this post was submitted on 16 Oct 2023
45 points (90.9% liked)

Vancouver

1430 readers
5 users here now

Community for the city of Vancouver, BC

founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
 

My office just sent out a message saying the elevator union workers are going on strike tomorrow and all elevators will be shut down.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Why would that shut off all the elevators? Unless you're past an inspection or there's an actual issue it's not like they're pulling the cables or pushing buttons to make things go up or down on a daily basis.

Is there some safety/monitoring concern?

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Living in a one elevator building has really made me appreciate how frequently the f'ing things break down.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yeah, the one where I worked was old and broke down a LOT. Just got sure about closing them all when they're working. Maybe the risk of somebody getting stuck?

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

They're not closing them. They just won't be fixed if they break. Ops building manager is smoking something good I think.

Fire department would get out anyone stuck, not the service tech.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Puts the anger onto the people striking. Classic.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I think it puts panic into the general public and pressure onto the elevator companies to come back to the bargaining table. If anything I have more respect for elevator workers now, they keep shit moving.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

That's definitely how I hope it's taken by the general public!

It looked like a sign that management had posted in solidarity with the elevator companies rather than with the workers themselves, so I figured it was meant to be taken cynically.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

That's so bizarre.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I've seen firemen seriously damage elevators cause they aren't properly trained to open them if something goes wrong. That turns into verify costly repairs and downtime. If I we're a building owner of turn them off than deal with damage.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I can see that in a rental building with a shitty landlord, but that's pretty bullshit IMHO. There's a lot of elderly / disabled people who can't climb stairs, or need groceries, etc.

I'm guessing this strike won't last long once they start breaking down.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Who's going to release you when you get trapped? Any sensor fails, any component burns out, any seismic activity detected, and it will just stop until the techs arrive.

If you knew that the techs wouldn't arrive... then I would stock up on water, food, and sealed containers before entering that elevator.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Who's going to release you when you get trapped?

The fire department usually does stuff like that.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Can confirm. Used to be on strata. Called fire department to free people trapped inside. It does qualify as an emergency.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I would guess that the building owner would be a lot less likely to leave an elevator operating if they knew that the fire department were going to attempt any rescues without the help of an elevator tech. There's a reason their training says to wait for the tech "wherever possible".

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If the car is between floors, good luck. Fire fighters wont be able to move it and electricians know not to mess with elevators, moreso if it is 'broken.'

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Firefighters are trained in this type of rescue and can lower the cab and get people out. I’ve seen it done personally after giving them access to the mechanical room as a council member.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

In case it breaks there's no support.

Except firefighters, but disregard that