I think you should CONSIDER OF AUTOMATING THE SUBWAYS LIKE the one IN VANCOUVER! Just to let you know, being an ex-Vancouverite, I just moved here approx. 6 months ago to go to continue my education and change of scenery. I chose Toronto,because of its multiculturalism that the city has to offer. When Translink went on strike in 2001 for 4 months, which at the end BACKFIRED ITS UNION WORKERS, B/C some of their workers were forced into personal bankruptcies,remorgage their houses, etc, in short, they ended up facing personal hardships, b/c they wanted more money and job security. But,amid of all of that, the SKYTRAINS WERE STILL RUNNING! Not LIKE HERE, ONE PART OF THE ATU WENT ON STRIKE, ALL WENT ON STRIKE? WERE THEY INSANE???? IN VANCOUVER, WAS NOT LIKE THAT, AT LEAST THE VANCOUVERITES COULD STILL GET TO WORK BY GOING THE NEAREST SKYTRAIN STATIONS AND WENT ABOUT TO DO THEIR DAILY ROUTINES. OF COURSE, NOT ALL WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GO TO THE NEAREST SKYTRAIN STATIONS, BUT, AT LEAST THE CITY DID NOT GO INTO A COMPLETE SHUT DOWN! WHY DON’T YOU GUYS CONSIDER OF AUTOMATION???????? TORONTO CAN PROBABLY START TO AFFORD NEW SYSTEMS! I used to be a cupe member myself back in Vancouver, and, my union, too, posed strike, which did NOT LAST LONG, so, I, too, UNDERSTAND WHERE THE TTC WORKERS ARE COMING FROM. But, when their president Bob Kinnear,said that the members ofthe public are irrational and “violent”??? Well, I had to face “irratioal customers” too! But, how come I NEVER DID receive a “VIOLENT AND IRRATIONAL” customers??? Disgruntled customers, you WILL ALWAYS FACE THESE PEOPLE EVERYDAY….! In short, if they can’t face the job, then quit.

I’ve always supported TTC drivers. If any passenger dared to cause trouble, I’d stand up to them. I’d always do that without question… until now. Frankly, I’d have a hard time to bring myself to do that if I see any problems on Monday