"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.

Two views of collective "bargaining"

Châtellerault, France

Workers Thursday renewed a threat to blow up New Fabris after failing to win a pay-off from carmaker Renault SA, a key former client, Agence France-Presse reported.

http://blogs.wsj.com/bankruptcy/2009/07/17/french-workers-use-explosive-tactics

and Chicago..

Mayor Richard Daley's administration today laid off more than 400 city workers after two unions did not agree to cost-cutting measures before a 5 p.m. deadline.

"Unfortunately, it's clear there won't be an agreement," said mayoral spokeswoman Jacquelyn Heard. "Today is their last day on the city payroll."

Jack Hurley, recording secretary at Teamsters Local 726, which will lose 141 drivers, said it was "unfortunate that it had to come to this."

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2009/07/daley-doesnt-pull-trigger-on-city-layoffs-extends-deadline.html?obref=obinsite

Future of the Labour Movement?

I am concerned that the longer this strike goes on that permanent damage will be done to the labour movement in Canada. CUPE has been on the wrong side of the public relations battle since Day 1 and the City has been controlling the message. The number of complaints against unions and collective bargaining in general seem to be increasing.

Neither the public or for that matter some of those on strike appear to understand the key issues.

I believe the strike was an ill advised strategic move and all of this delay nonsense only serves to create enormous ill will.

I found this on the CUPE 79 website-- it is a bit of a read but you can get an idea of what the issues are.

http://www.cupelocal79.org

CUPE really needs a simplified, direct and consistent message as to why they are on strike. I would immediately advise against further attempts to delay the public from dropping off trash. All thuggery of any type needs to stop-- it is counter productive to your cause.

I would shift the focus from garbage to the myriad of services the City provides--- public health, inspections, animal services. If I was a CUPE member on strike I would be furious at the leadership for how things have been handled to date.

Final thought for today, concessions for a strong union are not necessarily the end of the world. Wages and benefits need to be able to respond to economic conditions.

"Don't make us go after the elderly."

I couldn't figure out at first if this was a spoof twitter account but after careful review it does seem to be written by someone supporting CUPE. With friends like that who needs enemies?

We tried garbage, we tried taking away things from kids... yet the city still functions? Don't make us go after the elderly. Support 416!

http://twitter.com/local416

UPDATE: From the Official 416 website

Local416 Twitter Impersonatoion [sic]

We have had many inquiries about the Local 416 twitter account. The twitter site is not run by are [sic] Local and we are working to have it removed.

Mother Nature not supporting the strike

One reason that we have now gone 17 days with this strike is the unusually cool Summer weather. Really-- we have hardly broken 30 yet. At some point true Summer weather will kick in and that garbage will really cook. Not for the next week or so tho.

14 Day Trend: Toronto, Ontario - The Weather Network

Zoom out for a moment...

and look at the bigger picture.