W. K. Lis
Superstar
I sure hope there is no requirement for unionised employees. That would keep family run construction companies out for sure.
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Roncesvalles Reconstruction
- Thread starter allabootmatt
- Start date
I sure hope there is no requirement for unionised employees. That would keep family run construction companies out for sure.
nfitz
Superstar
I don't recall seeing any unionisation requirement in any City tender documents I've ever read.
Why would you think otherwise? The tender documents are public.
rbt
Senior Member
There is a requirement for fair compensation of employees. Since Governments bids are dollar based, a company which brought in a large number of immigrants and paid them pennies would win; not good for the government pocket book taxation wise so this rule is in place.
I don't recall seeing any bidders rejected on this basis in a long time.
SunriseChampion
Senior Member
I was just wondering because I work in construction (trade shall remain nameless) for a very small family company and we've been asked as employees to sign up with unions in order to get certain jobs and been shut out of other jobs because we aren't unionised (and damn proud of it). These were jobs where government money was involved either as the client or through various grants, etc.
And I'll go ahead and say it now: in my experience and in my field, unionised workers have the work ethic of a welfare bum for the most part. This would explain why these city-run infrastructure projects are a joke in their completion.
And I'll go ahead and say it now: in my experience and in my field, unionised workers have the work ethic of a welfare bum for the most part. This would explain why these city-run infrastructure projects are a joke in their completion.
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The Mad Navigator
Banned
That's a shame, really. Those union construction crum bums clearly have no respect for themselves and probably don't reside in many of public infrastructure projects that are being built or rebuilt. I take pride when something new is built in Toronto AND it looks well constructed in the same time, but I definitely hear where you're coming from.
dob467
Active Member
Proud you're not unionized and work ethic of a welfare bum? Clearly you've got a chip on your shoulder.
Construction delays are pretty much par for the course. I just had work done on my house and it went over budget and took longer to compete. And they weren't unionized. Should I assume that all non-unionized construction workers are incompetent?
W. K. Lis
Superstar
Unionized construction projects cost more because of the union dues. If the workers were paid the same, less the union dues, projects would be less expensive. But the union leadership wants their pay, which usually are higher than the workers they represent.
dob467
Active Member
Union dues go to much more than just paying the union leadership's salaries - http://www.liunalocal183.ca/AboutUs/Benefits.aspx
I'm ok with construction workers having the same benefits as most other workers. Seems like the right thing to do.
I'm ok with construction workers having the same benefits as most other workers. Seems like the right thing to do.
SunriseChampion
Senior Member
I guess I might have a chip on my shoulder. It might have something to do with being shut out of bidding for jobs involving very specialised work that I know for a fact we can handle better than almost all companies working in the same sphere just because we're not unionised. That, or being asked to join unions in order to get jobs. Which none of us has ever done. Or, it's my philosophical stance against unions. Having to pay union dues to support some joker working a useless desk job is just the beginning of why I'm proud to not be in a union. I stand by my comments regarding their work ethic in my experience and in my field.
I'm sorry, but I work in the field and have a hell of a lot more experience with this than someone who just had some work done on their house. Lots of non-unionised workers are bums too, don't you worry. There's just a certain thing that "job security" does to your work ethic it seems.
Hey, dob467....I'm ok with having a job and making a decent living and being proud of the work we do as a company. I don't need to dish out money to some desk-hugging hack who "stands behind me" or whatever they claim to do and I certainly don't need to take some sort of misplaced satisfaction and pride in belonging to a larger group where pride in work is an afterthought.
I was just wondering if it was a requirement for these city projects and thought it seemed like it was. That's all.
I'm sorry, but I work in the field and have a hell of a lot more experience with this than someone who just had some work done on their house. Lots of non-unionised workers are bums too, don't you worry. There's just a certain thing that "job security" does to your work ethic it seems.
