Regina Construction III

[BrutallyDishonest]

Originally Posted by Stormer

correct

They're also putting a Lammle's next to Party City.

I'm so excited, can't wait to get my new cowboy boots and truck nuts............

[Festivus]

Originally Posted by BrutallyDishonest

If Starbucks was to close their only true store in Regina, and this isn't unlikely since Chapters isn't long for this world, would that have any effect? Like if it closed and they waited a year could they change anything?

Or does the labour rulings shit hang in the ether forever?

I know that book stores in general have dropping sales, but every time I've been to Chapters in the past few years it has been really busy. It would be interesting to see their financial figures, but I think they are doing pretty well (probably because they are the only real remaining large book store in Regina).

[Treesplease]

Originally Posted by TechnicalRecession

Man these guys really stuck their collective foot up their own rear ends. Talk about incompetence. Glad to see their proposed development isn't proceeding anytime soon..

http://www.leaderpost.com/news/legal+fees+probe/10772669/story.html

A government-ordered inquiry has so far cost the Rural Municipality of Sherwood more than $400,000, over half of which was spent reimbursing councillors' legal fees.

Meanwhile, the 14,000-resident Wascana Village development that was at the centre of the inquiry doesn't look like it's progressing any time soon.

"Significant, additional work needs to be completed by the developer to satisfy their requirements as set out by the province," read a report presented to council

Wow! What a mess that could have been and should have been avoided. The RM didn't put themselves in this mess, one or several elected officials put the RM in this mess but now the RM is apparently paying for it. If I was a ratepayer in that RM I would be very upset. The impression I'm left with after reading that article and comments is that councillors view the RM as their own little fiefdom. I really don't think this affair ends with ..... RM pays the legal fees associated with questionable conduct of council and everyone goes home happy.

[thefourthtower]

http://www.leaderpost.com/business/rise+Saskatchewan+super+home+Video/10768947/story.html
The rise of the Saskatchewan super home | Video


BY MARK MELNYCHUK, THE LEADER-POST JANUARY 29, 2015

[one_brick_at_a_time]

Originally Posted by SkydivePilot

The last "highrise" hotel build downtown was the Wingate - completed in '07. Otherwise, the most recent true highrise hotel was the Delta (nee Ramada Renaissance) which was completed in '88.

What major hotel chains not presently represented in the Regina market do you think would be a next likely choice to build in the Queen City? I keep thinking how amazing the corner of Albert and Sask Drive would be for a new hotel tower. Close to the new stadium, downtown, shopping and dewdney club area. All in walking distance too.

[mps055]

Originally Posted by Dan0myte

If anyone from Starbucks is listening:

I know you got burnt by the unionization of the Chapters location, but that was 16 years ago. Let it go. Please ease up the restrictions on franchising locations in Regina and open up a standalone Starbucks in Grasslands. Standing in line at Chapters for 20 minutes for a cup of coffee is ridiculous and the kiosks in Safeway are a joke. All I want is to quickly grab a cup of half-decent coffee from a drive through window that's not a Tim Hortons. Is that too much to ask?

Maybe people could support many of the other local coffee places instead of complaining about a lack of Starbucks. In cities with a SB on every second block there is a distinct lack of local places.

Try Atlantis, Naked Bean, Sweet, and some of the many other places we have.

[Drofmab]

Originally Posted by BrutallyDishonest

If Starbucks was to close their only true store in Regina, and this isn't unlikely since Chapters isn't long for this world, would that have any effect? Like if it closed and they waited a year could they change anything?

Or does the labour rulings shit hang in the ether forever?

No impact. The LRB ruling applies to any entity that Starbucks opens within city limits. I doubt that the LRB would grant Starbucks any leniency, given that they've been been found to have committed 3 unfair labour practices (in the first of these determinations, you get a sense that the LRB has little time for Starbucks' arguments, "There is little or no credible danger that the interim reinstatement of Mr. Holloway will signal to the employees that they may act as they please with impunity on the job leading to a descent into anarchy in the workplace.")

If stores weren't corporate owned, there's a small chance they could skirt around the ruling. Even then, the LRB has fairly broad powers. Necessitated, in part, to avoid shifty employers from simply dissolving their unionized business, then re-incorporating as a non-union shop (repeat, every time a union successfully forms) & other union-busting manouevers.

