OC Transpo Strike: Online Petition and Feedback to the Industrial Relations Board

With the threat of a winter storm tomorrow and traffic being horrific, it may be time to do our part to end the OC Transpo strike that has been on for the past 28 days. I received the petition from a friend and found the information regarding the feedback to the industrial relations board after hearing a news article on the cbc.

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There is a petition for transit being declared an "essential service" (and ordering the workers back to work). Here's the link if you are interested - it's simple and takes 30 seconds:
http://www.petitiononline.com/transpo/petition.html

NOTE - there is a typo in the petition as written though, so to correct it, when you are typing in your name and address for your signature, you can simply cut and paste the following note in the Comment field (or write your own explanation): * With a correction to the third last word in the fourth sentence of the petition changing the "and" to "an".

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If you can find a reason that the strike provides an immediate and serious danger to the safety or health of the public, please read the following and email/fax/write to the Industrial Relations Board.

http://www.cirb-ccri.gc.ca/octranspo_eng.asp


Notice To The Public

In the matter of the Canada Labour Code (Part I - Industrial Relations) and a referral by the Minister of Labour to the Canada Industrial Relations Board pursuant to section 87.4(7) involving the City of Ottawa (OC Transpo) and the Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 279.
The Minister of Labour, the Honourable Rona Ambrose, has requested that the Canada Industrial Relations Board determine the action, if any, that is required in order for the employer, the union and the employees in the bargaining unit to comply with section 87.4(1) during a work stoppage.

Section 87.4(1) of the Canada Labour Code provides that: "During a strike or lockout not prohibited by this Part, the employer, the trade union and the employees in the bargaining unit must continue the supply of services, operation of facilities or production of goods to the extent necessary to prevent an immediate and serious danger to the safety or health of the public."
Keeping this criterion in mind, members of the public have an opportunity to provide a written explanation as to why they think this obligation is or is not being met during the current work stoppage involving the City of Ottawa (OC Transpo) and the Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 279.

Submissions must provide specific details in support of the statements being made and must be limited to the issue raised in this notice. They must also include the name and contact information of the person making the submission. Please note that all submissions received will be transmitted to the employer and the trade union for their review and comment.

Submissions may be sent to the Canada Industrial Relations Board as follows:
by email at octranspo-atu@cirb-ccri.gc.ca
by fax at 613-941-4461
by regular mail or by hand at the following address:
Canada Industrial Relations Board, Regional Director
C.D. Howe Building, 4th Floor West, 240 Sparks Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0X8

Please note that all written submissions must be received at the Canada Industrial Relations Board no later than 5:00 p.m. on January 9, 2009.

Ginette Brazeau
Executive Director and Senior Registrar

Bonk

Connor being silly before bed...

Expanding the family tree

Things have been quite hectic for the Seaborn family this summer. Even though only one of us was playing competitive ultimate, the summer just flew by. It's hard to remember how we spent Connor's first summer.

We took an early vacation to coincide with Geofford's regionals tournament in Waterloo and we spent the week at Cawaja beach on Georgian Bay. It was quite the relaxing week and it was nice to have doting grandparents caring for Connor. Geofford and I were able to spend a day together at Wonderland with Damian and Michelle. We started the day on Behemouth, which made me nauseous for the rest of the day, but it was worth it ;) Connor loved his week at the beach and he is definitely a water baby. Although the water was a little chilly, he still had a fabulous time splashing in the water and sitting in his floaty raft. This was my first trip to Cawaja for the beach and I can't wait to do it again next summer.

The rest of July was a little bit of a blur for me as I was organizing things for Mixed Up, which took up most of my free time. Fortunately Geofford was still off with Connor so he could take care of dinner and house things.

August was also a blur with practically every weekend spent at UPI for ultimate tournaments and playoffs. Geofford also went to Calgary for just under a week for Nationals. Although the team did not finish as strong as last year, Geofford had a great time and was happy not to have to drive back to Ottawa to spend the weekend at the hospital like he did last year :)

Connor celebrated his first birthday party with a small party with friends and family. He decided to stand unassisted for the first time that day to the delight of everyone. He still prefers to move around by crawling as it is faster than cruising so he hasn't taken his first steps yet. We are expecting it anyday now.