Hey, dob467....I'm ok with having a job and making a decent living and being proud of the work we do as a company. I don't need to dish out money to some desk-hugging hack who "stands behind me" or whatever they claim to do and I certainly don't need to take some sort of misplaced satisfaction and pride in belonging to a larger group where pride in work is an afterthought.
I was just wondering if it was a requirement for these city projects and thought it seemed like it was. That's all.
tkip
Active Member
Yup.....
I work in a unionized position at a hospital and no doubt, we have a ton of lazy workers protected by the union.
Let's just face facts. Unions help lazy people become lazier and they create an enviroment where others realize they can take advantage and their work ethic just isn't the same.
So while I agree with organized labour, the reality is that there is too much waste and laziness within the union I belong to and it seems to be reocurring theme with others.
I work in a unionized position at a hospital and no doubt, we have a ton of lazy workers protected by the union.
Let's just face facts. Unions help lazy people become lazier and they create an enviroment where others realize they can take advantage and their work ethic just isn't the same.
So while I agree with organized labour, the reality is that there is too much waste and laziness within the union I belong to and it seems to be reocurring theme with others.
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W. K. Lis
Superstar
From the TTC website:
From Roncesvalles Village website:
I am assuming the "vacation" from construction is to allow the soil to settle and to be on the watch out for failures in the underground sewer and pipe construction. If there are problems, they'll have to dig it up again. Hopefully, no problems, but better now than later.
Soon the steps will be no more, and the streetscape improvements will begin.
From Roncesvalles Village website:
I am assuming the "vacation" from construction is to allow the soil to settle and to be on the watch out for failures in the underground sewer and pipe construction. If there are problems, they'll have to dig it up again. Hopefully, no problems, but better now than later.
Soon the steps will be no more, and the streetscape improvements will begin.
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catcher_of_cats
Active Member
There is currently at least one continual leak that the contractor attempted to hide near the Starbucks.
wanderer66
New Member
It's actually been closer to 10 months of work. The Water Main replacement / construction started in July of 2009 and has (sort of) finished this last Saturday... 42 weeks in my rough count not withstanding the 1 week that Comer and Varcon halted work over Christmas and New Years.
We have roughly 5- 6 weeks of 2-way traffic and no construction. The Streetcar replacement work has been slated to start in the first week of June... in my view a few months are more like anywhere 2 to 4 months, not the (at most) 1.5 months that is actually going to happen.
I don't mean to nit pick here about little things here and there but I hate it when people do not tell the truth. They may not be actually lying but the omission of the exact facts is in my opinion almost the same. Roncey is turning into St. Clair lite.
drum118
Superstar
Depending on the sidewalk work, TTC should have tracks in place within 6 weeks or less. It also depends on how many intersection are to be close at any given time.
This per section of the road been done from Day one.
Day one, remove the road: day 2, finish grading and form work as well laying duct work: Day 3, pour the rail base: Day 4 lay track: Day 5, pour concrete to anchor the track down: Day 6 & 8 pour the top coat of the tracks.
While track is being installed, the next section is been dug up and pouring the track base. You can do various intersections over a weekend 100% to help keep the road open some what.
Back to one side of the street open to traffic only as now the sidewalk is coming out to meet the tracks.
Once track is in place, the other side of the street will be done allowing traffic to use the tracks and one way until completion.
Not a simple task and 3-4 months is about the time frame subject to weather.
Not a St Clair lite. No hydro work been done (sadly).
wanderer66
New Member
The street construction will go like what you have described drum and they will be working in 500 metre increments (with another 100 metres for equipment storage). I will be amazed and shocked though if the work is done this efficiently. The City has never been able to work with such alacrity and professionalism. I will doff my hat and give praise if Roncey can be transformed in the 6 months that they have budgeted, but I ain't going to hold my breath. Imagine after every other example of reconstruction woe that we Torontians have faced over the last 5 to 6 years... from St. Clair and Bloor to Church and Dundas West too while you're at it... that the City would get Roncey right? Okely dokely then neighbour, I have some Real Estate in Florida that you can buy cheap!