Vancouver On Strike

Now It's Time To Say Goodbye. . ,

2007-10-20T20:55:00.000-07:00

# 199. The Last Post.

Ratification of the Library Workers contract by CUPE 391 Friday, October 19 and the VPL Board Saturday, October 20 marks the end of the second longest civic strike in Vancouver history.

I am no fan of the CITY or CUPE.

What should have been a 3 week strike degenerated into a 13 week grudge match.

The City with its:

initial & repeated "firm, final offers" (a tactic illegal under US Labour Law);
a 39 month contract offer (who negotiates during or just after an Olympics?);
reduced benefits;
the Mayor's misguided musings;
unwillingness to consider other Metro Vancouver library contracts;

generated an unheard of 90 - 96% Strike Mandate.

CUPE's hands are dirty too.

No Layoffs Due to Contracting Out;
Seniority before Merit for all Auxiliary Workers;
Treating the Olympics as just another work day;
Designating all Olympic sites as CUPE facilities;

These were non-negotiable and demonstrate a 1980's British coal miner mindset (remember the Arbutus Club.)

CUPE was right to push for dispute resolution systems that protect employees from self anointed messianic managers found in any organization. Certain disputes have been allowed to fester for 10 years. Now it's 7 months and binding arbitration is involved if necessary.

A mediator was required to break the deadlock.

Thankfully, 8 weeks into the strike, the City misplayed the labour code's Section 56 request for a Special Mediator. A civic strike is not special. Face saving motivated the City to enter "enhanced mediation." CUPE had been requesting such for the length of the strike.

The strike is over except for Mayor Sam Sullivan. He wants to bill the November 2008 civic election as CUPE vs SAM, The Final Knockout. It's sad really. After 3 years the Mayor has no policy achievements only a continual flow of wish list press releases.

CUPE did itself no favours at its second rally outside City Hall. Declaring that CUPE will work to defeat the Mayor, CUPE gift wrapped an election platform Mayor Sullivan is happily exploiting. 12 months, however, is an eternity in politics.

All the while Cambie Street businesses received no property tax relief and now 35% are closed. Businesses at Library Square received no rent relief. The City is the landlord.

As for this blog..,

I didn't realize anyone was reading until Saturday August 18 when I posted the videos from the Arbutus Club. Suddenly, I had 10 comments.

Total Comments: 575.

August 22 I learned about Google Analytics and Sitemeter. Now I could measure how many people were reading and how many pages were read.

August 22 - October 20, 2007

5,471 Absolutely Unique Visitors
10,453 Visits
28,749 Page Views
2.4 Avg. Pages / View
4:14 Avg. Time on Site

Shaw and Telus were the most common domains.

Number 3 - The City of Vancouver.

1051 Visits
4:39 Avg. Time on Site
2.91 Avg. Page / View
October 5th & 9th - Most Vists

Thanks to Walter Schultz, The Gazetteer, David Eaves, Beyond Robson, Urban Vancouver and Howe Street for the positive reviews and referrals to this blog.

Reading comments, for me, was the most enjoyable part of the blog. It definitely was not a one sided debate. Provocative, emotional and for the most part reasoned and well written.

Only 5 comments were rejected due to their flaming content.

Thank you for the comments, the support and most importantly for reading.

If there is a strike in 2012 I won't be with the City. 11 weeks provided the opportunity to develop a realistic business plan. It's been set in motion and one goal, unexpectedly, has already been reached.

It will be a great adventure.

So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, adieu,
Adieu, adieu, to yieu and yieu and yieu

So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye
I leave and heave a sigh and say goodbye -- Goodbye!

Library Workers Ratify Contract

2007-10-19T17:56:00.000-07:00

Saturday, October 20, 2007

It’s Official. The Library Board Ratifies Agreement

Bargaining Committee wrote this in the early morning:

Early this morning the Vancouver Public Library Board met and ratified the Memorandum of Agreement between CUPE Local 391, the Vancouver Public Library Workers and the Vancouver Public Library Board, the Employer. The five year contract covers the period January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2011.

CUPE 391’s members will be returning to work shortly to ensure that the public will be able to have access to their library system as soon as possible. Vancouver Public Library workers are eager to return to their jobs in public service that they love so much.

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After 292 days without a contract and 89 days of strike action CUPE 391 - Library Workers voted:

YES: 71%

NO: 29%

Contract ratification means library staff return to work Monday Oct. 22nd and libraries will open Wednesday Oct. 24th.

Pay Equity Committee is included.

14. Joint Committee - Classification Issues
The Employer and the Union agree to establish a Joint Committee consisting of not more than three (3) representatives from each party to discuss classification issues. The primary purpose of the Committee shall be for each party to gain a better appreciation of the other party’s perspective on classification issues. The Committee shall meet periodically during 2007, 2008 and 2009 and shall cease to exist on 2009 December 31 unless both parties agree to extend it. The Committee shall automatically be removed from the Collective Agreement unless both parties specifically agree to renew it.

Memorandum of Understanding - CUPE 391 & Vancouver Public Library

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Library strike ends: CUPE 391 makes important steps towards pay equity

[October 19, 2007 07:05 PM] CUPE

VANCOUVER—After 88 days on strike, CUPE 391 members have voted 71 per cent in favour of the tentative agreement reached yesterday between bargaining representatives of the library workers' union and the Vancouver Public Library (VPL). The VPL Board will be holding their ratification vote tomorrow morning.

The agreement was based on recommendations issued by mediator Brian Foley on October 5, 2007 but included adjustments that were vital for the union before the members could accept the deal. A primary adjustment was the addition of a joint-committee on classification issues whereby the union can express their pay equity concerns.

"We've been saying all along that we went out on strike on a principle," says CUPE 391 President Alex Youngberg, "now we're going back on a principle. We are going back knowing we have made important advances towards the long-term goal achieving pay equity and paved the way to make further advances in the future."

In addition to Foley's recommendations, the tentative agreement also includes the:

Inclusion of three more librarian positions into pay grade increases/wage adjustments.
Expansion of benefit coverage to include orthodics.
Improvements to the return to work agreement, including: maternity, paternity, adoption leave coverage; improvements on how to handle vacation upon return to work and extension of timeline on grievances.

"We are looking forward to working with our employer to fully restore public library services," says Youngberg. The library workers are expected to return to work as early as Wednesday, October 24, 2007.

"The public is encouraged to approach us in the library and ask us about pay equity. We'd be happy to tell you everything we know and point you to a book or two on the subject."

CUPE 391 represents 770 library workers employed by the Vancouver Public Library. This was their first strike in their 77-year history. It began on July 26, 2007.

Contact:

Alexandra Youngberg, CUPE 391 President, 604-908-6095
Ed Dickson, CUPE 391 bargaining chair, 778-840-0207
Diane Kalen, CUPE Communications, 778-229-0258

Memorandum of Agreement between CUPE 391 and Vancouver Public Library

Canwest Preaches Competition

2007-10-19T07:12:00.000-07:00

Today's Vancouver Sun editorial describes the new era of labour relations between Frank Stronach and the CAW and extols the virtues of competition. No argument from me there.

The irony is the Vancouver Sun, as well as, The Province, Courier, Metro, National Post and GlobalTV are owned by CANWEST GLOBAL Communications.

Hmmmm. The federal government should "Take Heed" and bring the current era of media monopolies to an end.

After all, where is the incentive to compete?

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EXCERPT: Vancouver Sun - October 19, 2007

Take heed, Vancouver: A new era in labour relations is possible

After all, Vancouver has just endured one of the longest strikes by city workers in history and relations between the employer and the Canadian Union of Public Employees appear worse than when it began. Mayor Sam Sullivan predicts the next election will be a power struggle between his governing Non-Partisan Association Party and CUPE, rather than one of the opposition groups on council. The union, he says, hopes to install "a CUPE mayor."

The reason the common sense revolution that changed the dynamic between the CAW and Magna can't be repeated at the municipal level is that neither the city nor the union has to face competition.

