NOSM strike likely to continue for at least another week

thepawn says:

Very minor delays no big deal.

9/22/2010 3:41:48 PM

FernandoMartinez says:

Strikers at Lakehead University, please post your addresses for me to block your driveway when you're in a hurry to get to your place of employme-....oops...uhhh....whatever you do. You know, other than inconvenience people who have nothing to do with your grievances while causing safety issues by backing up traffic on Oliver and Balmoral Roads.

And I love the little Gestapo set-up they have going on, blocking each car from passing while you must listen to some butch tell you about their "suggestions". I have a suggestion. How about you get back to work and stop complaining?

But that's okay. I love idling my car for 20 minutes on the road, waiting for my turn to get in.

And when they finally let me through, "Thanks for being safe and not driving through"...and they're damn lucky I didn't. I wouldn't count on that same luck next time.

9/22/2010 11:25:15 PM

canadian's don't want democracy says:

I'm all for people exercising their rights... but not when it inconveniences me!

9/23/2010 1:32:17 PM

patti says:

FernandoMartinez ...... you little whiner, face it, you haven't got the cojones to do, what you say you're going to do.

If you're gonna whine why not bring it up, with school executives ~ it may have much more impact than complaining on this TBT news site ??

9/23/2010 5:03:32 PM

Steven says:

Nice try union Patti. You are trying to goad FernandoMartinez into doing exactly what the idiot strikers want him to do: Complain and demand a resolution. This whole thing is a case study of typical union tactics: Inconvenience everyone, complain like crazy, and when people get mad at you, tell them to become your mouthpiece, and demand a settlement, essentially suggesting that NOSM just give into the union.

Fernando, I urge you to write an email or letter. I have, as have hundreds of other students at the university.
BUT: Make sure it urges the university NOT TO GIVE IN to these blackmailing/extortionist strikers, but instead to take as much time as is required to get a deal done that is fiscally responsible.
If not, you can bet all the other unions will demand raises next contract time, and your already high tuition will keep rising.

9/24/2010 7:32:17 AM

cachinnate says:

I’m in agreement with Fernando and Steven.

A strike is merely a tactic of extortion and intimidation, inconveniencing other people in an effort to get their own way. The rest of us, when we have issues with our job or employer we deal with it one on one with the employer.

My compensations are based on my own merit, work ethic and value to my employer. If I’m unhappy with my salary, benefits working conditions etc, I deal with my employer directly. And if the resolution doesn’t meet my satisfaction, I’m always free to go work somewhere else.

I don’t even understand why people support unions anymore.

Without ever joining a union, workers are entitled to health care coverage, severance pay if dismissed without cause, and Canada Pension participation.

Does a union protect their workers from getting exploited? Maybe in some parts of the world, but in Canada we have many employment laws that protect employees.
Laws that govern minimum wage, unemployment insurance, workplace safety and compensation, pensions, benefits, severance pay, overtime pay, holiday pay, vacation pay, parental leave, discrimination, sexual harassment, pay equity, and even a law that guarantees a smoke-free workplace.

Unions seldom, if ever, use such power they have to insure better work; rather they almost always devote that power to safeguarding bad work.

Unions may have had their place many years ago, but in the Canadian labour market their time has come and gone.

9/24/2010 10:38:51 AM

jamiejamieson says:

There are always multiple sides to a story. Even those who post here may feel conflicted about certain issues, yet the complexity of the employer's side, the union's side, the workers' side, the students' side, the public's side, etc. do not seem to be discussed. Yes, there are factors on all sides that are cause for concerns and questionning. Yet without a true understanding of being in the others shoes by actually experiencing their side, no one can truly know the truth of any side. Open your mind, widen your horizons. This can suck for everyone, it can be a blessing for everyone, it can be a mixture of both, it can be totally neutral, the possibilities are endless. Although no one can experience these events from all angles, everyone can try to see it from others' perspectives and make the best of it they can.