With Connor's first birthday also comes the end of Geofford's parental leave. He took an extra week off of vacation to go to Calgary, but Connor and I couldn't attend because we were doing the transition from being at home to spending time at daycare. Connor's transition was amazing, it took at lot less time than anticipated and he seems to love his daycare and daycare provider Lynne. Although, it is nice when I go to pick him up and he is still happy to see me.

I guess the biggest news for the Seaborn family is that this summer we found out that Connor will be a big brother sometime in February-March 2009. The official due date is March 2nd, but due to the closeness in ages and the fact that I had a c-section first time around, the obstetrician doesn't want to take any chances, so the second Seaborn baby will have to be a planned c-section. I am a little disappointed, but I hear that planned c-sections are easier than emergency c-sections and hope my recovery will be easier especially since Connor will be 18-months :)

Here are a the first few pictures of new Baby Seaborn.

Hopefully I will publish updates more often now.

Lapse

So I have been negligent with my posts in the past little while, but with good reason. I recently got a job (in April) with Valcom where I am working a contract with the Canadian Coast Guard. Geofford is now at home taking care of Connor. We have started a new flickr photostream where you can find a ton of fun pictures of Connor, as well as pictures of us.

I will post more sooner than later to detail what we have been up to for the past few months, but here is a video of Connor and his cousin Norah who was born on January 26, 2008.

Winter Storm Warning

I have never seen a winter storm warning like the one they currently have posted on Environment Canada's weather warnings. Here is the text from it. I am thinking that we will be housebound today as I do not want to get stuck in the storm with a 4-month old. Not a good idea...

Ottawa North - Kanata - Orléans
5:47 AM EST Sunday 16 December 2007
Winter storm warning for
Ottawa North - Kanata - Orléans continued

A crippling Major winter storm with heavy snow and blowing snow as well as some ice pellets is moving in right on schedule this morning.

This is a warning that dangerous winter weather conditions are imminent or occurring in these regions. Monitor weather conditions..Listen for updated statements.



A massive winter storm has begun over southern Ontario and the stage is set for this dangerous storm to kick into high gear over the entire forecast district today with near record snowfall amounts.

Latest analyses show a rapidly deepening low pressure centre now over northern Ohio just southwest of Cleveland this morning. This low is preceeded by an expanding area of heavy snow with some freezing rain and ice pellets having mixed in at times as far north as the Windsor London Kitchener and Toronto areas.

There have been several reports from the OPP of freezing rain and low to almost nil visibility in heavy snow over southern Ontario earlier this morning.

This intensifying winter storm centre will move towards Lake Erie then northeast across western and then northern New York state to New England by this evening. This storm track is placing southern and eastern Ontario directly under the brunt of heavy snow. A few claps of thunder along with bursts of very heavy snow are also likely and have already been reported over southeastern Michigan and possibly southwestern Ontario early this morning.

The main snow event has moved into southwestern Ontario now and will rapidly expand and envelop all regions east to Ottawa this morning. Copious amounts of snow as well as strong winds causing blowing snow are expected. The snow will be mixed at times with ice pellets and freezing rain along and south of a line from grand through the greater Toronto area to Kingston and then along the St Lawrence river Valley to Cornwall.

Widespread snowfall accumulations of 20 to 30 cm are expected in most areas by this evening. Some local amounts of 40 to 50 cm or more are quite likely in a few areas..Especially from the west end of Lake Ontario and eastwards into far eastern Ontario. Snowfall rates of 2 to 4 cm an hour are expected with low to nil visibility in sustained bursts of heavy snow likely.

Significant blowing snow is expected to accompany the heavy snow due to strong northeast winds gusting to 70 km/h whipping up the freshly fallen snow and causing whiteout conditions.

This is a dangerous winter storm. It is strongly recommended to avoid unnecessary travel during this storm. This massive snow storm has the potential to cause paralyzing conditions as road travel on any unplowed streets becomes next to impossible today. All motorists who must travel are urgently advised to use extreme caution and plan for much extra time to reach their destination.

There remains a high degree of certainty with this storm as the the latest computer model and observed trends continue to forecast this potential record setting winter storm.

The storm is expected to move out over southern Ontario by this evening with the heavy snow moving out of eastern Ontario by Monday morning as the storm centre moves away over New England into the Maritimes. However snowsqualls may form tonight to the Lee of Lake Huron resulting in a continuation of locally dangerous winter travelling conditions throughout the night.