There is nothing to temper union demands and only fear of a taxpayer revolt restrains the employer's willingness to accede to them.

There is no partnership between CUPE and the city. It is an antagonistic relationship in which the union is out to get as much as it can and local government's only concern is upsetting the citizenry to the point at which the governing authority is voted out of office. There is no discipline of profit, no goal of improving productivity, no expectation -- indeed, no intention -- of raising the quantity or quality of service.

Roughly 65 per cent of the city's budget is labour. As CUPE workers' pay goes up by nearly 19 per cent over the next five years (which is what the 17.5 per cent raise amounts to after compounding), citizens will provide the revenue to fund the increase through higher taxes. Taxpayers should not have to tolerate the withdrawal of services they have contracted and paid for.

It is time to reconsider the rules of public sector labour relations and ensure they also serve those who pay the bills.

Library Workers Vote Friday

2007-10-18T21:41:00.000-07:00

MEDIA ADVISORY:

CUPE 391 vote results to be announced at 7pm Friday

[October 18, 2007 09:24 PM] CUPE

VANCOUVER - Vancouver striking library workers represented by CUPE 391 will vote on Friday, October 19, 2007 to accept or reject a tentative agreement reached today. The union bargaining committee is recommending acceptance of the agreement.

If the deal is ratified, library workers could return to work restoring public library services in the city as early as Wednesday, October 24, 2007.

The details of the tentative agreement will not be released until the vote results are known. They are based on mediator Foley's recommendations, and include adjustments negotiated between the two parties over the past week.

CUPE 391 members will be voting from noon until 6pm on Friday at the Maritime Labour Centre at Victoria Drive & Triumph Street in Vancouver.

What: Announcement of CUPE 391 vote results on tentative agreement

Where: Outside CUPE 391 office, 545 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver

Time: 7pm

CUPE 391's 770 members have been on strike since July 26, 2007. This is the first strike in their 77 year history.

Contact: Diane Kalen, CUPE Communications, 778-229-0258

MEETING AND VOTE TOMORROW

Bargaining Committee wrote this around lunchtime:

There will be a meeting and vote on the proposed Memorandum of Agreement tomorrow at the Maritime Labour Centre, 1880 Triumph Street (the same place we had our benefit concert). Please note that parking is limited and people are encouraged to take transit. The meeting will be from 10:30 am to 12 noon. Voting will take place thereafter until 6pm.

The information package will only be available at the meeting.

Travel, meeting and voting time will count towards approx. 2 hours picket duty. However, to complete a 4 hour shift, two hours will have to be covered at one of the picket sites. Please note that attendance only at this meeting will NOT count as an automatic four hour shift like the last meeting. If you start or end your shift there you can sign in/out at the Centre. Otherwise, sign in and out at your picket location. Picketing will be at Central from 7-5 and Britannia from 8-4. Coffee and pizza will be provided at both sites around 1:00.

Your pay cheques will be available for pick up at the Centre from 10:00 - 4:00.

Library and union confirm tentative deal; libraries open Wednesday at earliest

Thursday, October 18 - 12:47:47 PM News1130 Staff

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - The Vancouver Public Library and CUPE Local 391 have confirmed a tentative agreement to end the strike by Vancouver library workers. The union says the deal includes modifications to mediator Brian Foley's recommendations presented on October 5th.

The media blackout in place since Tuesday will continue until the library's 770 members vote Friday on the agreement. The Library Board will vote if the membership of CUPE 391 ratifies the agreement. If both parties ratify, library staff will return to work on Monday and library branches will be open to the public on Wednesday at the earliest.

Local 391 is the last of three CUPE locals to settle with the city. Inside and outside workers are already back on the job.

Library Vote this Weekend?

2007-10-17T18:13:00.001-07:00

Vancouver's striking librarians reach tentative deal

Frances Bula, Vancouver Sun

Published: Wednesday, October 17, 2007

VANCOUVER - Vancouver's striking library workers and management have reached a tentative agreement, after a strike that began July 26 focused on better pay for the mainly female employees.

The agreement is consistent with recommendations made by mediator Brian Foley, but have been slightly modified, according to a private memo.

The two sides have not formally signed the agreement. Once they do, a ratification vote will be set, likely Friday or Saturday.

Today marks the 84th day of the library workers' strike. There is a blackout on all details about the agreement.

Library workers voted 78.1 per cent last week against Foley's recommendations for settlement, saying they didn't address the issue of pay equity that was a main concern for them.

The union, Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 391, originally asked for a bump up the pay grade for the city's most senior librarians and a committee that would compare library work, a female-dominated profession, with city workers in male-dominated jobs doing work of equivalent complexity to see if there were pay inequities that should be leveled out.

Instead, Foley proposed giving several of the top classifications of library workers, about 300 of the 775, a bump up the pay grade. That amounted to $600,000 a year in increases. He said it was better to give them money now than spend months with a committee.

Foley also included in his proposals a new lower-paid category than what now exists for shelvers. But library workers said they wanted to take the money Foley was prepared to give, and which both city council and the library board agreed to, and spread it around among all 775 workers. They were also opposed to the new classification at the lower pay rate.

Library managers countered that spreading the money around would mean top librarians would end up earning less than other top librarians in the district, which was not really pay equity.

The library workers' strike is their first in 77 years. They were the last of three city unions to go on strike, after the inside workers went out July 20 and the outside workers July 23.

Foley was finally brought in in September, after weeks of failed and no negotiations, to come up with non-binding resolutions for all three unions.

The inside workers voted in favour of Foley's recommendations by 73 per cent, and returned to work Oct. 11, after an 81-day strike.

The outside workers voted 58 per cent in favour at the same time, but it wasn't enough because their local rules require a two-thirds majority. Three days later, after the resolutions were "tweaked" with some improved benefits and language on certain issues, the outside workers came to a tentative agreement and then voted to accept with an 88-per-cent majority Sunday, ending an 86-day strike.

All three unions get a 17.5-per-cent increase over five years, with a $1,000 signing bonus for full-time employees.

fbula@png.canwest.com
-------------------------------
CKNW is reporting a possible settlement between CUPE 391 and the City.

It looks like Vancouver libraries could be open by next week.

Oct, 17 2007 - 4:30 PM

VANCOUVER/CKNW(AM980) - Librarians and the city have reached a tentative contract agreement.
The city of Vancouver and striking Cupe local 391 members - librarians - have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract.
The tentative deal is pretty well consistent with mediator Brian Foley’s recommendations a few weeks back with some minor modifications.
A ratification vote will take place either Friday or Saturday.
It looks like the bargaining committee will recommend acceptance.
City libraries could be open by Monday.

CUPE 391 (LIBRARY WORKERS) is sticking to the media blackout, regardless of the media leak, but are reporting on the their blog that the bargaining committee is going to the Central library for a crew talk tomorrow morning.

Media Leak

Bargaining Committee wrote this mid-afternoon:
As you may know, there have been a number of stories in the media late this afternoon regarding the state of bargaining.

The Bargaining Committee will be coming down to the Central Library tomorrow morning for a crew talk. We are very sorry that we are unable to discuss anything further as we are technically still under a media blackout at this time. We apologize for all the confusion that this has caused.

Library Talks - Media Blackout

2007-10-16T18:59:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Media Blackout in Effect

Bargaining Committee wrote this in the early afternoon:

Please note, a media blackout is now in place until further notice.

Thank you.

Media blackout in effect as library workers meet with employer

As of 2pm today, CUPE 391 and the Vancouver Public Library, City of Vancouver and Metro Vancouver Labour Relations Bureau have agreed to a media blackout as the parties would like to remain focused on talks, which are underway. [October 16, 2007 02:00 PM]

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Union's use of pay equity a misnomer, says library chief

Paul Whitney, Special to the Sun

Published: Tuesday, October 16, 2007

After 11 weeks of strike and recommendations for the most lucrative settlement of the three striking Vancouver civic workers' unions, the board and management of the Vancouver Public Library are deeply disappointed that library workers are not heading back to work and library services have not been restored for the residents of Vancouver.

