Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Strike One! Strike Two!

Canadian mail:
Mail delivery across Canada came to an abrupt halt Wednesday after the corporation responsible for running the nation's postal service suspended its operations and locked out striking workers.

Canada Post suspended operations late Tuesday night. In a prepared statement, the company said 12 days of rotating strikes have racked up $100 million in losses for the corporation.

The union is protesting the corporation's plan to cut medical and pension benefits.


British teachers:
Almost every state school in England and Wales is likely to close on Thursday, June 30, after unions unanimously backed a national walk-out in a row over pensions. Further action is expected to be taken in the autumn.

It's a law of the universe that something that can't go on forever, won't. Government pensions are going to drive too many governments into bankruptcy unless something is done to rein those costs in a bit. It doesn't do any good to be promised a great pension if, when you become old enough to draw it, there's no money left.

3 comments:

Eric W. said...

Hey, that kind of sounds like your social security I'll be funding.

Anonymous said...

I hope you have some Canadian readers, because I don't understand this part: "The union is protesting the corporation's plan to cut medical and pension benefits."

I though that Canada had nationalized health coverage. Provided by the government, not by companies.

So what medical benefits would Canada Post be cutting?

-Mark Roulo

Ellen K said...

This sounds like a union version of "how can I miss you if you don't go away?" The reality is that if you want higher pensions, there will be less people getting them. The pie hasn't grown, in fact it's getting smaller.