Toronto stinks...

[Shalyn]

So it's day 11 of the Toronto garbage strike, and it fucking smells, even in the high-income areas that have private garbage pick-up (because of the sidewalk trash cans).

I have a few gripes with this 'event', as not only is it completely unsanitary and disgusting, they're also using public parks as temporary dump sites, using pesticides to keep away the rats (despite the law banning pesticides), and the people.. man, it's like people forget to be civil and clean when there isn't a garbage can every 5 minutes (as the street garbage bins have been saran-wrapped off). I saw diapers stuffed in the saran. Really? Come on.

This raises the question: Should they be allowed to strike in the summer? I mean, the amount of garbage is bad when you mix it with the recycling and compost bins that we have, and I'm sure China Town stinks to high heaven, but it isn't just smell, it's bacteria, it's deadly. They don't expect it to end any time soon, saying it could go to August, meaning more air moulds, and there are picketers that have to stay around the sites until their unions come to an agreement. How much crap did we go through when SARS came blasting through this city, and yet here we are, after the Pride parade (one of Toronto's biggest tourist pulls) with trash everywhere, dirty streets.. we're starting to resemble New Jersey. >.>;

SO, what does BG think? Striking issues aside, as the workers are not starving and homeless, which is pretty good considering the economy, I'm thinking they should be forced back, even though they have the right to strike. I'm all about freedom, but when it affects the health of so many, I'm thinking it's time to make an exception.

Happy post-Canada Day by the way!

http://images.ctv.ca/archives/CTVNew...ump_090629.jpg

[Dimmauk]

Canada is America's hat.

[Mizango]

lol Canada, it's the dumps.

[Seraph]

Take it to the emergency room. Socialized medicine fixes everything.

Who shit in the attic again?

[Kaisha]

It's the same kinda crap like Ottawa had with it's 50-day strike of their public transportation, it's kinda *needed* to keep the city operating smoothly.

Garbage strike has to be even worse though, as mentioned with the health hazards particularly in mind, and that the smell is going to linger for quite awhile once they get off their asses, get nothing at all from the strike, and get back to business. Quite a way to deface the city and make it unappealing to tourists.

Makes me rethink whether or not I should move to within the Toronto area now. ;/

[EDIT] After reading a couple other sources, a lot of the garbage dumping is being done illegally. They should get the police off their asses and start cracking down on it for some easy brownie points.

[Senoska]

Quit sending your nasty shit to Michigan, we don't want it.

[Tythera]

Quit sending your nasty shit to Michigan, we don't want it.

How can you not like medical waste?

[Shalyn]

Quit sending your nasty shit to Michigan, we don't want it.

As long as you're willing to sell out, we'll be shippin' it over :D

[Kiro]

Lighter fluid and some matches would solve this issue.

[sephir]

I havent been following the strike much since I've moved about an hour out of the city but from what I remember the "sanitation technicians" (garbage men) want something absurd like 5-7% pay raise while the city is broke from the recession/stupid mayor.

[Priran]

we're starting to resemble New Jersey. >.>;

Not that I'm particularly in love with this place but if it ever started to resemble Canada I would SHOOT MYSELF.

[Tomk]

More info please?

%5-7% is not unreasonable so how is there pay in reference to other comparable jobs? When was there last pay increase?

The reason why I'm asking is to figure out if this is people unjustly striking or if maybe they are trying to let you know that they have been taken advantage of. If you don't want to pay them right then maybe you should be covered in your own trash.

lerntorecycle

[Shalyn]

They had a strike a few years back. I understand that there are reasons to strike, but the time they choose to do it is extremely unhealthy, which was why I asked the question as to whether they should be allowed to or not. We have massive recycle and compost bins along with regular garbage, but nothing is being taken.

If they are suffering from low pay, it isn't different from before summer, but they strategically chose summer (like they did last time) and a few days before Pride week in hopes of pressuring the city, but you can't get blood from a stone. As I said, they still have jobs, which is more than can be said for thousands and thousands of others.

[BerenTebogo]

Should you be allowed to have your trash picked up? Pretty sure its not a right.

If conditions are shitty and they don't want to pick up your trash til conditions improve then you're shit out of luck, end of story.

Fire them? Ok! Then you still don't have anyone picking up your trash and the city will have a lawsuit on their hands. Restrict the rights of unions? Bigger lawsuit. They pick up shit for a living - pay them whatever they're asking or have fun getting the plague.

Pretty simple choice imo.

[Kiro]

I still say y'all should light that shit on fire. Especially with the pesticides all over the place.

[Skjie]

Canadian unions get away with too much shit. Time to roll up your sleeves, boys. I lived in TO during the last strike, and it was ridiculous.

[Elesirdur]

We don't get this problem in BC, we just let the Unions rape us in the cornhole for all we're worth. >_>

[Dazd]

Maybe when their kids get sick and die they'll realize it's a stupid idea to stop picking something up that can cause widespread disease.

Or just hire Mexicans to do it cheaper.

[Kyten]

Hire Mexicans in Canada? lawl roadtrip goz

[Kiro]

Why don't you guys just take it to the dump yourselves? I mean, your garbage personally.