Since rejecting the recommendations of Brian Foley, one of the most experienced and respected mediators in British Columbia, CUPE Local 391 has claimed that his proposal does little to address the union's key issue, pay equity.

Foley recommended one-pay-grade wage adjustments for 337 employees as a way to address some job market equity issues. He declined the union's request for a committee to study pay equity, which could meet for years before employees receive any wage increases and could also result in pay decreases. The Regina Public Library negotiated pay equity with its union and for four years both sides have been discussing the issue. Workers have yet to see any wage adjustments.

CUPE 391, which represents 770 library employees, says instead it would like to take the funding for these wage adjustments to provide increases for all staff. This is not pay equity. This is turning a 17.5-per-cent wage increase into a 19.5-per-cent wage increase over five years. In addition to the 17.5-per-cent salary increase over five years, the wage adjustments recommended by Foley add more than two per cent to the library payroll.

Since bargaining began last December, the union has raised pay equity as its members' major issue. The problem is that it has continually redefined the term, often erroneously, by mixing issues of internal, market and employment equity under the umbrella of pay equity. Claiming there is pay inequity at the Vancouver Public Library is easier and simpler than explaining to taxpayers you want a greater wage increase than has been negotiated not just with the other two Vancouver unions, but throughout Metro Vancouver.

Vancouver Public Library and the City of Vancouver, the library's major funder, not only endorse the principles of pay equity, we also practise them. The current job evaluation system consistently results in upgrading for the majority of positions reviewed.

In order to respond to issues raised by CUPE 391, the city and library thoroughly reviewed and compared city and library job classifications and reconfirmed there is no gender inequity in workplaces funded by the city.

Making arguments under the guise of pay equity, the union has compared library jobs to inside and outside city positions and to jobs in other jurisdictions, as close as Burnaby and as far away as Toronto. It is important to examine what some of these comparisons actually mean:

- The union has claimed that an entry-level city labourer earns more than an entry-level library worker without acknowledging that some of the pay difference is because labourers work five hours more a week, labourers have only one hourly rate and do not advance in their positions as frequently or quickly as library workers, and their work conditions differ substantially.

- The union believes that librarians should earn the same as other professionals employed by the city who have masters degrees. A person's level of education is only one of the factors in determining appropriate compensation. Levels of responsibility, supervising staff and consequences of decisions must also be considered.

- On numerous occasions, the union has explained that librarians in Toronto are paid 23 per cent more per hour more than librarians in Vancouver because Ontario has pay-equity legislation and B.C. does not. The factor here is market equity, not pay equity. The union has not publicized that city planners in Toronto make 18 per cent more than those in Vancouver. And pay equity is not an issue as book shelvers in Toronto earn 42-per -cent less than VPL staff currently shelving books and 33 per cent less than the wage set by Foley for the new book shelver classification.

It is the responsibility of the library board and management to ensure that a negotiated settlement is fair to our employees, our major funder (the city) and to taxpayers.

Paul Whitney is the city librarian.

Pre-Election Posturing 02

2007-10-16T07:18:00.000-07:00

Mayor expects to face 'CUPE candidate'

Chantal Eustace, Vancouver Sun

Published: Monday, October 15, 2007

Mayor Sam Sullivan said Monday he expects to run next year's mayoral election against the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

Sullivan told The Vancouver Sun's editorial board he thinks this summer's civic strikes were about who runs the city and that the fight will extend to next year's elections.

"They wanted to see a CUPE mayor running city council," Sullivan said of the three CUPE locals that went on strike.

He added that he expects to run against "a CUPE candidate" next fal

"This strike will not be truly resolved until Nov. 15, 2008," Sullivan said. "I think the battle lines are drawn and it will be an interesting year. . ,"

Jurassic Park Board Dinosaur Meeting Oct 23rd

2007-10-15T23:45:00.000-07:00

Letter from Park Commissioner Spencer Herbert.

Hi there,

I am writing to you today as I've just been alerted that the proposal to put 25 to 30 large robotic dinosaurs into Stanley Park will be debated by the Park Board earlier than expected. The "Dinosaur Experience" will be discussed at the Planning Committee on Tuesday October 23rd. The Planning Committee will be recommending whether or not this proposal should continue to the full board for approval.
Articles with more detail can be found here:

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=ae4cc88e-25ff-4c2c-b960-201abe3ad374&k=77294

I think it is vital that the public let the Planning Committee, and Park Board know what they feel about a Jurassic Stanley Park.

The meeting is at 7PM on Tuesday October 23rd and will be held at 2099 Beach Avenue in the west end of Vancouver. To address the committee you need to sign up by Monday the 22nd at 12 noon which you can do by phoning 604-257-8451, or emailing pbcomment@vancouver.ca. If you are unable to come to speak it is vital that you email the board your thoughts. An email can be directed to igrobertson@telus.net, korina.houghton@vancouver.ca, adegenova@sutton.com, spencer.herbert@vancouver.ca, heather@heatherholden.ca, lorettaisalways@shaw.ca, martyz@zlc.net.

If you are as concerned about this proposal as I am, and don't believe robotic dinosaurs are the right fit for Stanley Park please forward this message to your contacts, and urge them to let the Park Board know what they think.

I hope to hear from you soon,

Spencer
Spencer Herbert
Park Commissioner
Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation
spencer.herbert@vancouver.ca
778-859-4905
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Jurassic Park Board - 01

Request for Proposals / Dinosaur Alternatives
Park Board Management's Jurassic Treatment of Community Centres

Jurassic Park Board - 02

The Rationale
Pete McMartin's story tracing genesis of Jurassic exhibit proposal.

Jurassic Park Board - 03

Dinosaurs Unearthed - website
Toronto Zoo Exhibit Video

Library Worker Update

2007-10-15T20:18:00.001-07:00

CUPE 391 and employer meet to make adjustments to Foley's recommendations

[October 15, 2007 05:04 PM] CUPE

Representatives of CUPE 391 met with representatives of the Vancouver Public Library and Metro Vancouver Labour Relations Bureau today to discuss adjustments to mediator Brian Foley's recommendations, which were rejected by 78.1 per cent of the membership last Tuesday.

While a tentative agreement has not yet been reached, further discussions are expected to take place between the parties.

Vancouver's 800 library workers have been on strike since July 26, 2007.

Mediator Foley's recommendations and previously agreed to items.

Contact:

Alexandra Youngberg, CUPE 391 President, 604-908-6095
Ed Dickson, CUPE 391 bargaining chair, 604-322-4879
Diane Kalen, CUPE Communications, 778-229-0258

Man walk postponed, some of the support we’ve been getting, and more

Janis wrote this in the late afternoon:

Man walk postponed
The man walk has been postponed until further notice. A lot of us have been excited about this one–please watch the blog for a new date and time, and keep practicing those Windsor knot-tying skills! (Note that the Kitsilano lunch is still moved to Wednesday this week–it was originally rescheduled to accommodate this special event.)

Pickets at Dunbar tomorrow
We’ll be picketing from 8-4 tomorrow (Tuesday). And see below:

Pickets taken down at JF and Kerrisdale
We are very pleased for our brothers and sisters in CUPE 15 and 1004 who have returned to work. Because Kerrisdale and Joe Fortes are shared facilities, we have taken these pickets down. Our members in both locations have done an amazing job of creating public awareness and building relationships with our colleagues in the community centres, as well as setting up high-functioning picket sites and all-round good places for our members to be during these difficult times. The Job Action coordinators want to thank all these members for their hard work during the strike.

CUPE 391 President and others at CUPE National
Every two years CUPE National holds its convention, and that’s where Alex (our president), Inder (chair of the hardship committee), Randy (one of our job action coordinators), and Aili (member at large) are right now, talking with CUPE members from across Canada. Many other locals have already sent donations and other kinds of support, and we are very happy–and proud–to be members of this powerful organisation.

More Support
We don’t always hear about the donations and messages of support we continue to receive from the public and fellow workers. It is very exciting–and inspiring–to hear that our sisters and brothers in the BC Teachers’ Federation have donated more than $80,000 to help members in 15, 391 and 1004. Thank you, teachers! We’ll report more details as soon as we can.