I don't know the legal term, but even if the entity is truly separate from the previous legal entity, the LRB can order provisions of the collective agreement to carry over (this happened at the UofR when they decided to get out of directly providing food service on-campus. The successful subcontractor was required to hire the (former) UofR food service employees, and assume responsibility for the collective agreement... including wages, seniority, leave, etc).

In the case of Starbucks, the LRB said the only way to remove the certification, is to negotiate a collective agreement, let it function for 6 months, then the employees can apply to decertify (logic being that the employees applied to decertify before they even had a collective agreement... must have an Agreement before the LRB will consider decertifying. This basically leaves it in limbo...).

[Drofmab]

Originally Posted by mps055

Maybe people could support many of the other local coffee places instead of complaining about a lack of Starbucks. In cities with a SB on every second block there is a distinct lack of local places.

Try Atlantis, Naked Bean, Sweet, and some of the many other places we have.

I have colleagues visit from out of town - at first they find the lack of Starbucks off-putting... but after I introduce them to the local options we have downtown, they prefer it. Especially the folks from Vancouver.

[Treesplease]

Originally Posted by Drofmab

I have colleagues visit from out of town - at first they find the lack of Starbucks off-putting... but after I introduce them to the local options we have downtown, they prefer it. Especially the folks from Vancouver.

I had colleagues from out of town spend time here on a contract and they were appalled by the blatant rip off that Atlantis in particular did in concept and form from Starbucks right down to the circular counter and other aspects that I don't have time to notice or remember. They refused to patronize on principle. I didn't mention the whole UofR student tried to play "form a union at starbucks" after watching Norma Rae and got Regina blacklisted bits.

[mps055]

Originally Posted by Treesplease

I had colleagues from out of town spend time here on a contract and they were appalled by the blatant rip off that Atlantis in particular did in concept and form from Starbucks right down to the circular counter and other aspects that I don't have time to notice or remember. They refused to patronize on principle. I didn't mention the whole UofR student tried to play "form a union at starbucks" after watching Norma Rae and got Regina blacklisted bits.

I think your colleagues are being a bit dramatic. Atlantis looks like a place that sells coffee much in the way that many other places do. Blenz in Vancouver looks the same as well.

The place has a nice atmosphere and makes, in my opinion, better coffee than Starbucks. I'd hate to see it go out of business because people here flock to SB if it should open in Regina. We have local places that are better than a mass chain store, why crap on that?

[Treesplease]

Originally Posted by mps055

I think your colleagues are being a bit dramatic. Atlantis looks like a place that sells coffee much in the way that many other places do. Blenz in Vancouver looks the same as well.

The place has a nice atmosphere and makes, in my opinion, better coffee than Starbucks. I'd hate to see it go out of business because people here flock to SB if it should open in Regina. We have local places that are better than a mass chain store, why crap on that?

I wasn't crapping on local places - roca jacks has the best coffee by far because it was (is?) fresh roasted. If you aren't roasting your own coffee you are indiscernable from Starbucks. However, local shills I can do without.

[Drofmab]

Originally Posted by mps055

I think your colleagues are being a bit dramatic. Atlantis looks like a place that sells coffee much in the way that many other places do. Blenz in Vancouver looks the same as well.

The place has a nice atmosphere and makes, in my opinion, better coffee than Starbucks. I'd hate to see it go out of business because people here flock to SB if it should open in Regina. We have local places that are better than a mass chain store, why crap on that?

I agree - take a look at the competitors to Starbucks (e.g.: Waves or Blenz in BC; Bridgehead in Ottawa)... Atlantis looks vaguely similar to them too.

[Treesplease]

Originally Posted by Drofmab

I agree - take a look at the competitors to Starbucks (e.g.: Waves or Blenz in BC; Bridgehead in Ottawa)... Atlantis looks vaguely similar to them too.

The guy was particularly annoyed by the Atlantis logo which he considered a trademark infringement on Starbucks - plus a list of other "similarities" that I don't have the vacant brain space to remember. Personally, I thought the guy had a bit too much free time on his hands.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by Treesplease

The guy was particularly annoyed by the Atlantis logo which he considered a trademark infringement on Starbucks - plus a list of other "similarities" that I don't have the vacant brain space to remember. Personally, I thought the guy had a bit too much free time on his hands.

