Councillor wants to deny Ford lockout power

As the city begins negotiating new collective agreements with its workers, a council opponent of Mayor Rob Ford is trying to make it harder for the mayor to lock workers out if bargaining falters.

City negotiators are expected to adopt a tough bargaining stance under Ford. Councillor John Filion, citing widespread “rumours,” said he was concerned the mayor “might be planning to do something impulsive” if left unchecked.

Filion’s proposal would require any lockout to be approved by council. At present, the labour relations committee, which is dominated by Ford allies, can direct the city to keep workers off the job on its own.

“I think most residents of the city would be alarmed to know that, as the rules now stand, an impulsive mayor could shut down the city without ever coming to council,” Filion said.

Mark Ferguson, president of Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 416, which represents outdoor workers, said a “very highly placed individual” had confirmed to him that Ford plans a lockout.

“It would be hard on residents, and hard on the people who care for our kids and collect our garbage . . . Knowing that council could potentially insert itself in the process is a very good thing, in my estimation,” Ferguson said.

Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday, chair of the committee, said he would have to talk to experts before forming an opinion on the substance of the proposal. But he blasted Filion and Ferguson for raising the spectre of a lockout, saying they were needlessly scaring union members and the public.

“There’s been no talk of any lockout, by the committee or by anybody else that I know of — except for people like John Filion. And I say: That’s reckless talk. How many workers are going to read something into that that isn’t even there? That’s premature by a country mile,” Holyday said.

Filion’s proposal would weaken the city’s bargaining hand, at least slightly. It would also deny Ford powers that former mayor David Miller had during the last round of negotiations.

Filion, who leans left but voted to outsource waste collection and make the TTC an essential service, said he was trying only to improve the process, not to help the unions. He said he was unaware of the committee’s authority under Miller.

The city’s agreements with CUPE Local 416 and Local 79, which represents indoor workers, expire on Dec. 31. City officials held their first meeting with Local 79 on Monday, and they plan to meet with Local 416 on Wednesday.

The city is not yet in a lockout position. If negotiations break down, the city or the unions can request a “no board” letter from the province. Seventeen days later, the workers can strike, as they did in 2009, or the city can lock them out.

Filion’s proposal will go first to Ford’s executive committee, which will almost certainly reject it. It will then require the support of two-thirds of council to be debated.

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Source: Toronto Star