CUPE Local 79, representing 23,000 workers, announced the result of Tuesday’s strike vote in a new release early Wednesday morning.
Over 85 per cent of voting workers supported the strike mandate, Local 79 president Tim Maguire said at a Wednesday news conference. He called turnout “historic” but refused to give an actual figure.
The release said that having the mandate in down-to-the-wire talks with city negotiators this week will “assist the union in reaching a fair settlement, as well as protect workers from potential threats the city may make to strip workers of basic employment protections,” by unilaterally changing their terms and conditions of employment.
The inside workers will not join library staff on the picket lines this weekend unless Mayor Rob Ford’s administration moves to unilaterally impose working conditions, Maguire said.
“Local 79 will not be walking off the job — calling a strike — this Saturday morning if we do not have a contract. But we will consider that option if the city determines that it’s going to take away basic employment rights,” he said Tuesday.
Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday said Wednesday: “The solution’s still at the table. They should get to the bargaining table. I don’t know why they’re even bothering to come up here today to try to draw up media interest in the matter.”
Last month, shortly before the city struck a four-year deal with the CUPE local representing 6,000 outside workers, lead city negotiator Bruce Anderson threatened that the city would unilaterally impose its offer on those workers because their contract had expired Dec. 1.
Anderson did not repeat that threat with Local 79’s four expired contracts, but dismissed union counterproposals tabled late Monday night. The union negotiators “have done nothing of consequence,” he said, although both sides agree they made at least a little progress.
Anderson and Holyday accuse Local 79 of trying to get a raft of “enhancements” despite the city’s financial crunch. Maguire flatly rejects that, saying he has not put forward any “major gain proposals” and the city’s offer is poorer than that given to the outside workers’ Local 416.
That is not the case for one key demand — that some workers lose ironclad job security provisions that protect permanent staff from losing their job in the event of contracting-out or technical innovation. The outside workers agreed to reduce that protection to workers with seniority of at least 15 years.
A detailed list of city proposals and “consequences for members” prepared by Local 79 and obtained by the Star shows the city is also offering to extend the safeguard to permanent, full-time inside workers with 16 and 17 years’ seniority.
Other concessions sought when the document was distributed to some Local 79 members late last week:
• The city wants to shorten the notice period when a worker’s job is to be deleted to 30 calendar days, from the current three months; to provide no training for a new job; and to decide within three months if the worker is suited to the new position.
• Staff targeted for layoff, who currently may “bump” into the same or lower wage grades until they get a new position, would only be allowed to bump down two wage grades.
• Laid-off workers would lose the right to refuse recall into a lower pay grade.
• The city would reduce sick pay and other health benefits, including introducing a co-payment for prescription drugs.
Inside workers who spoke to the Star while waiting in a long line to vote at a King St. W. hotel Tuesday all said they would give their union a strike mandate, but dearly hope it is not used.
“Nobody wants to go on strike,” said Carolyn Heath, a case worker with social services who has worked for the city for 28 years.
“But I’ll vote yes and hopefully both sides will keep talking. It would look bad for city hall if they force us out.”
She said some people criticize the union’s efforts to protect part-timers — the city says they comprise more than half of 79’s membership — but the reality is that many of those workers don’t make much more than minimum wage.
Likely effects of a Local 79 strike or lockout include: closure of all 57 city-run daycares, community centres, museums, swimming pools and non-emergency public health programs; cancellation of permits for parks, tennis courts and sports fields; a halt to the processing of building permits and rezoning applications; and limited access to city buildings.
Original Article
Source: Star
Author: David Rider
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