Solidarity Forever: It Is Time For OC Transpo to Negotiate in Good Faith

In the late 1990s working conditions and morale at OC Transpo were such that it was described as a poisoned workplace, which culminated in the tragedy of the Ottawa Massacre.

Both union and management knew that something had to be done and that the usual confrontational approach to labour-management relations was not working. They sent their negotiators to Harvard University for training and embarked on what is called interest-based bargaining.

That process resulted in the current scheduling system, a proposal that originated with the management negotiators. The union agreed to take a 2 % lower pay increase to pay OC Transpo's added costs due to the system.

As a result of this new approach to labour management relations, working conditions, employee morale, and customer service improved and there was a steady increase in ridership levels over the years.

Then Larry O'Brien was elected Mayor of Ottawa.

It is no surprise that Larry O'Brien does not have a clue when it comes to labour-management relations. What is a surprise is that OC Transpo's top management seems to be eager to join in Larry's union busting strategy. What is not a surprise is that his attempt, bordering on bargaining in bad faith, to go over the heads of the workers elected bargaining committee and appeal directly to the workers has been overwhelmingly rejected by the union membership.

And now, apparently, the city is considering embarking on an all out labour war by using scabs to drive OC Transpo buses.

Do they really think CUPE is going to sit idly by while the city goes after one union at a time. I would not expect to see one snowplough on the road, or any other unionized City of Ottawa worker on the job, the moment after the first scab sets foot in an OC Transpo bus. Larry and his cohorts underestimated the workers solidarity once. Let us hope they do not do it again and cause even more havoc for the residents of Ottawa.

The weather is nice down south. It is time to send Larry O'Brien and senior OC Transpo managers on a vacation and bring in some professional negotiators who are willing to bargain in good faith to go back to the table with the union.

The workers have been on strike for over a month. They are anxious to negotiate a fair agreement. All that is required to settle this dispute is for OC Transpo to bargain in good faith. A little of the co-operative spirit of the 1999 negotiations might help too.

Three Simple Reasons Why Israel Is Not A Terrorist State

1. They are the "good guys".

2. "God" is on their side.

and most importantly

3. They are on the "winning" side.

Bracebridge-Gravenhurst-Muskoka Mountain Biking Trails

The following is a document I put together in preparation for a possible mountain biking vacation this summer. I have not been to any of these places. The information below is based on Rider Mel's Guide and Internet research.

If anybody wants a printer friendly PDF version with clickable links or a GPX file of the waypoints on the maps please email me at richardw.woodley@gmaii.com

Click on maps to view enlarged versions
Muskoka – Bracebridge Area Mountain Biking Sites
Core Area Trails


Buck Wallow

Fee: $7 day
Location: near Gravenhurst
Overview: 20 km trails, intermediate to advanced, very well maintained
Directions: Take Hwy 400 from Barrie north to Hwy 11, Hwy 11 north to Gravenhurst Parkway (exit 175) and follow briefly to Reay Rd, turn right and look for signed parking area on left, other side of road from KOA campground.
More info, map: Rider Mel's Guide
Crankarm: Buckwallow Trail Map
Mountain Biking at Buckwallow Cycling Centre - Canada Trails

Porcupine Ridge

Fee: $2 day
Location: Santa's Village, Bracebridge
Overview, 20 km trails, intermediate to advanced, “northern shield riding”
Directions: Take Hwy 400 from Barrie north to Hwy 11, Hwy 11 north to Hwy 118, Hwy 118 west to Bracebridge., go through the first set of traffic lights and turn left at Santa's Village Road, continue about 5 km. Porcupine Ridge is on the right hand side of the road, other side of road from Santa's Village.
More info, map: Rider Mel's Guide
Ecclestone Cycle: Porcupine Ridge Trail Map
Mountain Biking in Porcupine Ridge Trails - Canada Trails

Bracebridge Resource Management Centre

Fee: none indicated
Location north of Bracebridge (8 km)
Overview: 15 km trails, multi-use, easy to intermediate. double track loops
double track loops with interconnecting single track over rolling terrain in a forested area.
Directions: Take Highway 11 N. from Bracebridge past the turn off for Highway 117. The entrance is on the east side of Highway 11, 2.4 km north of High Falls/Hwy 117 bridge. The entrance is clearly marked by a large sign.
More info:
Doitinmuskoka.com - Bracebridge Resource Management Centre
Tourism Bracebridge - Muskoka Trails

