"No Board" Issued

As was anticipated a "no board" report was issued this week by the province putting CUPE 416/City of Toronto in legal strike/lockout position on February 5th. Almost immediately after that press spin from both sides stating that good progress has been that same day and that further meetings are scheduled through the weekend.

Not quite sure how to interpret the positive talk but it did provide a glimmer of hope that a negotiated settlement could happen before the 5th.

David Doorey has an interesting discussion on how some key items might play out.

Back in CUPE 79 land- meetings continue- word is that the City is requesting a percentage giveback of wages and benefits. No request for "no board" thereby creating a a need for different strategies to address the many possible scenarios going forward.

Side note: CUPE begins PR campaign.

Go We Here...

I had been considering bringing back this blog as I have watched CUPE 416 and CUPE 79 labour negotiations begin a downward spiral. Now that there is a request for a "no board" by the City for CUPE 416 negotiations I will begin posting again.

What is happening today in my mind is directly tied to what took place in 2009. I doubt that we would be here if CUPE decisions, especially public relations, in 2009 were handled differently.

It seems to me that CUPE 79 and 416 are still playing catch up with the media--- the 416 wage freeze announcement does not seem to have had the expected PR impact.

It is a interesting strategy to request a "no board" for one Local and not the other. We may see more "divide and conquer" maneuvers here.