Comments | jamiesona: Ahoy!

jamiesona

Ahoy!

Sep 19, 2006 21:12

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY!

Yarrrr...

I saw this on the news tonight and decided to do a quick search. It's just another strike against Translink ( Read more... )

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rohbit September 20 2006, 22:40:41 UTC

Some bus drivers are real dinks.

There's this black guy who drives the bus who first yelled at some kid to turn down his headphones, and then turned on this asian girl who was eating a cookie.

schaeferjacobs September 21 2006, 06:16:21 UTC

Maybe it was a cannabis cookie.

But there's also one great big black guy who drives a bus who's gotta be the coolest guy ever.

rohbit September 22 2006, 05:38:53 UTC

Hey Jake, I'm not trying to be a dick or anything, but could you refrain from text messaging me unless you really have to get a hold of me. It's not covered by my free minutes and being that I don't pay for my cellphone, I'm not the one footing the cost, my dad is, and last time he got the bill he asked me if I text message alot evne though I don't.

schaeferjacobs September 22 2006, 05:46:49 UTC

I can refrain, and I will. Thank you for not being a dick about it. I mean that.

jamiesona September 22 2006, 13:29:16 UTC

Oh I fully agree that there are some nice bus drivers out there. But more often than not, they're pricks. And in a job like theirs, why does Translink put up with it?

schaeferjacobs September 22 2006, 16:40:19 UTC

They don't have a choice because the drivers are unionized. That means they can do things that would get them terminated in other jobs, but if Translink tries to fire them, the union will step in.

jamiesona September 22 2006, 17:03:43 UTC

Exactly. Unions are great when you're a member (as I was for a few years when I worked at Crown Packaging). But they just end up screwing over everybody else in the process of helping their members.

schaeferjacobs September 22 2006, 17:06:16 UTC

Keep in mind that unions are there for their members, not everybody else. Also, I don't see what this has to do with your beef with Translink.

jamiesona September 22 2006, 17:52:13 UTC

It has plenty to do with it. It partially explains the ineptitude of the drivers. Management's hands are tied. Even if a driver is a dick or completely useless, what can they do about it? If they fire the guy or discipline him, the union will come down on the compnay and make their lives a living hell.

"Keep in mind that unions are there for their members, not everybody else."

Exactly my point. They just end up screwing over the public (who the transit system is supposed to be helping) in the process of helping their members. Does that make sense to you? Don't we deserve the best service possible?

schaeferjacobs September 23 2006, 05:52:59 UTC

Because the unions are there for their members and nobody else, if they do, in fact, wind up "screwing over the public", that's too damn bad. If management's hands are tied, what makes you think they give a hoot what the public thinks?

Your ability to generalize is really quite good. I'm also quite surprised you're refusing to allow for the fact that there may be more to this whole thing than you know (i.e., there was probably a good reason why your bus was late). Not everyone is a total idiot, Jamieson.

jamiesona September 24 2006, 06:38:12 UTC

That's exactly why unions are bad. Shouldn't the entire point of a public service be to benefit the public?

And you are also quite good at generalizing...

Jake: "Unions are always good."
Jake: "The NDP is always good."
Jake: "I'm always a moron."

"Not everyone is a total idiot, Jamieson."

And I will believe that as soon as the world gives me a reason to.

And it's not just me that's complaining. If you were a UBC student I could show you a 43 reply-long thread on WebCT about bus complaints.

gautam September 24 2006, 07:08:43 UTC

Honestly, I probably travel transit more than anyone that I know of; not just school, but to friends' houses and to work, so I have a fairly good idea of how things work most of the time.

For the most part, the transit personnel are relatively friendly. Sometimes, however, they can be real pricks, but A) driving off right as you get to the fucking doors after they've seen you run from a mile away just to catch it and/or B) by being plainly rude.

As far as transit scheduling is concerned, for the majority of times, they are always either on time, or slightly late, which is fine, especially for people who can't get there in time for reasonable purposes. Rarely do I come across a total prick, but it does happen from time to time. All in all, I have full respect for their services and it has improved drastically over the past 4 years. You can complain, and you have every right to do so, but from personal experience, I am quite fine with the way things are run these days.

schaeferjacobs September 25 2006, 00:12:45 UTC

So let me get this straight... I point out the fact that you're NOT being open-minded about Translink, and the fact that you're NOT allowing for the fact that there just might be a very good reason for the bus being late - both of which are standard when showing CONSIDERATION for the other side of the story, by the way - and you respond by insulting me and my political point of view?

I'll remember this and think twice next time I consider reasoning with you.

jamiesona September 25 2006, 00:50:44 UTC

Come on now. I'm not Mohsin. ;)

All I'm doing is trying to show that you generalize as well. And I apologize for the blatant insult. I couldn't help myself. LOL.

Anyways...

I wasn't even talking about unions before you started in on that, and it really didn't have much to do with my complaint at the time. But now that you brought it up, it starts to make sense to me why Translink's service is as bad as it is. I know you support unions. And I understand and agree with you when you say that they are only there to help the workers. But you have to admit, they ARE detrimental to the PUBLIC in that they do not allow for proper disciplining and/or termination of employees. No?

Also, I don't understand why you can't let me have my opinion on Translink. I feel like you're attacking me for my opinion. What I'm ultimately trying to say is from MY experience, Translink's service has been deteriorating. Whether it has to do with the unions, lack of discipline for offending drivers, poor hiring practices, etc... it's still shitty ( ... )

schaeferjacobs September 25 2006, 02:44:16 UTC

Now hold on. Saying you know I support unions, that's a generalization, albeit a fair one, because that's probably the impression I give most of the time. But I do agree with you that in many cases their practices can be detrimental - not only to the public but to the company - in particular when it comes to mishandling of disciplinary actions ( ... )

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