Comments on: The City of Toronto – Where all they Care About is the Garbage

By: Polly

Polly — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 02:34:26 +0000

Your heart and soul speak volumes, Jennifer. Even if we are loathe to speak the words aloud, you are not alone, my friend

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:45:06 +0000

Yikes! Now that I re-read my own post, I do sound rather pathetic, don’t I? In reality, I was trying to keep my anger in check and mitigate the venom which was seeping out as I was typing. Next time, I won’t try and just let them have it with both barrels! Hahahahahaha!

I do thank you for your obvious concern and compassion. Take care!

By: Wyatt

Wyatt — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:47:59 +0000

I apologize, I just re-read my last post, and just in case you didn’t realize it was a typo, it should have read, “…try NOT to take it personally.”

By: Wyatt

Wyatt — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:13:29 +0000

Don’t let it get you too down Jennifer. I know it’s tough but try to take it personally. Reading your post, you sound hurt by all this. If I am reading into this the wrong way, I apologize. Just remember that it’s all a big game. It shouldn’t be, but it is. Take care of yourself and your family. Let your frustrations out while standing on the picket line. See you there.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:55:58 +0000

I showed up for my regularly scheduled shift today. I even arrived early in case there was picketing at HQ to ensure that I’d be on the floor and ready to go on time. I was sent home — alas today is my designated “strike day”.

As I was leaving I looked at the faces of my fellow EMDs : stress, dread, resignation. Today is a Monday – the busiest day of the week; it’s the start of summer tourist season – more people in the city; the weather forecast is for a gorgeous hot humid day – many of the vulnerable sick & elderly can not cope with it, let alone those who overdo it when they’re out & about… and there will be 25% FEWER of us — EMDs and Medics — to help them all!

Most of the people I work with are in this business because they actually care about their fellow human beings. Beneath the self-preserving bluster and black humour lie hearts of gold and souls of marshmallow. It’s hard enough to get us to take care of ourselves because we are the types of people who tend to give much more than we receive, who are, at the core, self-effacing. As EMDs, we toil in anonymity, with only rare appreciation and no recognition, often taking abuse from both callers and our colleagues on the road (we elect to believe this is out of frustration at the system and lack of any other outlet for it, not personal malice or disrespect). We must continually remind ourselves not to take things personally, derive satisfaction from the good we know we are doing, not what others perceive. At least we can hang up the phone or let the PTT button go. Our paramedic colleagues must deal with angry, abusive, freaked out and / or hysterical friends and family members “live and in person” while trying give the best possible care to the injured or sick. They can not walk away.

So now our employer wants to add to the stress — let’s make it even harder for them to care for themselves, let’s burn them out more quickly. We’ve already gotten the message that we’re not valuable to or respected by this administration: $262M for renovations to Sunnyside Park vs sick time for the people who faithfully serve those in need. Apparently a no-brainer for Mr Miller et al. $262 million? Seriously? For a park?… And your medics and EMDs are burning out by the dozens? Good choice.

Times are tough. I get that. I’m living that. Give us nothing then, but don’t take away what we have. We deserve it. More than that, we NEED it.

By: Polly

Polly — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:57:56 +0000

You’re both correct-I was “ranting” out of control re: our own.

There would be no strike if there were.

By: macbraughton

macbraughton — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:55:19 +0000

On the note of weather we (paramedics) are in the wrong union is a mute point at this time.

I agree with you, Wyatt. Now is probably not the best time to bring that up.

This is a management issue, and it is pure hypocrisy that City Councilors gave themselves a 2.5% raise this year and now want to try to get their pound of flesh from the workers.

Check out John Laforet’s blog: http://bit.ly/Tqus7

By: Wyatt

Wyatt — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:49:56 +0000

On the note of weather we (paramedics) are in the wrong union is a mute point at this time. I am not going to agree or disagree with this statement. I am however going to plead with each and every one of my brothers and sisters out there to support this job action wholeheartedly. None of asked for this, and all of us employees, citizens and management alike, stand only to lose the longer that strike continues. By supporting the job action firmly from the beginning we are affirming our intentions and sending a very loud and clear message to the public and our employer that we will not stand down on the issue of concessions.
The city is continuing to use the current economic situation as a scapegoat in order to take away the many hard fought rights that have taken years and years of bargaining to reach. A lot of the current concessions on the table would have very little to no financial impact on the city’s budget. They are using the current economic environment to push their own agenda, and in doing so turning a blind eye to what really needs to be done. The inefficiencies that I personally see on a daily basis from, blatant waste to over management could save the city millions of dollars a year if dealt with. It is mismanagement that has got us in this mess. Both the local city mess, and the global economic mess that we currently fester in. I understand that tough times call for tough measures, but not at the expense of the lowly worker. It’s time for the city to look in the mirror and take some responsibility for where we currently sit. Stand together, and stand strong. These aren’t privileges that they’re trying to revoke, these are rights that we have fought hard to get recognized over many years. It’s time to stand up and be counted.

By: Polly

Polly — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 04:38:33 +0000

As I drove in to work I listened to the radio stations commenting on the impending strike. The announcer mentioned that “Emergency Services” will not be affected and will be running full steam.
After the commercial break, she corrected herself and stated that Emergency Medical Services will only be running at 75%.
Do the people of the City of Toronto comprehend what that means? I seriously doubt it. What they will notice first is the inconvenience of the garbage and perhaps some inconvenience with recreational activities.

It is us, Local 70 and Local 416, that will be most affected. Our staffing numbers will be cut down so that there is a “degree” of service but not the standard we, as professionals, swore to uphold. We will continue to do our tmost to provide the same quality of service you are accustomed to. Sadly, our legs are being pulled out from underneath us by the very politicians you elected. We are being asked to provide an above standard of health care while being asked to compromise our own when we require compensatory healing time.

We should not be in the same union we currently take membership of.

We belong to our own union, to bargain for that which we are entitled to.

In solidarity to my brother, Hicks Donnie