9/24/2010 12:40:45 PM

yer joking says:

Oh FernandoMartinez ...... my hero you told them strikers off you should post it on the side of your vehicle so that they know what they are dealing with. It is peope like you that keep the world turning. Stand up for your rights those people should consider themselves lucky to have some employment gainful or not.Just getting to talk to you would be a privledge that I am sure many of them would appreciate. Have you EVER WORKED or are you a proffesional student with no means of support other than Dad's& Mom's income. ps Your Mother called .....She wants her car back

9/24/2010 2:02:55 PM

personpeople says:

I don't even go on campus and yet every morning on the drive to work, when I drive up Balmoral, I am backed up down the road. These strikers are interfering with public saftey because people get caught in the intersection. I am really surprised the police haven't been involved yet.

If I did have to go on campus, do I need to listen to them? Is there anything that forces me to roll down my window and hear their nonsense? I don't believe so. And some days I feel like driving on to campus just to tell the strikers how ignorant I think they are.

Be happy you have a job. Why give it up to be a complainer? Do you know how many people would jump at the chance to do your job for you, for a lot less pay?

9/24/2010 3:37:12 PM

FernandoMartinez says:

To "canadian's don't want democracy":

I actually have no problems with the strike itself. If they want to protest and hold up their stupid little signs and chant their stupid little chants, go for it. It's a free country and who am I or anyone else to deny them that fundamental right?

But when they essentially do a blockade of Lakehead and force people who have nothing to do with their strike to listen to their BS, that infringes on MY freedom. If I don't want to listen to them, I shouldn't be forced to.

If you don't understand that concept, you have no idea what a democracy is.


As for patti:

I'm a whiner...for other people stopping me everyday, making me late for where I need to be, because they think their employer treats them unfairly? No, that's a legitimate complaint.

If you can explain to me what my education has to do with the NOSM strike, I'll gladly stop. And I also find it funny you talk about cojones when you didn't accept my challenge. Post your address, because I WILL find the time to blockade your driveway. And if you dare complain, well, you're just a cowardly little whiner, now aren't you?

And I have brought the issue up with school executives. Lakehead is reluctant to take responsibility and remove the blockade. Not remove the strikers, but actually prevent them from stopping people who do not wish to be stopped.

Read the Argus. I'm not alone in my complaints. These strikers have effectively turned the students at Lakehead against them because of this BS. Want to protest and strike? Go for it! Want to force me to listen to the garbage you're peddling? Take a hike!

9/24/2010 11:54:45 PM

FernandoMartinez says:

To yer joking:

I've worked since I was legally able to and not a day less. I pay for my school on my own through hard work and savings. I do not get government grants or loans/OSAP or anything of the sort. I work and I pay off tuition. When I graduate, I will be debt-free. Also, I own my own vehicle.

Already I've accomplished more in life than you will ever dream of.

9/25/2010 11:59:14 PM

FernandoMartinez says:

"
If I did have to go on campus, do I need to listen to them? Is there anything that forces me to roll down my window and hear their nonsense? I don't believe so. And some days I feel like driving on to campus just to tell the strikers how ignorant I think they are."

Yes. They force you to listen to their nonsense. They physically block your way and will not let you pass until you have heard their spiel.

9/26/2010 12:01:55 AM

FernandoMartinez says:

Also, yer joking, I watched my father die a week after I turned 14. If you think it's a cakewalk for any single mother to support two kids on meagre income, then I have some news for you.

But nah. You're right. I've had it TOO easy. How dare I complain that people are preventing me from being where I need to be? Obviously how I pay for my university and how I get to said university are relevant factors in this discussion. /sarcasm

Seriously. Each and every single commentor here that thinks I'm wrong in calling this an inconvenience, go ahead and post your addresses so I can go over to your homes and blockade them. So far, I've had no takers.

It looks like I'm right. It is an inconvenience and you don't want to admit it because it would offend your precious union. So now that we've established that none of you want me to blockade your driveways, go ahead and admit you are dead wrong on this issue.