A reminder that when passers-by ask how they can support us, we can direct them to our website and the online petition. If every one of our supporters forwards the petition to friends and colleagues, we can really get the word out!

D’Arcy has also heard from Ann Seidl, the director of Hollywood Librarian, who called to tell us about her support for our cause. She is going to allow us to screen the film so that we can raise funds, and will even fly up from Wisconsin for interviews. We have booked The Rio (on Broadway) for Saturday November 3rd. Watch this space for more details, and see the Hollywood Librarian website for more information about “the first full-length documentary film to focus on the work and lives of librarians.” (Check out the gorgeous stills from Desk Set!)

And just as D’Arcy was updating Britannia staff today, a man came by and gave us a little speech. He said that he has always loved libraries, but that he “didn’t realise librarians had so much guts” for sticking it out. He urged us to go on fighting for our cause. It’s good to hear!

Pre-Election Posturing

2007-10-15T14:16:00.000-07:00

The gloves are off and the Vancouver civic election campaign is underway. Only 13 months to go.

The defining issue - which side of the strike you are on.

NPA will claim that Vision and COPE would have settled the strike earlier because they would have given everything away.

COPE and Vision will argue bad faith bargaining on the part of the NPA council. They will point to Mayor Sullivan and Elizabeth Ball as the key culprits.

Finally, after listening to Mayor Sullivan on the Bill Good show it would appear the only person impacted by the strike was him. His agenda was set back etc.

If anyone was hoping for peace, reconciliation or the end to civic silly season it appears that acrimony, blame and mud slinging still rule the day.

Vancouver Garbage Pick Up Schedule

2007-10-15T07:58:00.000-07:00

Collection Schedule for Garbage, Recycling and Yard Trimmings

Collection Schedule for 2007, January and February 2008

The schedules shown below are for garbage, recycling (blue box) and yard trimmings collected by City crews at single family, duplex and small apartments and townhouses. Garbage and recycling are collected every week. Yard trimmings are collected every second week, on the same day as your garbage and recycling.

How to Use the Schedule

In order to accommodate bi-weekly yard trimmings collection there are 2 collection schedules: the “North Schedule” and the “South Schedule”. The schedule you will use will depend on where you live.

We have provided 2 different formats for the garbage/recycling/yard trimmings collection schedule: an html format (shows the pickup days for your coloured zone only) and a pdf file which shows the schedule and map for all zones.

Instructions to view/download schedules:

Click on either the North map or the South map to find out what schedule to use.

North

South
Once you are at the correct map follow the prompts and download the collection schedule in the preferred format.

Confused? Call the City's Garbage and Recycling Hotline at 604-326-4600 for assistance or e-mail us at recycle@vancouver.ca

1004 Back to Work

2007-10-15T07:45:00.000-07:00

CUPE workers look forward to returning to the job

Oct, 14 2007 - 11:20 PM

VANCOUVER/CKNW(AM980) - CUPE 10-04 members outside the voting station at the Maritime Labour Centre say they're happy to be going back to work.

Tony Rego is a sewer worker. He says the strike should never have lasted this long, "It should have been just a work-to-rule process. Basically, this should never have transpired. We should never have come to this point."

"So, how do you prevent something like this in the future?"

"Maybe, perhaps, a stronger Executive Board, a stronger presence of a strong mandate from our membership. We need more representation."

Rego says many 10-04 members feel the same way.

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Get ready for revitalized parks

Oct, 14 2007 - 11:10 PM

VANCOUVER/CKNW(AM980) - Parks staff will be returning to their jobs. The Park Board's Joyce Courtney says some preparation is needed in getting the City's parks up and running, "We're going to basically take a day to assess staff availability and prepare some of our sites and services for reopening in the next day or two."

Some of that preparation involves the City's golf courses, "Langara, McLeary and Fraserview and all the pitch and putts. We're going to be taking a look at Bloedell Conservatory, van Dusen Gardens and the sports fields."

CUPE Library Update

2007-10-15T07:27:00.000-07:00

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Bargaining Update

Bargaining Committee wrote this mid-afternoon:

In an effort to keep you as up to date as possible, we wanted to let you know that we are continuing to meet with the Employer. Tomorrow afternoon representatives from the Bargaining Committee will once again be speaking with representatives from the Library, Metro Vancouver (formerly the GVRD), and the City of Vancouver.

Please keep checking the blog for any further updates. Thanks so much.

UPDATE: REGIONAL CIVIC/LIBRARY BARGAINING & STRIKE STATUS

[October 14, 2007 05:07 PM]

[CUPE] Since Lower Mainland civic and library bargaining began last year, CUPE has negotiated and ratified 16 separate collective agreements with employers in the region. There are 10 contracts remaining, including an on-going strike of almost 800 Vancouver Public Library workers that began on July 26, 2007.

On Strike: CUPE 391 expecting to meet with employer to make adjustments to Foley's recommendations.

CUPE 391 (Vancouver public library workers), 800 workers
Contact: Alexandra Youngberg, CUPE 391 President, c: 604-908-6095

Municipalities where agreements have yet to be negotiated:

CUPE 386 (Coquitlam city workers), 826 workers
Contact: Jim Gorman, CUPE National Representative, c: 778-846-6100

CUPE 387 (New Westminster city workers), 400 workers
Contact: Rob Limongelli, CUPE National Representative, c: 778-773-1273

CUPE 403 (Langley Township workers), 500 workers
Contact: Susan Jansen, CUPE National Representative, c: 604-751-6543

CUPE 498 (City of Port Coquitlam), 279 workers
Contact: Jamie Arden, CUPE 498 President, c: 604-908-1498

CUPE 622 (Maple Ridge district workers), 325 workers
Contact: Susan Jansen, CUPE National Representative, c: 604-751-6543

CUPE 622 (Pitt Meadows city workers), 40 workers
Contact: Susan Jansen, CUPE National Representative, c: 604-751-6543

CUPE 2058 (Langley city workers), 150 workers
Contact: Susan Jansen, CUPE National Representative, c: 604-751-6543

Libraries that have yet to negotiate new contracts:

CUPE 561 (Coquitlam Public Library), 80 workers
Contact: Jim Gorman, CUPE National Representative, c: 778-836-6100

CUPE 3966 (Richmond Public Library), 150 workers
Contact: Jim Gorman, CUPE National Representative, 778-836-6100

CUPE 1004 - 83% Yes

2007-10-14T17:16:00.000-07:00

Garbage strike ends: CUPE 1004 ratifies overwhelmingly

[October 14, 2007 04:49 PM]

VANCOUVER - A year after negotiations first began and after 88 days on strike, CUPE 1004 members finally have a contract and one that the members have overwhelmingly ratified (85% in City; 81% in Parks) in a vote today, Sunday October 14, 2007.

"We're excited to have a fair contract that we can be proud of," says CUPE 1004 President Mike Jackson. "This contract will help retain skilled employees and attract new ones. This is beneficial for the workers, but it is also beneficial to the City and the public that requires quality public services."

CUPE 1004 members voted today on a tentative agreement that was reached Friday between the union and the City after Foley's recommendations did not pass the local union's two-thirds majority test. The final contract is based on the recommendations, but also includes items that were "tweaked" by the two parties, including:

* Improved benefit coverage - acupuncture has been added to the list of items covered and employees will receive complete benefit coverage after their first month of employment rather than after their sixth month.

* A joint committee to address the assignment of overtime was established.

* The Olympic partnership agreement was adjusted to include an expedited dispute resolution process and system for assigning Olympic work.

* Areas of feasibility (horticulture, golf courses, sanitation) were identified for consideration by the compressed work week committee.

* Return to work agreement includes extension of time limit to return from 10 days to 14 days.

* Grievances will no longer be deemed abandoned after 90 days.

The workers will begin returning to work on Monday, October 15, 2007.

"We are looking forward to getting back to work," says Jackson, "and appreciate the patience and support we have received from the public as they have done without regular garbage, parks and street services for almost three months now."