Devils Gap

Fee: none indicated
Location: west of Gravenhurst
Overview; 6 km, 40 km, singletrack and fire roads, all skill levels. Great photo opportunities such as beaver dams, expanses of Canadian Shield, vast marshland and open meadows.
Directions: Trailhead is found 6.9 km west of Gravenhurst on Hwy 169. Turn left onto Snider's Bay Road… travel 1.3 km to Muriel Crescent to the Trailhead on the right. (look for the pole in the ground which starts the trail OR continue just a few seconds further and find parking on the right, open rock area great for parking, 2nd entrance to the trail there)
More info:
MTBR: Devils Gap Trail Reviews
Gravenhurst Hiking Trails

Torrance Barrens

Fee: Free
Location: Between Gravenhurst and Torrance
Overview: 15 km, easy, lunar landscape, dark sky reserve
Directions: Take Muskoka Road 169 north from Gravenhurst, Turn south on Southwood Road (Muskoka Road 13) and travel 7 kilometres to the Torrance Barrens sign. Park on the flat rock. The trail is marked with stone cairns, white marks on rocks and metal signs.
More info, map: Rider Mel's Guide
Ecclestone Cycle: Torrance Barrens
Trail Peak: Torrance Barrens

Peripheral Area South Trails


Hardwood Hills

Fee: $12.50 day
Location: near Edgar
Overview: 50 km trails, easy to intermediate, quick drying trails
Directions: Take 400 extension North from Barrie, north of Barrie, take first exit (exit #111) onto Forbes Rd (County Road 11), turn left at stop sign, follow Forbes Rd. NE for 10 km, Hardwood Ski and Bike will be on the left hand side of the road.
More info, map: Rider Mel's Guide
Hardwood Hills Ski and Bike
Mountain Biking at Hardwood Hills - Canada Trails

Eight Wander, Seventh Heaven

Fee: free
Location: near Edgar, east of Hardwood Hills
Overview: single track, mixed reviews
Directions: Oro/ Medonte, Near Horseshoe Valley (sugarbush).Trails located in between Horseshoe Valley Road (south of) and Old Barrie Road (north of), in between 2nd and 8th lines of Oro/Medonte.Minutes past Hardwood Hills on Old Barrie Road.
More info, location map:
MTBR: 8th Wander, 7th Heaven Trail Reviews

Pineridge Loop

Fee: free
Location: near Coulson
Overview: 13 km, intermediate
Directions: Take 400 north from Barrie to exit 117 East, turn right on Horseshoe Valley Rd. and look for the Pineridge signs just past Horseshoe Heights
More info: Rider Mel's Guide

Peripheral Area East Trails


Haliburton Forest

Fee: $15 per day
Location: by Kennisis Lake, near Algonquin Park
Overview: 100kms trails, , 300km of MTB and wilderness trails, easy to advanced note, includes wolf centre, some negative comments on Dirt world) see last link)
Directions: At West Guilford cross the bridge, and take County Road 7 for approximately 20 kilometres (12 miles) to the Base Camp. For
More info: Rider Mel's Guide
Haliburton Forest & Wildlife Reserve
Mountain Biking at Haliburton Forest - Canada Trails
Dirtworld: Haliburton Forest Mountain Bike Trail

Sir Sams

Fee: none indicated, (Half Day: $8.95
Full Day: $12.95 at Ski Hill site)
Location: close to Sir Sams Ski Hill near Eagle Lake
Overview: intermediate to advanced, fast ride with some moderate technical challenges. (From Sir Sams Ski Hill website: We have been busy mapping out and cutting Mountain Bike Trails to be open for Summer 2009. (Not certain if Ski Hill is taking over all trails)
Directions: From the town of Eagle Lake,go through Sir Sams Ski Hill parking lot to Deer Lake Dr. Several trails lead off the road marked with orange.
More info:
JaggedPath: Sir Sams
SirSams.com - Sir Sam's Ski Area
SirSams.com - SirSams.com - Mountain Bike Trails and Rentals

