Just What's Happening These Days

It is almost 2 years now since I first suffered my weird illness. So very few people suffer from this illness it would appear from what has been diagnosed so far and accordingly, it is so difficult to figure out what it is and then treat it in time before quick death . Fortunately, I lucked out. Although I still have some medical losses of personal actions and have not yet recovered and will never recover 100% of all them, I am doing quite well.  I need to thank once again all of the people who have treated me so well and are continuing to do so.

My life has changed to one that is much different compared with the pre-illness one. I tend now to live a day at a time. It is my objective at the end of every day to solve any problem that has come up during that day and to be able to sleep without any worries at all. Fingers crossed, that has worked out so well that I am so pleased about it.

I look at people differently and hope that they will deal with me in an honest way without trying any tricks. I must admit that I don't give people any chances to try to pull one on me. If I discover that, then I immediately terminate my relationship with that person. My attitude is simple. I want nothing from anyone and I expect them to want nothing from me other than to have a great friendship. Of course, if I believe that they are experiencing a real problem in their life, then I try to get them to explain to me what is going on so that I can provide some assistance to them to help overcome it. Naturally, I tell them that I do not expect anything back from them other than to hear that their problem has been overcome.

I am hopeful that, by reading the articles that I have published here on my Blogsite, you will understand what I have said above and that you will accept what I do online. I especially write articles when I see problems between the parties involved and wonder why it has taken so long and yet, the parties seem completely unable to resolve them.

So let me tell you about a couple of matters that I have looked at recently where I have seen problems to see my thoughts about them.

First, let us examine the Library situation in Essex County with some of the changes coming. How many months has the strike been going on in this area and why? Too many and for reasons that make little sense to me! I have to admit that I really don't understand why that has happened. Just go back and take a look at some of the articles I have written to understand why this situation to me appears so bizarre and what may have to happen now to solve it.  My attitude is that the parties are working together and problems do arise. They ought to identify them right away and resolve them just as quickly. After all, they have a relationship between themselves.

Here is what seems completely ludicrous now but finally may mean the end of this fiasco. It is ludicrous because it seems to me to be the fault of the management especially for this strike to be continuing for so long:

"Both parties will resume bargaining on November 25 with the help of a provincial mediator. This is their first meeting since mid-September, when talks broke off as management maintained the same core position that they held on June 22, three days before the strike started on June 25.

“This is the first meeting we are having in over two months and the first time the employer asked us to resume bargaining,” said Wightman. “We hope to use this opportunity to find solutions and we urge the Library Board to do the same and not come back to dictate pre-determined terms.” (CUPE Website, November 21, 2016) 

Our local politicians better hope this happens as well! 

Tell me, why was there a need for a border strike at the Blue Water Bridge in Sarnia? I just do not get it. Here is what bothers me about a situation such as this one:

"Blue Water Bridge workers have been without a contract since November 2014

By Paul Morden, Sarnia Observer September 29, 2016

Workers at the Blue Water Bridge voted Wednesday to go on strike if the Federal Bridge Corporation doesn't return to the bargaining table.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) said the previous collective agreement ended Nov. 7, 2014 for 49 union members who work as cleaners and toll collectors, and in the maintenance and currency exchange departments at the crossing between Point Edward and Port Huron." 

Seriously, who cares now what the issues really are between Management and the Union in this matter. Do you expect to tell me that for some reason the parties cannot solve whatever their problems are over a two-year period! I just cannot believe that something like this has really happened. I guess the interesting question now is how long the strike will take place and what will ultimately resolve the differences between the parties.

It is a nice US holiday weekend this weekend that is being shared between Canada and United States. It will be interesting to see what kind of a border mess will take place in Sarnia with all of the backups. One can bet as well that we will see many problems in Windsor/Detroit as well as a result of the strike because border crossers will come down here to try to avoid the strike situation in the Sarnia area.

One just has to wonder why it is impossible to solve a two-year problem. Here might be a good reason to be upset about all of this stuff:

"Despite talks breaking off this weekend, Haney said union officials are ready to sit down again for a new round of contract negotiations.

“My phone is on,” he said. “Give me a call. We're ready to go back.”

When asked if the corporation was willing to return to contract talks, Girard said, “We're at the point right now where our main concern is to run the bridge. That's our objective.”

(Barbara Simpson, Sarnia Observer, November 21, 2016)

Sigh, can anyone figure this out now!