Thursday, January 22, 2009

Public initiative: Petition to end strike

Some Ottawans have chosen to humour all of us transit users during this transit strike, and others have used their resources to take a more traditional approach to influencing debate. And it has worked.

Ecology Ottawa launched an online petition on Monday that, without taking sides in the debate, urges both sides to return seriously to the bargaining table.

Steering committee member Mike Buckthought told TransitOttawa.ca that in just the last few days, the petition has garnered over 2,700 signatures--mostly online, as paper petitions haven't been circulated very much. The group plans to present the petition to the City on Jan. 28.

Buckthought appeared on CBC Radio and the free daily Metro also covered the petition yesterday.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

And it has worked.

Huh? What's your definition of worked?

Nick said...

Perhaps that was sloppy language. But by "worked" I meant that it has attracted attention from people in the city.

2,700 signatures in a few days is pretty impressive by most measures.

Of course, it remains to be seen what effect, if any, that this initiative has with members of either side of the bargaining table.

Anonymous said...

What are these councilors doing? Nothing.

Let your councilors know that you will not be voting for them in the next election because they haven't been doing enough to end the strike.

Anonymous said...

I’ve let my councilors know that I will not be voting for them in the next election if they give in to the Union scheduling demands.

Thall said...

Of course the Metro wants the strike to be over. Without OC Transpo, who would read their free paper?

Peter Raaymakers said...

After deleting the most offensive of comments, I would like to take this time to ask readers and commenters to have respect--not only for each sides of this conflict, but for themselves, and for each other.

Frustration is a feeling everyone in this city can relate to, but there are different ways one can express it. Please try and be respectful in doing so.

Anonymous said...

While Ecology Ottawa has managed 2700 signatures calling for negotiations, FireOttawaBusDrivers.com has gathered 6500 signatures against capitulation and in support of firing ATU279's membership.

Dwight Williams said...

I'm sorry to read that.

As I've said, I won't support a "Reagan Solution".

Anonymous said...

A "Reagan Solution" is illegal when the strike is legal.

Anonymous said...

There are many ways to get into a room without opening the door.


Just look at how Walmart deals with unionization.

Dwight Williams said...

Also unacceptable.