A huge sigh of relief!

[Mr. Kilt]

I didn't bother to say anything before as some others here have much bigger problems than I do, but I'm breathing a huge sigh of relief right now.

As many of you know, I've been working as a bus driver with Calgary Transit for the past two years. It has been by far the best job I've held in my almost 44 years on this planet.

However, we have not had a contract since June of 2006. We've been working to rule for the past 3 months or so, and this week it escalated to a point where the union served strike notice for this Friday. Yay.

Things have finally started to turn around for Karen and I financially, so a strike was the last thing we needed. Going back into debt was not something we wanted to deal with.

I am happy to report that late this afternoon the union and the city have reached a tentative agreement. The strike notice has been recalled, and hopefully by Friday night the membership will vote to agree to the new contract. It's not quite what we were hoping for, but it's better than going on strike and getting nothing.

[McMurdo]

Yep that does sound better than going on strike, good luck with it, I hope it works out for you.

BTW the other day some guy asked me why I was wearing a kilt, so I used your "Crushed nuts are for sundaes!" line, well this guy just about had a heart attack laughing.

[Mr. Kilt]

Yep that does sound better than going on strike, good luck with it, I hope it works out for you.

BTW the other day some guy asked me why I was wearing a kilt, so I used your "Crushed nuts are for sundaes!" line, well this guy just about had a heart attack laughing.

Too cooll!!!

[ccga3359]

Great news. Hope there's a signing bonus or a enough of a raise to celebrate with a new kilt. If there isn't, well avoiding a strike is definatly a good thing.

[oldsoldier]

Great news. Hope there's a signing bonus or a enough of a raise to celebrate with a new kilt. If there isn't, well avoiding a strike is definatly a good thing.

And a tip of the Jamesons would be in order then! Less costly than a kilt ;)

[Jerry]

Glad the dispute was settled, Al. I went through one strike in the early 90s. We stayed out for 7 weeks and then came back for about the same offer we went out with. I still do not believe the salaried personnel actually ran the plant, but it didn't matter. The company wasn't going to give in even if they had to shut the place down.

[cessna152towser]

Big sigh of relief. Bet the passengers are happy to see it settled too. You have to have the right to go on strike as a lever against your employer dictating pay and conditions but at the end of the day there is often little to gain by going on strike - it always seems to me that what the workers lose in money while on strike and lose in public goodwill is rarely ever made up for by any improved pay and conditions which might ultimately be achieved.

[Mr. Kilt]

Thanks, guys. I'm just heading out for my first of 3 shifts today, should be interesting to get the public's reaction to the news. Gotta love having wireless internet at the bus garage.

As for celebrating with a new kilt...I could be persuaded to do something like that.

[Rampant Lion]

Al, I was wondering how you feeling about this whole situtation. I'm glad that things have worked out.

[irishrob]

Al:

Great news...afterall, you are a"professional driver!"

Rob