You can't get there from here

May. 29th, 2006 at 10:40 PM

I didn't go to the Learneds today after all. The public transit system, the TTC, was on unexpected* strike as of first thing this morning, so there was no obvious way to get there. The system is gradually coming back together, but occasionally in odd ways. The Bloor-Danforth subway is running, but not Yonge-University. Because the hub stations have no way of blocking off one set of tracks from the other, this means the major hub stations are all closed down still.

Instead, among other things, I drooped in the sweltering summer smog in the good company of

pittenweem, and

saffronjan fed me avocado salad for dinner. The night before, safely in air conditioning, I feasted and chattered the evening away with

double0hilly; more about that meal anon.

Toronto changes slowly. The ROM extension is starting to become interesting. The Grand and Toy which closed at Avenue and University reopened across the street. The south end of Spadina is gradually being reinvigorated. More and more of the waterside condos are now finished structures. The U of T owned sports field at Devonshire and Bloor is being redeveloped after years of controversy - but into what?

Note for Pie Afficionados: The white chocolate apply pie bar which C. entered in the pie contest tasted much more like the real thing than Baskin-Robbins pear tart ice cream does.

Note for Potato Fans: A German potato battles for the right to continue to exist.

* It was an illegal strike. What would make a strike legal?

Comments

( 4 comments — Leave a comment )

a_d_medievalist

May. 30th, 2006 02:59 am (UTC)

re legal vs. illegal strikes. Generally, AFAIK, all unions in western democracies have pretty much retained the right (at least on paper) to strike legally -- with certain exceptions. Since the Reagan-Thatcher years, in the UK, USA, and Canada, those unions representing 'essential' public employees are not allowed to strike and those members who do so are breaking the law. At least, I sem to remember that that is the issue. It tends to vary from place to place, even within countries, but firefighters, police, air traffic, and public transit employees are almost always banned from striking. Garbagemen (or whatever they're called these days) and teachers seem to have different rules.

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gleodream

May. 30th, 2006 04:16 am (UTC)

In the case of this "work stoppage," part of the issue, as I understand it, is that it was not called on fair notice, as a "legal" strike. (No warning = no contingency plans.)

But I don't really know much except what I've learn over the radio.

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