"DAY 8 TORONTO: STILL NO END TO STINKY MESS"

Week two of the garbage strike and the city and union couldn't be further apart than ever. Meanwhile, Toronto has itself tons of household waste flooding parks and community centers across the city (with more and more opening each day and) angering residents everywhere. Its heaping tons of garbage just baking in the summer sun. Ahhhh who doesn't like the stench of egg shells, dirty diapers and coffee grinds just lovely! Sadly, there doesn't appear to be an end to this any time soon.

In a time where unemployment is at its highest (and continues to escalate) the unions demands are ridiculously selfish and unrealistic. Their tactics by holding the city hostage is only hurting themselves and further frustrating people who attempt to dispose of their trash. I mean really don't we pay enough taxes to garner a little compensation here? Why is it that I'm paying for services that I'm (or any citizen of this great city) is not receiving? Why doesn't Mayor Miller and our Lordship Premier Dalton McGuinty take this as a hint to step-up to the plate and enforce 'back-to-work legislation' on all this madness. I know, it could be worse, look at Windsor. Their city workers have been on strike since April 11th. Yikes! Now that really stinks!

Let's a take a look at what their demanding shall we? Like fire and police services, they too want to be able to bank and cash their 18 sick days a year upon retirement. One in which is frustrating the heck out of Torontonians. At the very least those other services put their lives on the line daily for the citizens of this city. It's a dangerous job and they should be compensated for it.

Unlike the outside workers who won't even pick up stray recycling if it fell right in front of their feet that continues to flood the street. Heaven forbid there's a windy day and those cans and plastics that are just a centimeter shy of the inside of the collection truck accidentally don't make it in. They're rolling their way down the street (especially if you live on a incline like I do) until they reach the bottom and get caught curbside or on somebodies fence. Also I've seen many a green bin thrown onto the street (yeah, so they get run over by cars and shatter into tiny pieces) instead of the driveways or lawns. Did I happen to mention they're also manhandled by many a garbage collector? The last time I checked they call them 'garbage collectors' aren't they? Guess that's NOT in their job description. Sadly, no one could even dispute this because I've seen it with my very own eyes.

The next issues are scheduling, job security and seniority rights. We all know that job security has been an issue in most (if not all labour disputes) and judging by our economy (or lack there of) it needs to be resuscitated by our ambulance workers (oh wait a minute, their on strike too!) because frankly that hasn't existed in a long time anywhere. Leave it to the unions who have their issues with the City and squeeze all the money they can get out of the poor taxpayers. Shame on you! I say Mayor Miller and Mark Ferguson (Union President of Local 416) should just duke it out once and for all in a cage match and leave the rest of us out of this.

Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea for TO to outsource their garbage removal and avoid any more of this nonsense once this contract is up for renewal again. I know many (including myself) wouldn't mind getting their hands a little dirty to keep the city clean and livable as it should be. A world class city we can proudly continue to call home sans the mountains of rotting waste and unpleasant stench ruining the precious backdrop that we most definitely could do without. Peeeewwwwww!