Silent Lake Provincial Park

Fee: park admission fee
Location: 24 km south of Bancroft
Overview: 6, 12 and 19km trails, intermediate to advanced,
well marked, and operate from the 2nd Friday in May until Thanksgiving Monday, trails have extremely muddy portions during the spring to mid June season.
Directions: The park is 25 km southwest of Bancroft on Highway 28
More info, map: Rider Mel's Guide
JaggedPath: Silent Lake Provincial Park
Silent Lake Provincial Park
Mountain Biking at Silent Lake Provincial Park - Canada Trails

Peripheral Area West Trails


Three Stage

Fee: none indicated
Location County Road 19 south west of Collingwood.
Overview: 40 (80?) km, intermediate to advanced
Directions: ???

(Rider Mel's Guide)
From Main St. in Collingwood go west to the Hwy 26 intersection and turn LEFT. Go to Sixth Street and turn RIGHT. Go to Osler Bluff Rd. (Hwy 19) and turn LEFT. Stay on 19 turning RIGHT onto 9TH sideroad. It will head up the escarpment. Turn LEFT at the 2ND line and follow the rough road to the dead end. Pick up the 1-track to the right of the parking area (on the cross roads) and follow the map.

(alternativewheels.com)
From the west take Grey Rd. #2 south to Grey Rd #19, then east to the Collingwood 4/5 line. Go south to the 6/7 sideroad, then east to the intersection of the 2/3 line. The road basically ends here and you can park off to the side and access the upper entrance. Riders coming from the east may prefer to use the lower parking lot on Grey Rd. #31 near the intersection of the Collingwood townline.

(out-there.com)
From the 400 follow the 25 passed Collingwood to the 19. Take the 19 south and watch for the Bruce Trail on the right side of the road. You'll find an unnamed road across from this on the other side of the street which will lead you to the small parking area and the entrance to the trails.

More info: Rider Mel's Guide
Mountain Biking Central Ontario North
Crankarm: 3 Stage
Mountain Biking @ Three Stage May 2004 (photos)
Jolley's Alternative Wheels - Three Stage

Loree Forest

Fee: free
Location: near Victoria Corners
Overview: 8 km, beginner, short flat singletrack, great view of Collingwood and Georgian Bay
Directions: From Victoria Corners on County Road 2 take Sideroad 21 for approx 4 km, parking area is on right, trail entrance on left.
More info: Rider Mel's Guide
http://www.alternativewheels.com/rides/mtb.php#24
http://www.out-there.com/ton02mtb.htm
Jolley's Alternative Wheels - Loree Forest
Mountain Biking Central Ontario North

Kolapore Uplands

Fee: none indicated
Location: Kolapore, below Lake Huron
Overview: 50 Km, intermediate to advance, forested, The map is available at the Ravenna General Store 6km north of the parking lot
Directions: The main entrance is approximately 6 km south of Ravenna on Grey Road 2, 15 km north of County Road 2 and County Road 4.

More info: Rider Mel's Guide
Mountain Biking at Kolapore Uplands Trails - Canada Trails
Mountain Biking Central Ontario North
Kolapore Uplands Wilderness Ski Trails


For Future Reference: Further East Trails, Bruce Peninsula etc.
Jolley's Alternative Wheels - Mountain Bike Trails
Mountain Bike The Bruce

Follow My Blog in 2009

Happy New Year Everyone. It is 2009 and you can follow my blog by clicking "Follow This Blog" on the right.

Larry O'Brien's Lies and the Tragic History Behind OC Transpo's Scheduling System

This post is dedicated to the memory of Clare Davidson, Brian Guay, David Lemay, Harry Schoenmakers, and Pierre Lebrun, victims of the poisoned work environment at OC Transpo.


Ottawa Mayor Larry O'Brien would have us believe that it was the union that precipitated the OC Transpo strike and that the scheduling system is costing the city and OC Transpo money.

The truth is the strike was precipitated when management presented a final offer and made it clear that it's scheduling proposal was not negotiable, leaving the union with only two options, accept the offer (the substance of which had already been rejected by 98% of the membership) or strike. Further negotiations were not an option, and as we have seen, are still not an option as far as Larry O'Brien is concerned. Although the union has proposed changes to the current scheduling system to try and address OC Transpo's concerns.

