concessions for years recognizing that business can no longer compete with current wages and benefits in Canada. In some businesses wages for new employees will never reach current levels.
Like any business the city of Burlington is slowly recognizing that they can no longer simply raise taxes to pay for excessive costs.
Expectations are a funny thing, the more you have the more often you are disappointed.
As for unionized factory workers, I take the same position. Present day unions are in the business of making the union leaders money. Plain and simple. Happy workers are not good business for unions. Happy workers may eventually question why they are giving money to these leaders, which is why these leaders fill the union members heads with misleading propaganda that makes them believe they are being treated unfairly, and that they need these leaders to fight for their rights. It’s a relationship that has worked very well for union leaders for a very long time. Unfortunately the economy has changed over time, as has the increased sense of entitlement, which has lead us to where we are today. One union after the other threatening strikes, killing the Canadian economy even further, making foreign workers look more and more attractive each day. These unions aren’t protecting Canadians, they’re pricing us out of the market. It’s just a matter of time before this all comes crashing down. The union leaders will have made their money. The unemployed union members will be left scratching their heads, wondering where that pension money went that they were promised.
Burlington’s Director of Transit
DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO STOP A TRANSIT STRIKE IN BURLINGTON!
Give the transit driver’s what they so rightfully DESERVE!
Think of the people who rely on transit as their only means
to get around our city. Such as people with mobility issues
who use our Handi-Van services. Seniors who live independently who do not have families to drive them to medical appointments, groceries etc. Think of the people who want to go to the Pan Am Games they need Burlington Transit running to connect to other transit systems to get there. Think of all the essential workers in our city who use transit to get to work, such as nurses for example. I spoke to one today. She doesn’t know what she is going to do if there is a transit strike. We cannot all afford taxi’s, and for some us there is no chance of carpooling with anyone. WHAT DO WE ALL DO THEN HITCHHIKE! What about the safety factor doing that with total strangers.
Think of all the worker’s who help our economy grow in our city and need transit to get to work and home again. I am a senior with no family, no car and due to health issues do not have “walking” as a backup to get around.
PLEASE DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN IN OUR CITY.
IT WILL BE A DISGRACE TO THOSE INVOLVED WHO HAVE THE POWER
TO STOP IT AND DON’T.
No disrespect to bus drivers, but considering the job that they do for an underperforming and underutilized transit system, the fact that they’re making more than minimum wage is a victory for them as it is. Everyone should make enough money to live on, but let’s be honest for a moment, not all jobs warrant higher salaries. They didn’t go to university for 4 years or more to drive laps in a bus.
“Deserve” is an interesting word. It suggests you’re entitled to something, or that someone owes you something. The world doesn’t work like that anymore.
Union propaganda has a tendency to elevate union members’ status in their own minds such that they feel they deserve more than they’re worth. Those of us not under the union’s spell know better. Bus drivers don’t deserve to be paid the same as skilled professionals, I’m sorry, but they just don’t. If we give in to their demands now, in a few years and we’ll be right back where we are, watching them put their hands out again asking for more. It never ends. Giving in to their demands is a mistake. They’ll never be satisfied, because the union leadership will see to that. Their job is to maintain a constant state of unrest.
“Do whatever it takes.” “Give the drivers what they rightfully deserve”??? I say they’re already getting what they rightfully deserve. They knew what the job paid before they accepted the position. They chose to take it. If they want more money for doing the same job, I cannot support that. If they want to walk out on their jobs, let them. Then the very next day, let’s hire new bus drivers who would gladly relieve them of their salaries and benefits.
It’s time to put a stop to these unions taking the public hostage by threatening strikes and work stoppages. If they want to walk, let them walk, but let’s stop playing games. Walking out on your public sector job should have the same consequences as walking out of your private sector job. Don’t be surprised if when you return, your belongings are waiting for you in a box by the front door, and someone else is sitting at your old desk. Sadly, the public sector unions know this won’t happen. They have no consequences. They are untouchable, and they know it. That’s why it’s wrong. The public needs to stand up against it, not roll over.
Personally, I consider Big Business Lobbyists to be the most powerful and costly unions in Canada and a more serious threat to our economy than the working class unions. They’re the ones we should be angry with, not our workers unions. I’m talking about lobbyists like the Big Banks such as The Royal Bank of Canada, and the multinationals like Suncor. But, it would appear that people seem to find it easier to turn on each other rather than go after big business. Maybe that’s why Occupy Wall Street fizzled out even though it started due to the greed and criminal acts of some of the .1%’ers.
My point is, I see so much anger directed at our workers unions and very little said against Big Business and Multinational Corporate Lobbyists in the media.
I disagree that the answer is to ask our politicians to lower more people’s wages. In Canada, we did get rid of a lot of worker’s unions after the Free Trade deals were signed. I don’t think our economy or the number of good jobs available has improved since then. I do hear a lot of talk lately about the disappearing middle class though.
In Burlington, as per the current collective agreement, a transit driver starts at $12.65 per hour. In 2012, according to Community Development Halton, the living wage for Halton was $17.05 /hour. Bear in mind that a transit driver has split shifts and less than full-time hours for many years after being hired. Also, please keep in mind that a lot of your neighbours may belong to, or have belonged to a union in the past.
I also believe that most of the money the City of Burlington employees earn would be spent in Burlington thereby benefiting all of us.
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out —
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out —
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out —
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.
Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984)
So sad. Some people spew the same old rhetoric. If it’s not city workers to hate on it’s teachers. If not teachers it’s nurses. If not nurses it autoworkers and so on. The very people that live, work, play and SPEND their money in the community. The Gazette reads more like the Toronto Sun everyday.
Think about HOW and WHO this effects… just do what you have to do to keep our city running. WE NEED OUR BURLINGTON TRANSIT DRIVER’S to keep us moving.
I’ve been taking the city bus for 26 years and they have not failed me yet. You the Director’s and Manager’s are by not Thinking about how this Strike will effect not only your city, but all other cities around us. So Sad over something So minuscule. Why is this taking so long?
Our mayor gave a State Of The City Address in Feb. of 2015 in which he asked, how do we define Burlington.
He also stated, and I quote,
I our case, We are Not Toronto. We are Not Hamilton. We are Not Oakville.
It seems comparisons to other city’s is only use when it services the purpose of the day.