Nova Scotians are a cool bunch. We tend to be the least rowdy, especially when it comes to standing up for things that affect us.
For example, the on-going Metro Transit bus drivers on strike.
The bus driver union members have inconvenienced people living in Halifax, Dartmouth, Lower Sackville, and other outlying areas in the middle of winter.
I cannot blame the Union strategists for this, it's a perfect time to go on strike in the bus business when folks depend on you the most. It's the obvious time to do it, and it's the time of year when the impact of your strike will be felt the most.
From a political standpoint, it's a no-win. Legislate the drivers back to work, and it will be a fuss, let them continue to hold the citizens at hostage and it will be a political disaster.
I think it's time we chose the former, let's have "a fuss". Passengers of buses need to get fed up with this and start causing a fuss.
Either get the buses back on the road, or replace them with an alternative.
Outsource the buses, hire replacement workers, do something. It's no longer fun, not that it ever was fun.
I don't know if you have noticed but the Halifax Regional Municipality is a widespread region, and folks come from all over to work, shop, go to doctors and such. It is disgraceful that a place this large and vibrant should inconvenience the citizens to this extent for so long.
One more thing, who ever the near sighted person was who decided to combine the Halifax-Dartmouth Ferry Commission with Metro Transit should be fired. If he or she is no longer working for the Municipality, they should be re-hired and then fired....
The Ferries should be separated immediately from Metro Transit. It sure would have been nice to still have the ferries running during the bus strike. It would provide some options for some folks.
The Provincial Government should be asked to step in now and legislate the drivers back to work.
This is an essential service in a city the size of Halifax. It's time we started to recognize that if Halifax is ever going to become anything we need to get out front of things and make the place work. In this particular instance, making it work means getting the buses working come hell or high water.