But the biggest lie is that the scheduling system is costing the city money, while the truth is OC Transpo workers absorbed the costs of the scheduling system.

In an effort to improve the working conditions, the Union’s membership voted overwhelmingly to pay for these additional costs itself. Drivers did this by accepting a sub-standard wage increase in 1999. This substandard pay rate continues today. As recently reported in the Ottawa Citizen newspaper, Ottawa’s transit workers are paid many thousands of dollars lower than transit workers in other Ontario municipalities of similar size. Simply put, Ottawa’s drivers are paid lower rates for the benefit of having the current scheduling system.

But the real story behind the strike is the unspoken tragic history of how the current scheduling system came about, a history that I am sure is on the minds of OC Transpo workers everyday they are on the picket line.

In the mid-1990s morale at OC Transpo began to fall, it hit bottom in 1998 and 1999. In response to this both the Union and Management knew that it had to carefully examine ways to turn the workplace around. Management at OC Transpo recommended to Regional Council, and Council approved a study by KPMG that cost in excess of one million dollars.

KPMG recognized the problem, noting in its February 1999 report:

"…[reduced public funding, deteriorating bus fleet, and increasing cost of providing public transit services] contributed to the strife between OC Transpo and its workers, demoralized workforce, resulting in poorer customer service…"

KPMG also noted that both the union and management shared a concern and hoped to work together to improve working conditions. KPMG went on to observe:

"There has been a strong commitment from both the unions and management to recognize the shortcomings of the system and to implement change and improvements as quickly as possible. The level of co-operation, and the commitment to consultation between the unions and management has improved dramatically.”

The KPMG study recommended that management allow the drivers, including their union, to have a greater role to play in the operation of the workplace. KPMG rejected the prevailing attitude in the workplace concluding that “the philosophy that “I put up with it so you have to” has been recognized as inappropriate in today’s environment.”

To further demonstrate their willingness to overcome problems, representatives from both management and the union attended negotiation training sessions at Harvard University. The result was a commitment by both sides to embrace “interest based negotiations” – a process where the parties openly share their concerns, expectations and information in negotiations. The Harvard program was partially funded by the federal Mediation Services department.

Improved morale could not come quick enough though – on April 6, 1999 an employee had entered the Belfast Road bus depot and opened fire – killing four long-service workers. This terrible event, and the memories of four workers, reinforced the need to make improvements in this workplace.

One such improvement was the scheduling system that is presently in dispute. The proposal originated with the employer negotiators – a way that drivers could have more input into the nature of their work. Prior to this, drivers reported in and were assigned routes and times. There was frustration and a feeling that drivers did not have even this small amount of control over their working lives.

The employer’s 1999 proposal on scheduling was also a method to relieve junior members from working less desirable times. For example one driver, Craig Watson recently commented, “under the old system I worked weekends for ten years, under the current system I had a better balance between weekends and weekdays.”

To create this flexibility the union and management agreed that more senior drivers could bid on weekend work in addition to their normally assigned hours. This would give the more junior members time off. The freely negotiated schedule did result in more overtime for those senior members – approximately 0.6% in 1999. The company said that while it supported the scheduling flexibility, it did not want to shoulder the additional cost, even though it was a small one.

The scheduling system now under assault by the City was the product of interest based negotiations in 1999 – for their efforts the Employer’s negotiators won an prestigious award for innovation and leadership. That isn’t being duplicated today.

As a result of those co-operative efforts made by workers and managers, employer and union, working conditions, morale, and service levels began to improve.

Then Larry O'Brien was elected Mayor of Ottawa.


Sources:
Ottawa Transit Strike - The History of the Current Scheduling System
The Canadian Encyclopedia: Ottawa Massacre

Have A Holly Jolly Season of Cultural Diversity

Well the godless communist Fifth Column is about to take a break for the Christian Capitalist holiday season.

That is, of course, if you listen to some Christian proselytizers who would have you believe that Christians are the only ones celebrating at this time of year and the most terrible thing anyone could do, and an affront to god as well, is to wish non-Christians best wishes during their celebrations.

