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| Mayor Eisenberger |
The Hamiltonian can be reached at admin@thehamiltonian.info
As part of our series that seeks to better understand how ATU will or will not fit into a potentiual LRT implementation in Hamilton, and in addition to our chat with Erik Tuck, ATU President Local 107, and Metrolinx, we also reached out to our Mayor.
1. The Hamiltonian recently interviewed ATU Local 107 President Eric Tuck. Mr. Tuck’s responses to our questions can be read here: http://www.thehamiltonian.net/2017/05/with-eric-tuck-on-atu-and-lrt.html
It appears as though ATU and its interests may be on a collision course with aspects of the possible LRT implementation, specifically as it relates to the privatization of services that would otherwise be provided by ATU members. Understanding that stakeholder management and inclusion are a vital part of any initiative, what measures have you taken, or will be taking to ensure that the right conversations are had and that ATU feel valued and included. We do appreciate that some of this will fall on Metrolinx, but as Mayor of our city, can we have your views on how this situation should be handled.
2. On the onset, did you accept that ATU and their members may be adversely impacted by an LRT implementation as it is currently being envisioned, or is this something that you are now turning your mind to?
3. What message do you have to Hamiltonians and to ATU supporters who may agree with Mr. Tuck’s assertion that public transportation is a staple that should remain within the control of local authorities?
4. Is there anything else you would like to add, relative to the cross section between ATU and their interests and direction that the city may be going in in relation to LRT?
The Mayor responded with the following:
“We know this project is being delivered as a Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Maintain (DBFOM) Council has made it very clear that if ATU can be involved in any way we should consider it. I will continue to encourage conversations between Metrolinx and ATU.”
While the Mayor's reply was brief, we acknowledge that it's been a busy time for him, and appreciate his time.
Remember ATU somehow resisted the temptation of appearing on one of Mr.Crawford's posters, so they are on the Mayor's naughty list, a veritable fly in the ointment.
ReplyDeleteContinued effort on the part of the Mayor are likely to produce.....nothing. As they have produced to date.
This sort of flippant dismissal is pathetic, he is fully prepared to sacrifice the livelihood of 50 or so neighbours in order to see his selfish dream realized.
Fortunately Fred is now on the clock, and it is has begun ticking...
As someone once said, if you're not at the table, you're on the menu. So why wait for an invitation to the conversation? This may sound hopelessly naive, but who advocates for workers if not the union?
ReplyDeleteJoe Hill
I believe that council must know that the writing is on the wall for ATU. ATU can become a very powerful player if they play their cards right and start now. There will be plenty of gestures of support and reassurance from those on council who want to appear sympathetic- but the vote said it all. Those who voted for this mess, will be the same who hang you out to dru- despite hand shakes and bold talk. Politicians are skilled at this type of thing. Beware.
ReplyDeleteSorce
Can someone tell me who were the 5 that voted against?
ReplyDeleteThank-you
Gordon
Skelly (Ward 7), Conley (Ward 9), Pearson (Ward 10), Johnson (Ward 11) & Partridge (Ward 15)
DeleteNoted
Conley,Pearson,Johnson,Partridge and Skelly.
DeleteMayor Fred is rather pragmatic about the issue.
ReplyDeleteSacrifice 50?
He is betting there are at least 51 willing to do anything in order to see this through.
Like re-elect him.
orangemike
I think this is an indication of the perils of handing over something so critical to the city's success, to another party. We will be at the whim of Metrolinx in many ways, while giving local politicians the possibility of washing their hands of any problems that arise- and there will be. So, it works out well for the Mayor. He gets a legacy problem- sorry, meant project, council gets the opportunity to shirk their responsibility and Hamilton gets controlled by remote masters.
ReplyDeleteSorce
Funny that everybody wants full control of transit but nobody wants to spend municipal dollars on it. If the 5 naysayers could be assured that 100% of HSR operating costs would be carried by the province, they would sign off on anything.
DeleteIf the HSR & ATU believe that a strong and efficient transit system is critical to the city's success, they have not managed to impart that to council in a meaningful way over the last 118 years -- or even in the 20-some years since the Harris PCs downloaded transit to municipalities.
Local taxpayers are clearly eager to dismantle area rating for transit and shoulder incrementally larger tax levies in the interests of building and maintaining a strong and vital HSR. Or the opposite, maybe.
Little Red Hen
local taxpayers have been stymied by LRT champion Lloyd Ferguson in their effort to dismantle area rating and fund HSR appropriately.
DeleteAnd betrayed by a Mayor who brokered "the deal" which denies the ability to even discuss the issue this term, and fully endorsed by the mind-trust in Wards 1-4
James Taylor
Ironically, you can't spell "autonomous" without ATU.
DeleteRimshot
some people are really dumb (you know who you are) Believing that untrained, unqualified bus drivers should be placed in charge of expensive new technology like LRT makes no sense.
ReplyDeleteThese people will never figure out how to safely operate the craft. The start button is different. The brake is in a different spot. I mean "really?"
If 50 have to be "sacrificed" in order to get what 13,000 want -isn't that a great deal?
LRT operators are smarter than bus drivers, and we will get them on the cheap. Win/Win. End stop. Nuff said.
orangemike
how can any member of a union be supportive of a plan which replaces union jobs with non union outsiders?
ReplyDeleteIs this not the epitome of selfish hypocrisy?
Clever of Fred to pit one against the other. Surely unity and harmony will be the result.
LiUNA could care less about those ATU members...they have real estate to develop.
ReplyDeletePriorities people, priorities.
Lister Block, William Thomas Building, Kresge...
who cares about rank and file?