Jackson is still uncertain how many CUPE 1004 members will ultimately return to their city jobs, since so many found alternate employment during the strike. However, they do have two weeks, which should allow those who are working time to give adequate notice. He is encouraging his members to return to work for the City of Vancouver, saying the contract is a fair one and vowing he will work with the employer to improve management-employee relations, which have been hurt by the strike and tensions leading up to it.

FOLEY'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND PREVIOUSLY AGREED TO ITEMS.

CUPE 1004 has two different contracts, one with the City of Vancouver (approx. 1200 workers in water, sewage, street repairs, garbage collection) and the other with the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation (approx. 700 workers in sanitation, grass mowers, gardeners, outdoor lifeguards, etc.).

For more information, please contact:

Mike Jackson, CUPE 1004 President, 778-908-8070
Diane Kalen, CUPE Communications, 778-229-0258

EXCERPT: VANCOUVER SUN

Back to work

The deal ends 88 days of labour strife

KELLY SINOSKI and CATHERINE ROLFSEN

Published: Sunday, October 14, 2007

Garbage collection is set to resume in Vancouver Monday after the city's outside workers ratified a tentative agreement Sunday, after an almost three-month long strike.

Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 1004 members voted 85 per cent at the city and 81 per cent at the park board in favour of the "tweaked" agreement, which provides the 1,800 garbage collectors, street crew and parks workers with a 17.5-per cent wage increase over five years.

It also improves some of the contract language to give employees more certainty about benefits for new hires and about dispute-resolution mechanisms for the 2010 Olympic sites.

The union executive had recommended members accept the revised deal.

NEWS1130

Garbage strike is over in Vancouver

Sunday, October 14 - 06:13:07 PM Reshmi Nair and Kate Forman

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - Union leader Mike Jackson says regularly scheduled pick up will happen tomorrow and extra trucks with be brought out to handle the extra bags. He's hoping that a combination of the automated and old style trucks won't mean much of a delay.

Many workers will not come back to work because they've found other jobs.

More than 80 percent of members agreed to deal which was based on the mediators recommendations.

The city is asking people to hang onto their recyclables and yard trimmings for the first two weeks but you will be able to put out up to six bags of waste.

The landfill and transfer station will also be open but long lines and delays are expected.

Around 800 library workers are still off the job.

CUPE 1004 Vote Result @ 5:30

2007-10-14T16:08:00.000-07:00

CUPE 1004 media availability today: 5:30pm at Maritime Labour Centre

[October 14, 2007 01:42 PM]

CUPE 1004 President Mike Jackson will be available at 5:30pm at the Maritime Labour Centre, where the vote is taking place today, to comment on the results of the vote on the tentative agreement between the union and the City of Vancouver. CUPE 1004 has recommended ratification.

Location: Maritime Labour Centre, 1880 Triumph Street, Vancouver

Time: 5:30pm - 6:30pm

Date: Sunday, October 14, 2007

Please be advised that a press release will be issued as soon as the CUPE 1004 vote results have been tabulated.

Details of tentative agreement.

Christy Clark on the CUPE strike

2007-10-14T08:42:00.000-07:00

SOURCE: VANCOUVER PROVINCE
Sunday October 14, 2007

CUPE loses the PR battle, but it's laughing all the way to the bank

Christy Clark, Special to The Province

Published: Sunday, October 14, 2007

The thing I dislike most about the way the media cover politics is their unrelenting focus on who's winning and who's losing the public-relations war. Meantime, the substance of what's at stake goes unexamined.

That explains the coverage of Vancouver's civic strike.

There was lots of talk of who was up and who was down. But only occasionally did we see any analysis of the real issues.

That approach may also explain why the various pundits have almost unanimously declared CUPE the loser as this silly strike grinds to its inevitable end.

They weren't paying attention.

First, CUPE wasn't the only loser in the battle for hearts and minds. The city lost, too. The union's overriding public-relations objective was to do some damage to Mayor Sam Sullivan. They took a beating, but they also succeeded in tarnishing Sullivan.

The second important fact is that CUPE members are walking away from this strike with an extra 17.5 per cent over five years. They have improved protection from contracting out. Plus, there's a $1,000 signing bonus to sweeten the deal.

It's true that Vancouver isn't the only municipality coughing up 17.5 per cent. Most of the rest caved for the same amount. But Vancouver employs the highest number of CUPE members of any city. It also has among the smallest proportion of its services contracted out to the private sector. That makes the settlement in Vancouver the costliest of any in the Lower Mainland.

And what does the city get out of the deal? According to mediator Brian Foley's report, some language in the new agreement gives it "reasonable room to move."

It will also improve vacation benefits for some new CUPE members. And, wait for it: the citizens of Vancouver get labour peace. Gee, thanks.

If those facts don't make it plain who won, consider what other public-sector unions got from a provincial government that's flush with money. The teachers' union got 16 per cent over five years. The BCGEU got 10 per cent over four years -- measly by comparison.

The pundits can grouse all they want about CUPE; for those of us who live in the city, it's quite clear who won -- the union.

It's ironic that CUPE's leaders initially failed to see what they had accomplished. Two out of the three of them at first rejected the mediator's recommendations. They got so caught up in the battle that they failed to see their victory. It didn't last, because at the end of the day, it's all about the money.

Ultimately, CUPE's leadership doesn't care a fig about who wins the PR skirmishes. Unions, especially public-sector ones, are used to losing in the court of public opinion. They don't care much about it because it doesn't add a cent to the bottom line.

Five years from now, no one will remember who got the best headlines. In contract negotiations nothing really matters except the cash. In this deal, it's CUPE that's laughing -- all the way to the bank.

christyclark@telus.net

CUPE 1004 Voting Info

2007-10-12T21:17:00.000-07:00

Ratification Vote will be held Sunday, October 14th from 8am to 4pm

Information meeting at 10am - Maritime Labour Centre Auditorium

Bargaining Committee is recommending acceptance!
-------------------
MY VIEW
Results of the vote should be available Sunday between 7:00 and 8:00pm.

The tweaking of the mediator's original offer dealt with inconsistencies between the CUPE 15 contract and the 1004 contract. The 2010 Partnership agreement for each union had different dispute resolution mechanisms. 1004 still had a 6 month process in place while 15's was only 30 days.

1004 positions are subject to overtime (winter road salt and sanding, clearing drains of leaves in fall, paving, sewage connects etc.) yet no formalized system existed to deal with overtime. It had been ad hoc.

Compressed work weeks do get people upset, however, in sanitation, horticulture and golf course maintenance the longer days actually result more tasks being accomplished in a work week.

All in all a good deal for 1004.

------------------
Vancouver outside workers to vote on tentative deal Sunday
Last Updated: Saturday, October 13, 2007 | 1:17 AM ET

CBC.ca/bc

VIDEO: CUPE 1004 president Mike Jackson explains how the deal was reached (Runs 3:50)

AUDIO: City of Vancouver spokesman Jerry Dobrovolny speaks with CBC's Stephen Quinn (Runs 1:29)

Vancouver Province

Outside workers vote on deal today

CUPE 1004 Recommends Yes Vote

2007-10-12T18:20:00.000-07:00

CUPE 1004 and City successfully "tweak" Foley's recommendations: Tentative agreement

[October 12, 2007 03:28 PM]

Tentative agreement to be voted on by union on Sunday

VANCOUVER - CUPE 1004 President Mike Jackson is proud to announce that his bargaining committee and the City of Vancouver met today and reached a tentative agreement which will be voted on by union members on Sunday.

"We are pleased to announce that we had a productive session with the employer today and have successfully tweaked Foley's recommendations," says CUPE 1004 President Mike Jackson. "The result is a tentative agreement we can recommend to our members."

The parties agreed to improved benefit coverage in a number of areas: accupuncture coverage, increased vision care coverage from $300 to $450, benefit coverage to begin after first month of employment rather than after first six months.