Ever since Europeans first set foot in this country Canada has been a multicultural and multi-religious country, and even before that, as our aboriginal peoples also have a variety of cultural traditions. We are a country with freedom of religion but no official religion.

Not only is this the Christmas season, but it is also the time of the winter solstice and the beginning of winter, a season that is very much a defining aspect of being Canadian. There is nothing more Canadian than winter and getting out and enjoying and celebrating it. It is something shared by all Canadians, no matter their cultural or religious backgrounds.

And of course, for those Canadians that are religious, it is a shared season of religious festivals for numerous faiths, including many of the “world's great religions”.

We have a real opportunity here, as Canadians, to turn this holiday season into a celebration of our diversity. That is not to take anything away from Christianity or other religions, who can, and still should, celebrate their religious festivals.

Indeed, the Christian community could use this opportunity to untether the secular aspects of Christmas from the religious celebrations of Christianity, freeing it from the commercialism that has overpowered it.

This is an opportunity for all Canadians to come together and celebrate beliefs shared by all the great religions, as well as humanism, the spirit of love, peace and caring for each other. We could combine the secular aspects of the winter season with these shared beliefs and turn it into one big Canadian festival of diversity.

Mountain Biking and Cycling: The Season in Review

Another season ended a few weeks ago when the roads were covered in white stuff, not snow but a heavy layer of salt that the city felt necessary to dump on the roads during a few light snowfalls. But as I do much of my riding from home, even the ride to the mountain bike (MTB) trails requires riding on the roadways so I decided it was time to end the season. A couple of weeks later everything was covered in snow. The bikes have been in and out of “Joe's Garage” for Eric's annual tune-ups and are waiting downstairs for the new season. Christine's Brodie Sterling is set up on a trainer, and my Devinci Remix “as good as new” with brand new Kenda Nevegals is waiting for next season.

My season started on April 6 on the Brodie hybrid riding the back country roads near Kanata and the mountain bike season started on May 6 on the Old Quarry trails and ended November 20 on those same trails. I rode a total of 2715 km (174 hours) this season, 1977 km (113 hours) on the hybrid and 739 km (61 hours) on the mountain bike.

We took a three week vacation in Austria but even managed to get 179 km of riding in there on Trans-Canada Trail type trails and paved paths, on borrowed mountain bikes. More on cycling in Austria in a future blog post.

We also decided not to take our bikes on our one week northern vacation this year, concentrating on kayaking up north instead, including a bit on the French River.

The highpoint of the season for me, as far as hybrid riding goes, is the Tour Nortel. I rode just over 80 km in 4.5 hours at an average speed of 19 km/hour and raised $525 for the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. My longest hybrid ride this year was 101 km from Kanata up into the Gatineau's and back in 5.5 hours at an average speed of 19 km/hr. I did not manage to beat last years personal distance record of 110 km.

This Seasons Long Hybrid Ride click image to enlarge
My mountain biking season this year was concentrated on the Greenbelt trails and Kanata Lakes with some exploring in the Marlborough Forest. We live right beside Old Quarry and those trails interconnect to all of the western Greenbelt trails so we spend a lot of time on these trails whose difficulty ranges from easy flat gravel to the highly technical Lime Kiln Trail and everything in-between.

I got a new toy this year, a new, much more accurate GPS to use on my mapping projects. I added maps of Greenbelt Trails 11 & 12 and the Marlborough Forest to my map archive this season. Mapping the trails is an added bonus to riding them since I have always loved and collected maps, and it adds some extra fun to the experience and is a way to give back to the community.

I first checked out the Marlborough Forest in the previous season attempting to follow the Rideau Trail through it. But as soon as the trail left the forest roads it became very muddy and unsustainable so I switched to the forest roads and mapped all of the forest roads that connected to my starting point this season. There may be a few other orphan roads out there. However there are lots of cart trails , snowmobile trails and other trails interconnecting with the forest roads that I have yet to explore and map. Perhaps next season.