9/26/2010 12:11:21 AM

retiredintbay says:

Good Job Fernando! I'm still waiting for these "people" to post their addresses so that you can block them into their driveways and make them late too if it's not big deal. Especially when you're trying to get to a place that you PAY to attend. Where are all these tough "people" now?

A friend of mine has been without a contract for SEVEN years, but yet they're not out there making life difficult for people. Instead they keep doing their job and helping people.

Here are some suggestions :

1. Once the lineup becomes too big down Balmoral, simply pull your vehicle to the side of the road, put it in park, and walk across the grass yard into campus. Of course you'd be charged a towing fee, but it would be nice to be able to forward this to NOSM....but we know that can't happen. Not to mention you're paying for a parking pass that you wouldn't be using. So scratch this.

2. Once they're trying to talk to you, simply keep your windows up, turn up your tunes and lay back and relax. Do some studying. LOL But then again, you'd be screwing everyone behind you in line.

3. Tell them you'd LOVE to hear more about their complaints. Ask them for their phone numbers and addresses so that you can call them and visit them so that they can voice their concerns. Tell them how interested you are! Once you have their numbers and addresses, you can simply call them at all hours to hear more. You can visit them and ask to hear more about their complaints, while making them late and annoying the heck out of them as well. Maybe even block them in their driveways as you said. I like this idea the best. I mean, they're not working, so you should be able to call them at 2am after a study session if they want to voice their opinions so bad.

My bet is that NOT one person will give their address or phone number. Why? Because they won't want to be bothered on THEIR time, they won't want to be interrupted when they have places to be, or functions to attend.

Let the damn students through! These students pay enough as it is!

Question for the NOSM workers : if and when this gets settled, would it be okay if the students made you late for work everyday? I'm sure your boss wouldn't like that....I'm also pretty sure it would lead to a few reprimands, would could eventually lead to termination.....but that's okay right? I mean, if a student was protesting how they failed a class that they paid for because some people were holding them up everyday and making them late for class, or exams, etc.....you should be okay with that! I mean, who really cares if you get fired for being late? You don't seem to care about the students that are trying to learn and PAYING good money to do so.

9/26/2010 10:07:22 AM

FernandoMartinez says:

Thanks, retiredintbay. I really feel for those in our society that have been screwed over, like your friend who has been without a contract for seven years. Someone like that has my support behind them, not only because they have something real to complain about, but they aren't out there making life more difficult for others who have nothing to do with it. They're working hard because I'm sure they understand that being employed is better than being unemployed, especially in this economy.

I like some of your suggestions lol. It's times like these I wish I could afford a truck. A friend of mine in that lineup says he actually once saw a Pizza Hut driver drive off-road around the Bora Laskin building and through a ditch just so he wouldn't have to listen to them and wait in line for who knows how long.

This is what people are reduced to now. By all means, they should protest if they think it's necessary. But why do they feel a need to inconvenience people because they aren't getting their way?

9/26/2010 6:12:04 PM

Curious says:

These jerks and idiot union need a good swift kick in the behind! I am so pissed with them I avoid going anywhere in that area now because if they hold me up like the did Friday, I am afraid of what I might say or do! I had an appt. to bring my vehicle in 1st thing in the morning and they said they would get to it right away and I would have it back by noon. Since 4 or 5 others got in ahead of me because I was stuck on Balmoral close to Oliver for what seemed to be 15+ minutes. By the time I brought my car to the shop I was now on the bottom of the list as they thought I wasn't coming. Needless to say I had to reschedule my appt because it wouldn't have been ready that day. So again I have to make new arrangements.
Greed is killing our world and these people are a perfect example of it. No wonder companies move to foreign countries, the workers are not afraid to put in an honest days' work for less than a quarter of our lazy, whinning workers. Thank the unions for letting the lazy get overpaid and underworked - our city is a perfect example also. Severely overpaid, overstaffed and severely underworked!

9/27/2010 2:36:51 PM