As of tomorrow, the city’s garbage strike is three weeks long and counting.
BlogTO: Smells Like Summer – June 23, 2009
Only a few short years since the last strike, City workers have again walked off the job, shutting down services like summer camps and swimming pools, and suspending Toronto trash collection. Nothing says summer like a stinking city full of kids on summer vacation with nothing to do. And be prepared; after only one day, Torontonians have already begun to nominate street curbs, alleyways, and even parks as unofficial dumping grounds of choice.
It’s a pretty gross welcome for visitors to the city, not to mention the daily state of stink for the residents. It was the reason for cancelling most of the city’s Canada Day celebrations and has alerted travel writers to caution tourists bound for Toronto.
Why are the city workers striking? According to the CityNews article above, employees want to keep 18 sick days a year which can be banked and cashed out at retirement. But the City wants to create short-term disability programs instead.
Personally, I think 18 sick days is excessive — I doubt I’ve taken 18 sick days total since 2000, let alone requested that in a single year. Who gets sick for a day and half out of every month?? It exceeds the standard holiday entitlement!