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“Unionized driver examiners across Ontario are on strike, putting thousands of licence applications in limbo.”

CBC news has definitely got that right! What is up with Ontario and strikes this summer? First we have to spend our entire summer with the smell of garbage everywhere. And now, we can’t even rush to get our license before school gets too hectic!

Politics: Oh how I deeply despise thee. Ever since I can remember I always ran away from it. It wasn’t only because I found it confusing but also because most of what I heard just seemed so corrupted that I didn’t want to wrap my head around it. Don’t get me wrong: it’s not that I don’t care - I used to care, and I tried to care -  but it is all nonsense to me. It's all a power game.  

Unionized workers of Drive Test centers are on strike (after 55 hours of bargaining because of wages, overtime and sick days. This is why I don’t understand political people and the government. Why can’t everyone just be fair and equal?! Why can't union workers, on the other hand, just be grateful for what they have? Think about all the homeless who have nothing at all! People just always want more and more. Let’s be happy with what we have and what we are given (thanks to Allah).

I guess I’m just frustrated because I was supposed to give my drivers’ test (written) last week (after having already delayed a year) and when I finally decide to do so, they happen to be closed. This is an example of how political issues come chasing after you; no matter how much you try to avoid them.  I guess in all fairness they examiners have the right to go on strike for their wants. Last week I wrote that people should try to take time off for Eid if they can. But without unions, there wouldn't be any sick days or vacation days to take off!  While some people do abuse benefits many people do need them to survive. With cancer and disease rates rising, many people must work while getting treatment. If they didn't benefits, they would pretty much end up homeless. In a lot of non-unionized environments, someone who was diagnosed with a permanent illness might find himself/herself weeded out of a job.

But at the same time the governments and the union should try to speed up the process so the public doesn’t have to suffer. Okay:  they did extend the expiry dates on licenses for those who need renewals (but what about those who need to actually get a license?!). I’ve also heard from friends that the legal age to get your permit might be changed to eighteen. Great. They can do that after I get my permit.

The biggest thing to realize is that the union is paid by union members to GET RESULTS at the negotiation table. This is why they often resort to a lot of sketchy tactics to get what they want. The city workers went on the strike specifically in the summer so that the smell of the garbage and the lost tourism would get on the news -- even though hundreds of city summer students lost six weeks of pay that they can never get back. And at the garbage dumps, picketers were getting mean, hurtful and even scary, at times. This is an example of how unions, though they have good intentions, attract public hatred when they play political games.  

I really hope they open up soon, because school is about to start and then it will be quite hectic to find a day to go give a drivers’ test. Oh and I hope to God Ontario faces no more ridiculous strikes.


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