In a comment to another post I was asked asked why I continue to TRY to make a big issue about something that has stopped. I answered it there, but I’ve re-posted it here.
For the moment I’ll assume the illegal DVD sales have stopped. (keep in mind I have no proof it has stopped.) Setting that aside, let us look at the bigger picture. Harassment in the work place at OC Transpo was supposed to be a thing of the past. Clearly it was NOT resolved. From the information I have gathered, speaking to Mr. Roulston and other drivers, some no longer employed at OC Transpo, harassment is alive and well at OC Transpo. (One ex driver called OC Transpo a zoo.)
There are a number of drivers who know Mr. Roulston very well, who support him, who did not step forward and testify to the harassment he experienced. Why? Because they fear reprisals. They don’t believe they would be protected. They expect to be subjected to harassment and fired for stepping forward and telling the truth about the harassment at OC Transpo. I find that to be a very sad situation worthy of further investigation.
Allen told me about a conversation he had with a driver more than a month ago. I’ll call the driver Bob, I don’t know the name of the driver. The conversation went something like this:
Bob : why did you stick your neck out and report the illegal DVD sales? You knew you would get fired, right?
Allen: How was I supposed to know I would get fired?
Bob: this is OC Transpo, that is how it works here.
Allen: and how would I know that?
Bob: well my dad works here, so I knew all about it before I was hired. too bad no one told you how things work here.
The more I learn about the culture at OC Transpo the more disgusted I feel. The place sounds like a cesspool. OC Transpo goes to the effort to select customer service oriented employees, then tells them what to do if they see inappropriate activity during training, and when the employee follows the training they get fired?
Does that make any sense to you? It makes no sense to me AND it tells me something is seriously messed up at OC Transpo.
I know the following is a radical thought, but maybe the only solution is to clean house at OC Transpo. Leave all the drivers working and replace all of the management staff. In my opinion management has not resolved the harassment problems which resulted in the shooting deaths in 1999. Management has had more than a decade to get things properly sorted out, but clearly the problem remains.
Keep in mind Ottawa is the capital city of a country sending soldiers to other countries to bring them peace and freedom. Yet within our city we have a lingering problem at OC Transpo, a problem which should be easy to solve. OC Transpo seems to be stuck in a 1930’s mentality. When I think about the behaviour in the work place I am not surprised OC Transpo customers are not happy with the service. How can OC Transpo drivers who are in the habit of harassing each other be expected to treat customers in a civil manner?
The illegal DVD sales simply exposed the real problem at OC Transpo, poor and ineffective management. What do you think?
Liz
Support7990's Blog 
April 17, 2010 at 2:43 pm |
Everyone who works at OC and even the public know the management at OC isn’t very good. The council were responsible for hiring the manager, and that manger is responsible for creating the worst work environment and distrust since I was hire over 11 years ago.
The problem is that the public seems to keep voting in the same yahoo’s every election, then they act surprised when the council screws things up time and time again. The first move to maybe trying to clean up things at OC would have to start with cleaning out the council and getting new people in there that will actually do a decent job and not cost us taxpayers millions and millions due to their mistakes every year!
OC should NOT be run by City Council,it should go back to being run by a separate commission, that way you’d have less councilors making/killing decisions due to things involving their ward(s), and transit strategies would be based on what’s best for EVERYONE, not just a single ward.
Then we get to OC management, i’m sure there could be improvements made there. It is funny how when they try and change things at OC, they always try and screw with the front line workers, but we are only going by what we are told to do and with what tools we are given by UPPER MANAGEMENT! I think for once they need to look at management and they job they are doing for starters, as they say, shit starts at the top and rolls down hill!
Then they need to start actually listening to the 2 most important people in transit-the drivers and the customers ideas for a change! Many of the ideas put forward by both are ignored for whatever reasons, and this needs to change!
Now we come to the problem, getting anything about these things actually done. I don’t have much faith in most of any of what i’ve said actually coming to fruition though. How often do we see the same people re-elected even though council has done a horrible job for years? How often has the Union tried to get council and the public to hear what work is like at OC, and how badly OC is mismanaged, yet nobody seems to care as long as there is no strike? Management and council protect their own, that is a major reason why nothing changes, and I don’t see how it will be changed to be frank.
April 17, 2010 at 5:26 pm |
Joe,
At least we do agree on something. At the moment I don’t see any other leverage point which would motivate the City of Ottawa to initiate changes. I was expecting the knowledge of illegal activity on City of Ottawa property would be enough to get talk of reform started. Strangely few people want to talk openly about it, which is why I wanted Allen to allow publication of the photos without obscuring the faces.
