HawthorneVillager.com

Hey Everyone,

Just before leaving my house this morning I saw about 30-40 trades blocking the entrance to Hepburn Road from Thompson. It looks like they are stopping the trades / construction workers from entering. They are holding picket signs and then have some sort of inflatable sign. I took a few pics. I will post them when I get to work. Lets see how long they delay me before I can break through the line.

Conrad

Charming....

When I left this morning, I noticed that there was an unusual amount of traffic, and I was running late, so I went past there at fairly illegal speed....
I must have just dodged it...

Anyone know who is picketing, and for what ?

Pete

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New Miltonians

They're protesting at Thompson Rd /Kennedy Circle too.

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New Miltonians

Waaaaaay back nearly 3 years I suppose, when we signed, mattamy said that the trades are on a two year contract, and pretty much every two years it is the same story, a brief strike, wage increases, increased house prices, slight delays. They usually say that they have already factored the increased costs in, which means host prices went up probably at the last release.

Its a bummer, but its a legal strike, Mattamy won't let them stay out long, they bleed money, and screw up all there planned shipments.

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14C - Lot 82 - Upland B
Roleplaying Game Software for your iPhone: RPGTouch

It is the Siders whom are out on strike... I thought that they were sub-trades so it is up to their companies to deal with the issue, not Mattamy.

Don't know if it's true, but I heard that all the plumbers in ontario were on or going on strike.

Don't know for sure, just what I heard.

Kelly

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Kelly
Amesbury

I don't think the plumbers went on strike.
They were voting on the 28th and they were against having a strike

Not positive though!

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I'm a little torn. On the one hand, based on what is said, I totally empathize with the strikers, and I get so tired with endless penny pinching, leading to shoddy products or safety risks, just so companies can make an extra buck or two. If costs go up, raise the price, it's not like we've seen any hesitation in this hot market for the prices to the customers to increase.

On the other hand, what gives them the right to block traffic? Picket in front of the place that is caushing you grief, sure. Heck, picket on the sidewalks in front of the job location if you think that will get you more PR, but get off the damn road! Union workers still do not get that after decades of innocent bystanders being inconvenienced so workers can make a point to employers we quickly go from being sympathetic to "screw you, why should I care about you when you care so little about me that you'd use me as a pawn".

I think the same goes with Mattamy... if the signs said "Help us Mattamy, your contractors are trying to kill us", and they were super friendly to the Mattamy foremen, you'd see Mattamy wielding it's muscle to help them... but if the foremen report back to head office that they are being unreasonable troublemakers, Mattamy won't want to lift a finger to help. It's common sense, fly/sugar/vinegar.

Robi... could you explain more? For example, if 10 cars arrive at the same time and the first one is stopped for 2-3 minutes, how do the other 9 get through? If there is no way, then by the time the 10th car comes around he may have waited up to half an hour.

And why do they get to stop every car for information? What if most of the cars just don't care? Do we get to go to their houses and make them spend 2-3 minutes listening to things that are relevant to our lives before they can move on? Why don't they set up an area where people who are interested can park and listen to what the strikers have to say? Welcome the nearby people to hear the striker's side instead of forcing them, and they'll have people who care rather than people ticked off at them.

That said, I was also thinking.. how will siding be done when the factory is up and live? Will that still be on the site, or will they be doing that in the factory? If it's in the factory, won't it just make more sense for Mattamy to own one of those things? So maybe it's a short term issue, and that being the case, you'd think Mattamy would push even harder to make it just go away.

Robi, while I was writing my other post you wrote:



While I agree with you in some ways... a good comparison is Wal-Mart's relationships with it's suppliers... that relationship means nothing if they don't make money... by the same token, Mattamy also seems very conscious of their public image... they give a lot to charity, they advanced funds to help the town secure roads, they spend a LOT on advertising, etc... I think a poke at their public image by asking PUBLICLY, via signs (which might make it into the papers) might work.

That said, what's the alternative? Interfere with Mattamy employees to the point that they try and drive through the line? If the attitude is "we'll show Mattamy who's boss" then they'll be forced to help the contractors fight the strikers because if they capitulate to one union that uses such tactics, even if the grievance is completely legitimate, every union will start emulating those tactics.

That said, you said the point to getting Mattamy to push is to have them hurt financially, and the strike is the method of doing that... if that's the case (and personally, I believe you're right), why block the Mattamy trucks at all? (Unless they have scab workers in there, in which case I could see your reasoning). Why not just let the financial pain do it's job, and at the same time, step aside and let the Mattamy trucks/homeowners just sail through? You'd get the positive PR of both the Mattamy workers and the homeowners as well as still causing the economic pain?

Ah, that makes sense then... the trades would also know about the strike and would be able to plan for it. If you are involved (I'm guessing from your posts you might be, or might know someone who is) good luck in getting this unfairness reversed, because as I said in my first message, I'm so tired of companies penny pinching to make an extra buck... if they need to make more money, charge more... but it seems like it's often easier to screw your workers than ask a customer for more money. It's not like Mattamy hesitates to raise the prices in this hot market.

I don't know.. i sat for over 10 minutes this morning and all it did was make me wonder why the police wouldnt just move these strikers. If I sat out stopping traffic I would be arrested or removed. If they had a program that honestly educated me as to their plight I would be interested in hearing it, but by making what is a long commute longer for me I now couldn't care less.

Marc

I guess I have the following to say (as a self employed, non union member for context)

1. Why is stopping other trades ok? They need to work and make a living... your contract issues aren't theirs so why stop them? I would think as a co-worker (in a way) you would feel for them and let them do their jobs rather then pay penalties for not completing their jobs on time.

2. How is stopping current home owners acomplishing anything? They have paid, and moved in, so there is no pressure that they can bring to help with this contract issue (and for that matter, they deal with Mattamy, not the sub-contractor... most have no idea whom that may be)

3. If you made a bad deal and have to pay for the equipment then either quit, or make a better deal next time. If I mess up quoting a deal I have to eat the cost, its part of being in business.


robi, your comment that you don't care about my delay.... if that is the additude of the strikers, how do they expect people to side with them? Maybe a few minute delay doesn't seem like a big deal to you, but when I have a major client waiting for me and your picket keeps me from being on time it is a major factor in my and my families life.

Marc

How many people were delayed today? There were people all over the road, lanes shut down... what was the total delay for everyone combined? How many hours of Police time (our tax dollars) were taken up?

I understand that you want to negotiate a fair deal with your bosses for the work you do... if you don't get a good deal go work elsewhere... but is it gaining any support from the public at large by clogging things up? Had someone dropped something off at my door, or politely approched me while I was walking around the nabourhood I would be inclined to listen. There is a time and place for things, and is the morning rush hour the best to catch people at?

There are of course delays commuting in the GTA, and Milton as well, so the addition of an unnecessary one really drives people crazy. I am more then willing to take time out for people.. but by choice... its that it is forced down the public's throat that makes it annoying.