Marlborough Forest Forest Roads click image to enlarge
The other part of my regular riding schedule is in the South March Highlands, also known as the Kanata Lakes Trails. This year I managed to get out a number of my times on my own, in addition to the regular Thursday night Ottawa Mountain Bike Association (OMBA) rides where I was asked and reluctantly agreed to lead the OMBA Group D ride. My reluctance was based on the large shoes I had to fill from previous Group D riders such as Peter and Mario (and Catweaver before I joined the rides). However I think I set my own tone for the rides making them an easy going beginner level ride. Indeed I think there is room for a group between D and C that would be a little more challenging than Group D as I lead it. It also looks like A and B might possibly be combined as they usually ended up being combined this last season. Leading Group D got me out a few more times in the season trying to scout out different routes for the group to take. Next season if I am still leading the group I think we will do more of the old Kanata Lakes trails between the rail line and GFR and I expect to spend even more time in SMH next season.

A Typical Group D Ride click image to enlarge
As well as riding in SMH I also had the opportunity to participate in OMBA trail days doping trail maintenance. This season we managed to get Rock Hopper made into a much more sustainable trail. Trail days are a lot of hard work but also a lot of fun and a great way to give back to the trails that we all enjoy.

The City of Ottawa is currently preparing the management plan for the South March Highlands so helping keep the trails sustainable, as well as riding responsibly and avoiding the trails during muddy conditions, improves the chances of having mountain biking recognized as not only a legitimate but a desirable use of the trail system.

And besides all the riding I have gotten involved in a number of other MTB related projects this season. I just agreed to monitor the NCC's greenbelt review for OMBA and keep my eyes and ears open for any impacts on mountain biking.

I have also been helping PeterV learn about GPSing and mapping software for his Nakkertok project. I have also been providing Catweaver with some informal assistance on her Trips for Kids project. And I am now an EcoSteward for the Dominique's Creative Wheel Centre, an environmental retreat and MTB training school, for women and children, where I help out with mapping projects.

It has been a great season and I look forward to next season. I have already started to plan a short MTB holiday in the Muskoka region that I will be writing more about in the future.

Happy Riding to all of you that are continuing to ride through the winter.

Everything I've Ever Thought Was Wrong

I've always thought of myself this way:

uses logic
detail oriented
facts rule
words and language
present and past
math and science
can comprehend
knowing
acknowledges
order/pattern perception
knows object name
reality based
forms strategies
practical
safe

But now I find out I'm this way:

uses feeling
"big picture" oriented
imagination rules
symbols and images
present and future
philosophy & religion
can "get it" (i.e. meaning)
believes
appreciates
spatial perception
knows object function
fantasy based
presents possibilities
impetuous
risk taking

So undoubtedly I am going to have to give up blogging and become a starving artist.

Police Behaving Badly in Ottawa

Read all about it at knitnut.net

What's The Big Deal About OC Transpo Scheduling

The OC Transpo strike is not about the money. If the proposed changes to the scheduling system were taken off the table the drivers and mechanics would be back to work immediately and accept OC Transpo's wage offer without the signing bonus.

So what is the big deal about the scheduling system that gives drivers with more seniority better routes and schedules.

Perhaps, if your a new driver, you might think you could even benefit if the older drivers don't get the best routes and schedules. Until, of course, you realize driver fairness would not be a factor in scheduling, only administrative convenience.

As a newer driver under the current system you know you are going to get stuck with the worst routes and schedules now when you are young, to benefit from the system when you are older and family time is more important to you. If your an older driver, that did his time under the system, no doubt you are very upset to possibly lose the benefit that you paid for as a younger driver.

How does OC Transpo, the city and bus riders benefit from the current system. Well for one it is a great incentive for driver loyalty, and the more experienced drivers there are in the system the more efficiently the whole system will run, contributing to cost savings for the city.

The benefit of being able to choose your routes, even when your at the lower level, gives drivers a feeling of empowerment and belonging. For senior drivers the, system probably contributes to keeping the same drivers on the same routes, getting to know the routes and the regular passengers. It contributes greatly to job satisfaction, which is very important for workers who are dealing with the public on the front line, and that easily translates into rider satisfaction.

So why does the city want to change a system that works to everyone's benefit for some theoretical cost savings and put bus riders through a strike, that the city very well might lose, to try do it.