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Again I do feel sorry for the customers that this affected
Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion » Transportation
COTA Strike
[749 posts] [95 contributors]
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Cotadriver4U
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Posted 10 months ago # -
rus
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Snarf said:
I don't ride the bus, but appreciate it being there if I ever did need to. I live in an area where there are lots of bus stops where I see people using the public service daily and it pisses me off to see these selfish greedy COTA drivers screw these people over. Especially when it's 100° outside and around a holiday.
To see these drivers continue to feel miffed by these negotiations which they voted to accept is also an embarrassment, fuck them hard.
+1
This strike was timed to create the maximum possible disruption, comments from the union notwithstanding. Apparently they wanted to hold the riders hostage to make management blink. In the end, it was the union that lost.
This has been an unmitigated PR disaster for the union.
Posted 10 months ago # -
DTown
Discovery District South
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rus said:
This has been an unmitigated PR disaster for the union.Agreed. The problem though is that voters and the public won't differentiate individual employees, from the union, from administration. To most people, especially after the dust settles, it will simply be COTA.
Maybe COTA should offer a day of "ride the bus free", or something. Give something back to the riders who were affected. Might go at least a little ways toward repairing the damage.
Posted 10 months ago # -
Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
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geoyui said:
I think the videos, which represent 15-30 picketing people out of a membership of 500, and the first vote for the now current contract show that not everyone thinks the same. Also look at ATOC's post in this thread. I am assuming much of the COTA people are just happy to be moving on from this.+1
Posted 10 months ago # -
geoyui
West Side
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rus
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DTown said:
Agreed. The problem though is that voters and the public won't differentiate individual employees, from the union, from administration. To most people, especially after the dust settles, it will simply be COTA.Agreed. To the general public they're all the same entity.
Posted 10 months ago # -
BCNation
Franklin Park
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I'm glad the strike is over, and that Mayor Coleman forced the Union to reconsider. I almost DIED yesterday of heat exhaustion (I thought I did not pack enough water, but found a water bottle buried in my backpack, when I made it home) walking in 100 degree heat, walking home from the Doo Dah parade. Make that a lesson learned.
The Moral of the Story:
Union Striking = Lose, Lose 110% of the Time
Union Striking + Coleman Interference = Strike Won't Last LongPosted 10 months ago # -
hugh59
Aboard the ultimate power in Olde Towne East
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I think everyone is aware of my anti-union bias and there has been enough criticism of the union; I do not need to add to it. From what I have seen of COTA management, I can understand why the union members might have acted rashly. This does not excuse the union behavior, but it puts it in context.
Posted 10 months ago # -
DavidF
Elysium Fields
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hugh59 said:
I think everyone is aware of my anti-union bias and there has been enough criticism of the union; I do not need to add to it. From what I have seen of COTA management, I can understand why the union members might have acted rashly. This does not excuse the union behavior, but it puts it in context.+1
Posted 10 months ago # -
gramarye
In Exile
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DTown said:
Agreed. The problem though is that voters and the public won't differentiate individual employees, from the union, from administration. To most people, especially after the dust settles, it will simply be COTA.This. Most riders or prospective riders aren't going to care a lick for finger-pointing between the union and management. It's all COTA from the outside. Riders only care about whether the bus was there for them. For one critical day, it was not. We will see how long memories last, and I don't think COTA's levy is up for renewal for a while, but I'd be glad that it isn't on the next ballot. After all, most voters realize that for every tax dollar that goes to COTA, some is going to the union and some to the management. The minutiae of the distribution probably won't matter as much.
Posted 10 months ago # -
Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
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gramarye said:
We will see how long memories last, and I don't think COTA's levy is up for renewal for a while, but I'd be glad that it isn't on the next ballot.From here: http://www.columbusunderground.com/curtis-stitt-discusses-the-future-of-public-transit-in-columbus
We now have a .5% sales tax comprised of two separate taxes. One is permanent for a .25%, one is for ten years at .25% and that expires in 2016.
And an interesting quote in to re-read hindsight from Curtis Stitt back in mid-June:
We’ve got some interesting times ahead of us. We’ve got some challenges and a levy that we’ve got to get renewed by 2016. That’s very important. Everything that we do influences how people will vote. Whether it’s good or bad.
Posted 10 months ago # -
luckyparrot
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Many of the members who were on the picket line were there to support the union and the other members. I was there each day. I also did some job hunting, checked into any benefits via United way & Job and Family services. You see I have 3 children and a wife and though my wife makes good money, my $14.59 per hour and overtime is what we need to live. I also voted YES all 3 times we had a contract to vote on. So just because someone was on the line does not mean that they are against a deal or don't want to work. I can not tell you how relieved I and my family are that I had a bus to drive this morning.
Posted 10 months ago # -
dodgchrgrs
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dodgchrgrs
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luckyparrot said:
Many of the members who were on the picket line were there to support the union and the other members. I was there each day. I also did some job hunting, checked into any benefits via United way & Job and Family services. You see I have 3 children and a wife and though my wife makes good money, my $14.59 per hour and overtime is what we need to live. I also voted YES all 3 times we had a contract to vote on. So just because someone was on the line does not mean that they are against a deal or don't want to work. I can not tell you how relieved I and my family are that I had a bus to drive this morning.From a fellow bus operator......I was there too. I voted first one no and yes to the last two votes. I just want to say i appreciate you for being there too. I was infuriated when the contract got voted voted down on monday evening but I still marched my butt down there to the pickett line to support the membership no matter what. GO UNIONS
Posted 10 months ago #
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