There were a number of other adjustments to Foley's recommendations:

A joint committee to address the assignment of overtime was established.
The Olympic partnership agreement was adjusted to include an expedited dispute resolution process and system for assigning Olympic work.
Areas of feasibility (horticulture, golf courses, sanitation) were identified for the compressed work week committee.
Return to work agreement includes extention of time limit to return from 10 days to 14 days.
grievances will no longer be deemed abandoned after 90 days

CUPE 1004 represents Vancouver's 2,000 outside workers. They have been on strike since July 19, 2007.

FOLEY'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND PREVIOUSLY AGREED TO ITEMS.

For more information, please contact:

Mike Jackson, CUPE 1004 President, 778-908-8070
Diane Kalen, CUPE Communications, 778-229-0258

City and CUPE 1004 reach tentative agreement

After two days of discussion, the City of Vancouver and Metro Vancouver negotiators have reached a tentative agreement with CUPE 1004 representing the City’s outside workers. The agreement is consistent with the recommendations of mediator Brian Foley.

CUPE 1004 will vote on Sunday, and the executive of 1004 will recommend adoption.

Details of the agreement will be not discussed until after the vote.

City and Cupe 10-04 have reached a tentative agreement.

Oct, 12 2007 - 3:40 PM

VANCOUVER/CKNW(AM980) - A tentative agreement has been reached between striking outside workers and the city of Vancouver.

The numbers are the same as inside workers and other municipalities settled for -- 17 and a half per cent over five years, but the union says the city has agreed to benefit improvements and some other contract language adjustments.

Improved benefits include acupuncture and increased vision care coverage with benefits beginning after the first month of employment.

A committee is being struck to address the issue of assigned overtime, which previously was without a system.

And the Olympic partnership agreement has been adjusted to also include a system for assigning Olympic work and an expedited dispute resolution process.

Outside workers also won't have to return to work for 14 days following a contract settlement, rather than the current 10...that's because many took other employment in the private sector and will have to give notice.

Workers will vote to ratify that tentative deal Sunday and the union will recommend adoption.

As far as Cupe 391 representing library workers goes, the library will be responding to a proposal received from the union this morning and will be looking for a response in return, so those two parties appear they may be making some headway as well.

With strike deal, garbage pickup may restart Monday or Tuesday

Frances Bula, Vancouver Sun

Published: Friday, October 12, 2007

It took negotiators for striking outside workers and the City of Vancouver just over an hour this afternoon to come up with a tentative agreement, which could mean garbage pickup resumes Monday or Tuesday.

"I am relieved," said Mike Jackson, president of Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 1004, which represents the 2,000 people who collect garbage, maintain parks, and repair streets and sewers. They have been on strike for almost three months.

Jackson admitted the deal doesn't improve the money compensation that was set out by mediator Brian Foley in resolutions package, but it does adjust the language to provide employees with more certainty about benefits and dispute-resolution issues.

The union executive will be recommending that members accept the deal when they vote Sunday.

The outside workers had been in a bad bargaining position since their last vote Tuesday, when the 1,200 members who showed up to cast ballots were 58 per cent in favour of accepting the Foley package. But a Local 1004 bylaw says contracts have to be approved by a two-thirds majority.

The inside workers, in Local 15, had voted 73 per cent in favour of the recommendations and they went back to work Thursday.

Four community centres and two fitness centres that were supposed to be open today were closed instead, after inside workers refused to cross picket lines put up by outside workers at the centres.

With inside and outside workers appearing to have a deal, there is only one group of city workers still on strike with no sign of a settlement, the library employees.

Library negotiators met this morning, but the city's chief librarian, Paul Whitney, said librarians asked for a "major rewrite" of the Foley package that he said appeared undoable.

The major issue for library workers, who are mainly women, is getting pay equity with male-dominated categories of work at the city.

Foley had recommended boosting 300 of the 775 workers, those with the most complex jobs, up a pay grade in the ladder. But union local president Alex Youngberg said members think that's unfair and they want to see the money Foley was prepared to give to the 300 spread out equally to the 775.

However, Whitney said that would mean the librarians at the top of the scale would end up with less money than librarians throughout the region are getting, since other municipalities are giving their highest qualified library staff pay-grade boosts. That will make it hard for Vancouver to recruit, he said.

CUPE 391 & 1004 SPEAKING WITH CITY

2007-10-11T20:23:00.000-07:00

Lines of communications are open between the two CUPE locals still on-strike and the City of Vancouver. Many people feel that the city can hold out indefinitely. One problem. Winter.

Icy roads need salt and sand. The City of Vancouver does not have enough exempt staff to operate all the trucks required to maintain city streets.

Questions regarding the need for libraries in the age of the internet also arise. High School students need books for research. ESL curriculum is housed at many libraries for foreign students. Writers and researchers are also dependent on the assistance of library staff.

Much information is available online but accuracy is still in short supply.

Vancouver Sun reports:

CUPE 391
Meanwhile, Dobrovolny said talks would be held Friday with CUPE Local 391, which represents 775 striking library workers who overwhelmingly rejected a settlement negotiated by mediator Brian Foley.

CUPE 1004
Today's meeting followed a phone call Wednesday from CUPE, Local 1004 president Mike Jackson in which he told city negotiators that the two parties were close to a settlement, said the city's main spokesman Jerry Dobrovolny.

He said he felt the two parties were very, very close and it just needed some tweaking so we set up a meeting today with a couple of managers from the city and a couple of executives from 1004 to sit down and find out perhaps how close we are," Dobrovolny said today.

He said it was not an official bargaining meeting because it didn't include the whole bargaining committees.

"It's just a couple of people from both sides," he said. "But clearly there's an opportunity that we need to pursue with the president of Local 1004 saying it just needs a little tweaking and we are very close. So we are hopeful but as I stressed yesterday, our focus and priority is to get inside workers back to work and get those services restored as quickly as possible."

SOURCE: City Hall reopens for business after strike

Gerry Bellett, Vancouver Sun, Published: Thursday, October 11, 2007

Being Your Own Worst Enemy

2007-10-11T19:07:00.000-07:00

Although many inside workers returned to work without having to face pickets this morning at City Hall, some outside workers have ignored their union's statement last night that said members would not deter other members from going to work. The city says a few outside workers set up pickets at parks around town this morning, and inside workers honoured them. The Parks Board is dealing with the matter and could possibly go to the Labour Relations Board. NEWS1130

-------------------
Community Centre staff did receive warnings today not to step outside alone if 1004 members were loitering outside.

Supposedly a few 1004 members have decided to harass CUPE 15 members who work in parks. The 1004 members were in an altered state and threatening staff doing their job. Others decided to have coffee breaks outside the entrances of community centres on the east side of town.

Again, a small group of YAHOOS ruin the reputation of an entire union group. Great work guys!!
--------------------
Vancouver Sun reported:
He (Jerry Dubrovolny) said there were a few incidents of Local 1004 picket lines interfering with inside workers, mostly staff employed by the park board.

"It's a constantly changing situation but the parks board is pursuing it and will take what ever action is necessary which may include going the the Labour Relations Board [for an order to stop picketing]," he said.

CUPE 15 Final Strike Pay Info

2007-10-10T21:24:00.000-07:00

SOURCE: CUPE Strike Hotsheet # 37

Friday October 19:

Final Strike Pay Cheque will be available at CUPE 15 Strike Headquarters
$100.00 hold back for those who picketed 10 days or more days will be included

jobs@vancouver.ca

2007-10-10T18:53:00.000-07:00

We're looking for people who share a commitment to community, and the lives of our citizens, who share our values of responsiveness, excellence, fairness, integrity, leadership and learning.

If you want to:

enhance the well-being of the community
protect the environment
provide quality service
be part of a challenging, safe, healthy and rewarding workplace...

Consider joining our team.

City & CUPE 1004 Meet Thursday Oct. 11

2007-10-10T18:18:00.000-07:00

According to GlobalTV at 6:00pm the City and CUPE 1004 brokered a deal to meet tomorrow.

The deal: the City will meet with CUPE 1004 executives in exchange for no pickets at City Hall and other 1004 non-designated work sites.