Wow this guy has really drunk the Starbucks Coolaid. The one on the right is the SB current logo.

[BrutallyDishonest]

Originally Posted by Drofmab

No impact. The LRB ruling applies to any entity that Starbucks opens within city limits. I doubt that the LRB would grant Starbucks any leniency, given that they've been been found to have committed 3 unfair labour practices (in the first of these determinations, you get a sense that the LRB has little time for Starbucks' arguments, "There is little or no credible danger that the interim reinstatement of Mr. Holloway will signal to the employees that they may act as they please with impunity on the job leading to a descent into anarchy in the workplace.")

If stores weren't corporate owned, there's a small chance they could skirt around the ruling. Even then, the LRB has fairly broad powers. Necessitated, in part, to avoid shifty employers from simply dissolving their unionized business, then re-incorporating as a non-union shop (repeat, every time a union successfully forms) & other union-busting manouevers.

I don't know the legal term, but even if the entity is truly separate from the previous legal entity, the LRB can order provisions of the collective agreement to carry over (this happened at the UofR when they decided to get out of directly providing food service on-campus. The successful subcontractor was required to hire the (former) UofR food service employees, and assume responsibility for the collective agreement... including wages, seniority, leave, etc).

In the case of Starbucks, the LRB said the only way to remove the certification, is to negotiate a collective agreement, let it function for 6 months, then the employees can apply to decertify (logic being that the employees applied to decertify before they even had a collective agreement... must have an Agreement before the LRB will consider decertifying. This basically leaves it in limbo...).

That's a shame.

Starbucks is one of the last places the needs to unionize. It has high wages (relative to other coffee places), people enjoy working there, more benefits than elsewhere, etc, etc, etc.

But that's what you get when you have brainwashed university students for employees.

[UrbanClimate]

View from CBC weather cam:


http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Canada/Saskatchewan/ID/2651628116/

[SkydivePilot]

Hamilton Street is sure evolving into an urban canyon alright. No other street in Saskatchewan looks as impressive as it does! Glass towers and skywalks.

[Dan0myte]

Originally Posted by mps055

Maybe people could support many of the other local coffee places instead of complaining about a lack of Starbucks. In cities with a SB on every second block there is a distinct lack of local places.

Try Atlantis, Naked Bean, Sweet, and some of the many other places we have.

If you read my post you would realize that I was not stating that I wanted less local options and more corporate coffee franchises, but only that I have nowhere to go when I want a non-Tims, non-McDonalds coffee when I can't leave my vehicle (i.e. Kids are sleeping in the back and I don't want to leave them alone in the vehicle). I heavily support the local coffee shops and when I have the choice I always choose to go there. Unfortunately, NONE of them have installed a drive through window. The one lone option was way out in the east end (it's now Cafe Caffiena but it was something else before). They had a window but it's now closed up. Every time I'm in Saskatoon I'm in awe that you can drive up to a Starbucks window and get a coffee... Besides Fuddruckers it's the biggest thing I'm jealous of Saskatoon for.

[BrannyMuffin]

Originally Posted by Dan0myte

If you read my post you would realize that I was not stating that I wanted less local options and more corporate coffee franchises, but only that I have nowhere to go when I want a non-Tims, non-McDonalds coffee when I can't leave my vehicle (i.e. Kids are sleeping in the back and I don't want to leave them alone in the vehicle). I heavily support the local coffee shops and when I have the choice I always choose to go there. Unfortunately, NONE of them have installed a drive through window. The one lone option was way out in the east end (it's now Cafe Caffiena but it was something else before). They had a window but it's now closed up. Every time I'm in Saskatoon I'm in awe that you can drive up to a Starbucks window and get a coffee... Besides Fuddruckers it's the biggest thing I'm jealous of Saskatoon for.

Second Cup has a drive through on Rochdale. Nice early in the morning or when it's freezing out, I agree. Or when I have my dog. I usually prefer going in though.

[Dan0myte]

Originally Posted by BrannyMuffin

Second Cup has a drive through on Rochdale. Nice early in the morning or when it's freezing out, I agree. Or when I have my dog. I usually prefer going in though.

Cool! Didn't know that. I never go up to Rochdale so I'm out of the loop on what's up there.