You mentioned being painted by the broad brush if the issue became widely reported. Are you in any of the photos? If not, precisely what are you worried about?
Liz
April 17, 2010 at 6:25 pm |
There is so much wrong both with the City, Council, and OC that are way worse than the issue of this DVD thing. Not many will be interested in this sort of thing when there is so much worse going on, which is why i am assuming the previous media attempts by Allen weren’t very successful. When millions of taxpayer dollars are being wasted, illegal dvd sales isn’t a hot button issue with the people. Harassment maybe,but even then many will say there is a process to got through, and that’s about as far as they’ll bother with it.
As for the pictures/video being exposed, no i’m certainly not in any of them. I only saw the selling once and certainly couldn’t be bothered to buy any. Didn’t really want to associate myself with it in any way as i knew if caught there could be repurcussions. My question would sort of be why do they have to have the faces shown anyways, what is the difference? Plus i’d be willing to say that getting a bunch into trouble and possibly fired isn’t cool, it would certainly make Allen strongly hated by many more at OC i’d bet. See that’s how management works at OC, they wouldn’t admit they could have done more, they will reprimand those they see in the photo’s if anything.
April 24, 2010 at 2:05 am |
The problem with harassment is, who is harassing whom!
First, on what basis is this operator able to verify that this is illegal activity?
Who made him judge, jury and executionary?
One talented driver shares her/his abilities with co-workers and retrieves the cost. Prove that to be illegal before harassing that driver, privately and publically.
You sir will be lucky to avoid suite for falsely accusing another of criminal activity, and should be begging for forgiveness instead of harassing co-workers.
———————
Liz (blog moderator) writes:
From what you posted I have the feeling you did not read all of the content available on this blog. There are posts from other bus operators here who pretty much admit the activity is illegal.
Mr. Roulston has never accused a specific driver of any wrong doing. He only reported the fact there was illegal activity taking place in the driver’s lounge. OC Transpo management was familiar enough with the activity to track down the people selling the illegal DVDs WITHOUT the need to catch them in the act of selling.
There is also a large quantity of photo and video evidence to prove the illegal activity. This has not be widely distributed, however the evidence is very compelling.
You wrote ” one talented co-worker shares his/her abilities with co-workers and retrieves the cost”.
I don’t understand what you are attempting to communicate.
Mr. Roulston (7990) has refrained from getting the police involved to prevent his former co-workers from facing criminal prosecution. You would appear to be advocating the full exposure of the persons involved and providing the evidence to the police. Do I understand you correctly?
April 24, 2010 at 5:03 pm |
Without naming any person, who is 7990 to decide any activity is illegal?
Why is it not obvious to you that Mr. Roulston does not need to be defended, he needs help. That help MAY include long term care for his mental state.
Many other driver may think they know of an illegal activity, may have witnessed commerce, may even have participated in commerce.
How does that make activity illegal?
—————-
Liz (blog moderator) writes:
Pete, are you arguing from the point of view the activity is not known to be illegal until someone is convicted of a crime? If you think Allen should share all of his evidence with the RCMP, then we are on the same side of the issue. Long ago I suggested Mr. Roulston provide all the evidence he has to the RCMP, however he has refused to do so. He claims his oath as a union member prevents him from harming other union members by action or inaction.
You stated it is obvious Mr. Roulston needs help. Would you please elaborate on Mr. Roulston’s need for assistance. Please be specific.
Regarding whether or not the activity he reported was illegal: the bus operators involved in the sale of the DVDs in the drivers room were selling movies of AVATAR in February 2010. The official AVATAR DVD release date was April 22, 2010. I would be interested in knowing how the sale of AVATAR DVDs in February 2010 could possibly have been legal.
April 25, 2010 at 6:47 pm |
Repeat:
Who are you to decide anything is illegal?
Why would you bring this trivia to our management?
Remember: Election fraud, 1.9 million dollars to the Mayor personal company, $50,000 cash advances on credit cards to City of Ottawa Directors and managers.
Do you really believe Mr. Mercier holds his job for brilliant management abilities, or is it more likely he directs much of his budget towards Callian.
Now, you want this management to deal with ethical or even legal issues. First, point out what is in it for them personally.
Also, please read carefully from the ATU 279 contract, the clause on Managements Rights.
They have the right to terminate you, you have the right to proper severance.