No CUPE 1004 pickets outside City Hall as CUPE 15 returns to work

[October 10, 2007 05:40 PM]

VANCOUVER - There will be no CUPE 1004 pickets or "welcoming party" outside City Hall tomorrow morning as CUPE 15 members return to work. CUPE 1004 will not be making any media comment until after they have had an opportunity to meet with the employer.

City Council Approves All 3 Deals

2007-10-10T14:37:00.000-07:00

Council votes to accept mediator’s recommendations

Vancouver City Council voted today to accept mediator’s Brian Foley’s non-binding recommendations for a new contractual agreement with the City’s workers. Council also voted to approve the funding recommended for library workers, should the Vancouver Library Board also accept the mediator’s recommendations during its vote later this afternoon.

“The City of Vancouver’s immediate priority is to facilitate the return to work of CUPE 15 members and the restoration of related services,” states Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan. “I would like to thank the citizens of Vancouver for their ongoing civility and patience during this strike.”

CUPE 15 represents about 3,500 of city’s “inside” workers, responsible for customer services provided at City Hall, such as processing development permits and licenses, as well as providing services at a variety of city-owned and operated venues, such as theatres and daycares. Some civic sites rely on a mixture of inside and “outside” workers, represented by CUPE 1004.

“We’re very pleased that a clear majority of our workers voted in favour of the recommendations. Our city managers need to work with our returning staff to determine a schedule for which services can be restored and when,” said City spokesperson Jerry Dobrovolny. “We’ll provide that information as soon as possible, and will work to keep everyone informed during this evolving process.”

People are encouraged to visit the city’s website for ongoing updates on related to city services. SOURCE: vancouver.ca

Update: City votes in favour of mediator proposals

Wednesday, October 10 - 02:25:00 PM Reshmi Nair

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - The City of Vancouver has accepted the mediated deals proposed to end the civic workers strike. Council approved all three deals, although only one has been accepted by union members.

Inside workers could be back to work by as early as tomorrow to deal with things like building permits, inspections and by-law enforcement. Management will outline which services could be restored, and when.

But they still have to take into consideration the fact that outside workers and library workers have not accepted mediated deals, and could still be picketing.

The Morning After. . ,

2007-10-10T14:15:00.000-07:00

CUPE 15 voting YES by such a large margin has generated consternation on the picket line.

CUPE 15 members who voted NO believe they will soon be out of a job or the ability to advance has been blocked. Others wish that the margin of support was not so large.

Hard core 1004 members are frustrated both with their membership, 57.5% voted YES, and with CUPE 15 members. Rumors abound of 1004 pickets at City Hall, Rinks and Community Centres tomorrow.

It's also rumoured that CUPE 391 members will picket City Hall. No one knows what will happen at Community Centres with libraries. RUMOUR DEBUNKED by SPARKTIKUS

spartikus said...
It's also rumoured that CUPE 391 members will picket City Hall.

This is false

No one knows what will happen at Community Centres with libraries.

Libraries will remain behind picket lines, and community centres will open!

Yep.

CUPE 15 staff have been instructed to go to work Thursday and see what awaits them.

If a picket is set up at non-1004 work sites the City will certainly be filing court injunctions to define exactly where pickets can be established.

For customers - don't expect public facilities to be ready for a couple of days, if not weeks. Pools, community centres, rinks all need work. Rinks need ice, pools need cleaning and community centres require access to computers.

The entire computer network password system will have to be reset. Refunds, registration will not be possible until the City/ Park's computer network is up, running and accessible.

BCTV, however, did report this evening that the city is hoping that Community Centres will be operational for drop in programs Friday. I wouldn't bet on that given the lack of hot water or heat in the facilities. I still think Saturday is a realistic option.

Facilities staffed by inside workers expected to open this weekend

Thursday, October 11 - 06:10:00 AM Reaon Ford/Province

VANCOUVER - It's back to business at the pools, community centres and theatres that have been shut down by Vancouver's civic strike for nearly three months.

Now that the city has voted in favour of the deal from mediator Brian Foley, facilities staffed by inside workers are expected to open by Saturday.

There are fears outside workers, who shot down their own deal, may try to block some of the re-openings. But the city warns it will go straight to the Labour Relations Board if pickets go up anywhere they shouldn't.

Talks involving the two remaining union locals are also expected to resume soon.

CUPE VOTE RESULTS

2007-10-09T18:22:00.000-07:00

CUPE 15 - 73% Accept Foley Recommendations

CUPE 391 - 78% Reject Foley Recommendations

CUPE 1004 - Foley Recommendations Fail

66% approval required

58% of Parks Outside Workers vote to Accept

57% of City Outside Workers vote to Accept

Outside and library workers reject deal from mediator Brian Foley
Wednesday, October 10 - 06:15:00 AM Reaon Ford

(NEWS1130) "But President Mike Jackson says for his members, it's not about the cash. He says there is non-monetary issues. He says they're looking for a certain language because overtime language causes a lot of grievances. He says there's not a policy that's set in place, so they're looking to have that language clarified.

Even once they get a suitable deal, there are fears many outside workers may not come back anyway. 65% have found other jobs.

QUESTIONING VANCOUVER CIVIC SERVICE BEGINS

News 1130am Listeners Poll (unscientific)NOct. 9, 20071130oll

Should the City of Vancouver consider contracting out some of its services?
Yes	78%
No	22%

--------------------

Where there's a will. . .

Column by Miro Cernetig, Vancouver Sun

Published: Tuesday, October 09, 2007

. . ."But the take home message so far from this summer's strike is that Vancouverites have proven surprisingly adept at making do with less city government. We haven't, despite the warnings, reached some tipping point that will shut the city down. And that undeniable fact raises other questions. When all the civic workers finally do get back on the job, should they all really go back to the same duties? Or should there be a review by the beancounters to figure out where there might be efficiencies?

Could the fact that city taxes keep rising be related to the possibility that we're perhaps paying a premium for some of the services that could really be done more efficiently outside of city hall?

Garbage removal, it seems to me, is a good place to start that debate. One of the reasons we aren't hip-deep in rotting garbage bags is that over the years, a lot of the pickup service has already been quietly contracted out by businesses, apartment buildings and the city's condominium-strata councils. Those who still get city pickup, pay for it big time. In the last tax bill, ratepayers were dinged for the fancy new garbage containers that now are gathering moss: it was $99 for that 180-litre garbage can with wheels, $47 for the 180-litre yard-trimming bucket and $20 for that blue recycling box that we all could probably have bought more cheaply if we had done the shopping ourselves. . . "

CUPE Vote Result Schedule

2007-10-09T17:50:00.000-07:00

VOTE RESULT SCHEDULE : CUPE 15, CUPE 391 and CUPE 1004

[October 9, 2007 04:36 PM] CUPE

7pm : CUPE 15 will be announcing results outside their offices at 545 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver.

7pm : CUPE 391 will be announcing results at Central Library.

8:30pm : CUPE 1004 will be announcing results at the Maritime Labour Centre. (1880 Triumph)

CUPE 15 Ratification Meeting

2007-10-09T16:15:00.000-07:00

The CUPE 15 bargaining committee provided significant background on the 13 months of strained bargaining with the City of Vancouver.

First, the document titled "Items Previously Agreed" all 8 pages of it, is all that the City and CUPE could achieve together pre-Brian Foley.

During a previous blog I took Mr. Dubrovolny at his word regarding calling for Special mediator under section 76 of the BC Labour Relations Code.

I was wrong to do so.

According to Keith Graham, lead negotiator for CUPE 15, this section is used primarily to force Ferry Workers back to work and operates solely at the BC Labour Minister's discretion. They decide terms, references, process and mediator.

When Mr. Graham met with Mike Zora, General Manager - Human Resource Services Mr. Graham had learned that not only had Mr. Zora requested a Special Mediator, but also set out the terms and conditions of what he would discuss and what mediators were acceptable.

It was during this discussion that Mr. Dubrovolny was meeting with the media stating that if the unions truly wished to mediate they could have done the same.

