Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Friday, February 03, 2012

Take new deal or we’ll impose it, city tells workers

The Mayor Rob Ford administration has moved aggressively against CUPE Local 416, tabling 11th-hour demands it says will be imposed on 6,000 city workers Sunday whether their union accepts them or not.

The threat — very unusual in the public sector and regarded as a way to get workers to accept an offer or force them to strike — pushes Toronto to the very brink of a work stoppage this weekend by outside workers.

Bruce Anderson, the city’s executive director of human resources, told reporters Friday the demands, suddenly tabled Thursday night after months of bargaining, will be unilaterally imposed at 12:01 a.m. Sunday.

Workers in Local 416, who include trash collectors, city rink staff, animal control officers and ferry operators, will be expected to turn up for work.

“All employees are expected to continue working and these new terms and conditions now apply to them,” Anderson said.

They include:

  Lump sum payments of 1.25 per cent in the first year, 1.5 per cent in the second year; and 1.75 per cent in the third. The fourth year would see a 1.75 wage increase. Local 416 is offering a pay freeze in exchange for keeping other benefits.

  Scrapping the need to get union approval of shift changes.

  Ironclad job security provisions that exist for all permanent workers would stay only for those with 22 years or more seniority, down from the city’s previous offer of 25 or more years. Local 416 offered Thursday to remove that protection for permanent staff with less than five years’ seniority.

  Streamline bumping procedures to make it easier to lay off workers.

  Clamp down on sick days and reduce optical and dental benefits.

Although Local 416 president Mark Ferguson earlier told reporters the conditions were a “provocative, threatening final offer,” Anderson refused to tell reporters if that’s the case.

“The important thing is we have another day and a half to bargain,” he said.

Ferguson said he was optimistic Thursday after Local 416 tabled a list of concessions including giving up some of its hard-won job security.

“Our offer was unprecedented from a union in the city of Toronto,” Ferguson said. “Not surprisingly, the city’s chief negotiator seemed pleased and we thought we could see a framework of a deal coming into place.”

But late Thursday night came the city’s offer that “basically guts our collective agreement,” Ferguson said.

“We were told to take it or leave it — this would be the city’s final offer, 48 hours before their own arbitrary deadline.”

The Star reported last month that the Mayor Rob Ford administration was considering the tactic to goad workers to settle or strike over untenable new working conditions, letting the city avoid the stigma of a lockout.

Ferguson called the city a bully but said CUPE negotiators, who have agreed to more than 40 of the city’s proposals, will remain at the table through the weekend trying to reach a deal.

Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam, who observed the CUPE news conference, said it appears that, if there is a work stoppage, it will be the city’s fault.

The former professional negotiator said tabling new demands shortly before a deadline is bad-faith bargaining.

Wong-Tam (Ward 27, Toronto Centre-Rosedale) also said the city is being “completely irresponsible” in not alerting residents to what services would be affected by a work stoppage, and how they could cope with 6,000 city staff walking off the job.

Her office is scrambling to put together its own information for constituents, but is having trouble getting details from secretive city staff, she said.

Original Article
Source: Star 
Author: David Rider 

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