Union must adjust attitude: Miller

City negotiators have been granted more flexibility to settle the 17-day strike by municipal workers, but Mayor David Miller says it's the union - not the city - that has to change its attitude to end the walkout.

"The goals remain the same as when the strike started," Miller told reporters this evening after a two-and-a-half-hour closed-door session with city councillors, the first briefing since the walkout began June 22.

Source: The Star

It seems Mayor David Miller is continuing to bet on the public being pissed off at the union and not at him for this ongoing strike.  The city streets are beginning to look pretty disgusting with garbage littering the curbs and there is no end in sight. Meanwhile, city run daycare centres and other important services are not available to the public, while the union moans for the greedy old days.

City Strike Continues

The following is on the CP24.com website today. I think their question is very biased, however, it does demonstrate the lack of public support for the workers. Personally I don't like it very much when a few spoiled members of our city try to blackmail the rest of us. Unfortunatly we can't just fire them all and hire people who actually want to work for a fair wage.

Do you have sympathy for public sector workers who are on strike during tough economic times?
Yes 15% No 82% Undecided 3%

In a related story over at ProudFM.com they also have a poll related to the strike and pride celebrations:

Striking city workers and LCBO staffers oh my! Will you let this ruin YOUR Pride?

1) Um ... garbage everywhere and no booze? Consider it ruined. 8.33%
2) No way. It's called Can't Stop. Won't Stop. for a reason! 87.5%
3) Maybe, it sure won't be the same but I'll do my best to be Proud despite the stink and sobriety. 4.17%

Just goes to show it takes more than a few greedy workers to ruin Toronto Pride. By the way, I think the LCBO workers have a fair case, and the city workers are just spoiled and greedy.

Fiat CEO gives ultimatum to Chrysler

A published report on Wednesday says Chrysler may be left to fend for itself in bankruptcy court.

Sergio Marchionne, the head of Italian automaker Fiat, told the Globe and Mail that Chrysler has until the end of this month to substantially cut its labour costs as a condition of forming a partnership. Full Story

This should come as no surprise. What will come as a surprise would be to see the union actually do something sensible and advise auto workers to take a drastic pay cut and get involved in the cost savings if they want to keep their jobs. 

If you read some of the comments at the original CBC story, or any related story you will quickly see that the public is not on the side of the car companies or the unions.  The general public, like me, is sick of bail outs for these companies, which manufacture inferior products. Not to mention outrageous pay for people who, lets face it, are screwing nuts and bolts together.  No wonder no one can afford to buy a new car.  These companies think they can woo the public with their old style sales and cash-back offers, but those days are gone. People are more savvy and are keeping their money in their pockets, that is if they have any money. 

Yes, people will buy new cars again, especially in a year or two, since so many are putting it off right now. But what kind of car will they buy and from whom will they buy it?  

Take a second and give your opinion in our new poll over in the right hand column. Do you think GM or Chrysler will go under?