Fri Jun. 26 2009 6:50:15 PM
Non-unionized city workers, contractor will clean up post-Pride garbage
cp24.com
Hundreds of thousands participate in the Pride parade on Yonge St. in Toronto. (CP / Aaron Harris)
The garbage that will be generated during this weekend's Dyke March and Pride Parade will be cleaned up by a team of non-unionized city workers and a private contractor that is already used by the city.
"We're not going outside to find a new company when we have existing contracts to help," says Rob Andrusevich, Senior Communications Advisor for the City of Toronto.
The city says it cannot provide exact numbers on how many non-unionized workers will be on hand to clean up after the parade, or how long that clean up could take.
Andrusevich says it took teams four days to clean up the trash left by Pride parade spectators back in 2002. The city was also in the midst of a garbage collectors strike at the time.
More than one million visitors, including droves of tourists, attend Pride Week festivities each year. Garbage is often left strewn in the streets after the events.
The city says it is not sure yet whether the garbage will kept in designated piles on the streets or whether it will get hauled away to dump sites.
The garbage strike is an "inconvenience" but the show will go on, according to Tracey Sandilands, Executive Director of Pride, who spoke to CP24 on Wednesday.
"The City has undertaken that they will be cleaning up after the parade. They will possibly be using non-union staff to do that. We will leave that up to them," she says.
Meanwhile, a group of roller derby players learned their scheduled game at George Bell Arena -- an official Pride event--would be played beside a newly-declared designated dump site declared by the city Thursday.
The group contacted the city, who now says it will ensure that garbage is contained in a small section of the parking lot, so spectators can have parking.
"It's still a dumping site but they're opening up the parking lot for us, which is awesome," says Natasha Jesenak, an organizer of the event, titled the Clam Slam.
The city says it chose the location because it is in a suitable area, which has access to roads and public transportation.
| E-Mail Story |
Comments are now closed for this story
June 27, 2009 at 11:57:33 PM
Jason
Our government is a joke! Everyone on strike should be fired and replaced with someone who really cares and needs the job! Meanwhile everyone should take their garbage together with the garbage from the parade and dump it on the driveways of those who run the union... Is anyone in this country going to stand up and do what is right???
June 27, 2009 at 6:08:37 AM
ned flanders
hey, I've an idea, fire all the unions and hire contractors!
June 27, 2009 at 6:46:28 AM
Justin
Ok so what the hell makes "Pride" weekend more important then CANADA DAY that the city will make arrangements to clean up after that, but cancel everything for CANADA DAY.
This is absolutely RIDICULOUS!!!!! What is our country coming too???
June 27, 2009 at 8:34:09 AM
edward
good morning 824am sat im ajanitor i clean the commiuty center i workfor waterfordbuilding maintenance inc but they have all the contracts for the citys commiunty centers now im not working i dont get paid for the days im off i have family of four yous truly edward
June 27, 2009 at 10:04:17 AM
M.
This is a disgusting mess and with a parade it will be awful. also kids are out of school and they want to use the parks, this is totally unfair to the citizens of Toronto. Mayor Millar knew months ahead about the union contract yet as usual he waited to the last minute to arrange alternate measures which were a fiasco. Some people didnt know what they were supposed to do, as we saw at the dump sites. As usual poor planning, poor communications and just palin stupidity. How much longer do we have to put up with his incompetence.?
June 27, 2009 at 1:39:44 PM
Mawia
I think that the trash of this weekend's event is being cleaned up because Pride Week BRINGS IN money and Canada Day COSTS money.
Sad, sad, sad.
June 27, 2009 at 1:48:58 PM
Brandon
I don't know about the rest of the world, but were I work.. if I DONT work, I don't get paid, and I DONT have a JOB!!!!!!!
FIRE THEM
SCREW THE CONTRACTS
why do they get to dictate how they work.... GIMMIE A FRIGGIN BREAK!!!!!!!!!!
18 sick days?.. what the hell is that.... FREE MONEY!!!
OUR MONEY
TAX PAYERS MONEY!!!!!!!
GOD HELP US!!!!!!!!!
June 27, 2009 at 1:50:58 PM
Scot
This is ridiculous Justin. It makes no sense whatsoever that the city has not cancelled this parade. There is no way pride week is more important than Canada Day. It doesn't even compare. If national holiday festivities are cancelled because of the strike, than festivities that are about less than 2% of the population should be cancelled as well. but that is why Canada Day festivities are a no go and gay ones are not.
June 27, 2009 at 2:02:56 PM
Dennis
RIGHT ON JUSTIN.You couldn't be more right.There is no bigger event than on July 1.This is Canada not SanFransisco.Your pride seems to be very misled Mayor Miller.You will be forever known as the Mayor who canceled Canada Day 2009.Unions have now lost all credibility.I hope they are proud of themselves.What an example these adults have set for our children.If Torontonions want to celebrate Canada Day,we are all still going to celebrate in the rest of Canada. You are all welcome to come and join us. HAPPY CANADA DAY!!
June 27, 2009 at 4:39:51 PM
Ana
824 million ddollars is to be spent on streetcars replacement. Who runs this City? And why not a single Taxpayer is screeming against it?
June 27, 2009 at 5:02:04 PM
what_logic
so the tax money the parade will bring in will be spend on cleaning up the garbage. for a city that does not have 2 wooden nickles to rub together mr miller just keeps on spending and spending. i tell you there no light left at the end the tunnel. thanks david for no canada day in toronto your the best of what i dont know
June 28, 2009 at 11:26:23 AM
Lisa Grrr
Alright, so individuals protesting an issue that has nothing to do with Toronto or Canada for that matter are allowed to shut down our city streets and expressways for days, union workers greedily trying to protect lavish benefits that most others never see in a lifetime are allowed to hold our city hostage, our parks, beaches & community centres are now garbage dumps, a parade which is geared towards a small percentage of the population is afforded the clean-up services of contract and non-unionized workers while taxpaying citizens must suck it up with stinking, vermin attracting garbage around their dwellings for who knows how long, and for the kicker, Canada Day celebrations are being cancelled. David Miller and his ship of boat anchors has turned this city into sin-city!!! Heaven help us all...
June 28, 2009 at 12:12:12 PM
Darlene G.
At a time when unprecidented numbers are losing their jobs and millions work long hours WITHOUT any benefit plans, it's greedy for the Union to cause so much damage to the city over limiting the banking of dozens of sick days at a time to later be taken as an extended vacation at the expense of the city taxpayer. It's time to lessen the gap between union and non-union workers' wages.
June 28, 2009 at 1:27:37 PM
Terry
In a recession where job's are scarce, if they won't work, replace them.