Mr. Dubrovolny was wrong.

According to Mr. Graham the City was in a bind, when the Province rejected the City's request for a Special Mediator. The recently completed "enhanced mediation process" was just as much a face saving measure for City managers as it was a resolution to the civic labour dispute.

RECLASSIFICATION / CLASSIFICATION
Mr. Foley's developed a dispute resolution systems that prevents the City allowing disputes to remain unresolved for years. The Reclassification / Classification system replaces an agreement called the "The Referee's Document," which Keith Graham, Lead CUPE 15 Negotiator claimed was ripped apart by Mike Zora, General Manager, Human Resource Services, 8 years ago.

Mr. Zora's actions, it is claimed, has allowed disputes to fester and contribute to the poisonous work atmosphere at City Hall.

The new settlement would resolve classification issues in 7 months instead of no set deadline.

Staff teams from City Hall, Park Board, Ray-Cam and Britannia now can compare their work to each other. Each work unit, prior to this current settlement offer, was treated as a separate employer silo. Job comparisons and pay scales could only be made within each silo.

WHISTLEBLOWER PROCESS
Not included in the collective agreement the settlement does provide certain caveats. Prior to Foley settlement if an employee made a whistle blowing claim and the city found it to be erroneous the city could discipline the employee. The previous framework had a chilling effect on whistle blower claims.

An employee can now share a suspicion without fear of retribution.

2010 PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT (DISPUTE RESOLUTION)
CUPE 15 had this issue on the back burner until Mr. Foley said he would deal with it. It is the dispute resolution process that Mr. Foley improved upon. The City had developed a process which would require 6 months, or the length of VANOC's exclusive use period, to resolved disputes which occurred at "Designated Facilities and Sites."

CUPE requested that City "Exempt Staff" serve as managers at Olympic Sites and Facilities as they did not believe it appropriate that City Staff be supervised by volunteers or VANOC employees.

NO LAYOFFS DUE TO CONTRACTING OUT / SIMULTANEOUS JOB POSTINGS
CUPE 15 does not like these outcomes (6 month notice of layoffs instead of no layoffs) but is satisfied again with the dispute resolution mechanisms. They are stronger than anything that has been in a Vancouver Collective agreement for years.

WHY THE YES RECOMMENDATION?
If CUPE 15 members were to reject the agreement there is no guarantee that a new mediator would be called as it requires both parties to agree on that process. It would be similar to pressing reset on a counter. Everything except the "Items Previously Agreed" would be off the table and there would be no guarantee that it would return.

The CUPE 15 bargaining committee stated it could not in good conscience tell it's members that there would be a better deal if they held out for 4, 8 or 12 more weeks.

The results of today's CUPE 15, 391 & 1004 votes should be announced between 7:oopm and 8:30pm tonight.

City Council votes tomorrow In Camera.

Metro Vancouver Labour Relations Board ratified the agreement this afternoon.

Metro-Vancouver LRB Approves Settlement

2007-10-09T13:01:00.000-07:00

CKNW reported at 1:00pm that the Metro-Vancouver Labour Relations Bureau has voted in favour of the Foley Settlement Offer.

CUPE Responds

2007-10-07T20:08:00.000-07:00

Vancouver Province - Oct 9 - Strike could go sour: Mediator - Brian Foley responds to CUPE 391 & 1004 criticisms

Vancouver Province - Oct 9 - Unions Unhappy with deal, strike
-----------------------------

Deal in doubt
By Jonathan Woodward, Vancouver Sun
Published: Sunday, October 07, 2007

Vancouver's civic workers' strike could extend into 2008, mediator Brian Foley warned Sunday after two of the three striking union locals recommended rejection of his proposals. Outside workers and library workers have been urged to turn down the proposal, while negotiators for inside workers have recommended acceptance.

The three Canadian Union of Public Employees locals, which together have some 5,000 members, have been on strike since late July. Local 1004, representing 1,800 outside workers, and Local 391, representing about 700 library workers, will vote on the offer Tuesday, while Local 15, representing 3,500 inside workers will vote both Monday and Tuesday.

CUPE 15 - Inside Workers - YES

Local 15 chief negotiator Keith Graham said that if his members vote Yes, they will return to work immediately, unless they have to cross picket lines.
He said Foley addressed many key issues for his members. "When I look at the whole document, we were able to make some ground in areas we haven't been able to correct for years," he said.
"Did we get everything we wanted? No," he said. "But we can still go back with our heads held high."
If union members vote against the proposal, the strike could well drag into 2008 with no benefit, he said.

CUPE 391 - Library Workers - NO

Meanwhile, at the Croatian Cultural Centre, hundreds of striking library workers were on their feet cheering their negotiators' recommendation to reject Foley's proposal.
Leaders of CUPE 391 wouldn't comment, but several workers walked out of the meeting saying their negotiators had recommended rejection because the key demand of pay equity had been ignored.
Foley said he had proposed raises for 300 of 700 library staff, who are mostly women, in the name of pay equity.
"They would have had a wishy-washy committee that went nowhere," he said. "I didn't give them a committee, I gave them pay equity."

CUPE 1004 - Outside Workers - NO

Meanwhile, Local 1004 bargaining committee representative Dave Van Dyke had some harsh words for Foley as outside workers - including truck drivers and garbage collectors - gathered at the Maritime Labour Centre Sunday morning.
"Foley's sold us down the river," said Van Dyke. The wage increase of 17.5 per cent over five years was acceptable, he said. But what wasn't acceptable was the lack of whistleblower protection, tradesmen not getting large enough salary increases, a too-low cap on deferred vacation, and too-strict disciplinary measures for workers.
"They split the baby in half," he said. "The bargaining committee is recommending turning it down."

Foley Recommendation Index

2007-10-06T17:21:00.000-07:00

News1130 reports that "The results of Tuesday's vote are expected to be made public later that evening."

Vancouver Sun - Inside workers could return to job

Vancouver Sun in A tale of two worlds for striking workers provides insight on how each CUPE local is thinking.

Vancouver Sun reports in Vote Begins the CUPE bargaining committees' recommendations as:

CUPE 15 - YES
CUPE 391 - NO
CUPE 1004 - NO

Foley Recommendations

Brief Overview

CUPE Information - Indepth

Voting Schedule - Revised

Key Points

2010 Olympics Partnership Agreement

Filling of Vacancies

Layoffs Due to Contracting Out

Library Workers

Reclassification / Classification

Scheduling of Auxiliary Employees

Wages & Term, Signing Bonus, Retro, Vacation Cash

Foley Quote:

"For complexity, hardened positions and strained emotions, this ranks among the top five among all the mediations I've done in the public and private sector over the years," Mr. Foley said.

He said part of the problem was that the wage package had already been settled by the time his mediation began, leading to other "principled issues" becoming the focus of the strike.

"There were many complicated matters for which detailed wording had to be crafted in understandable, collective-agreement language," Mr. Foley said.
The Globe and Mail - October 6, 2007

Wage & Term, Bonus, Retro, Vacation Cash

2007-10-06T16:58:00.001-07:00

All Employees

--------------------------------------------

Wage & Term = 17.5% over 5 years.

Retro Pay
3% 2007 wage increase will be retroactively dated January 1 2007. Previous collected agreement expired December 31, 2006.

Signing Bonus

Regular Full-Time, Temporary Full-Time and Regular Part-Time Employees

$1000.00 lump sum as soon as possible following ratification

pro-rated based on employee's average weekly hours from January 1, 2007 - July 23, 2007

Auxiliary Employees

qualify for pro-rated return to work payment

require 350 hours work minimum from January 1, 2007 - July 23, 2007 & have returned to work by April 7, 2008

Pro Rate Formula = #Average weekly hours worked (2007/01/01 - 2007/07/23) x $1000.00 / 40

Signing bonus is subject to the minimum statutory deductions required by law and shall noe be treated as wages for the purposes of pension contributions.

Vacation Cash Out
Any Employee may cash out up to 10 days of current or banked leave entitlements. A one time option for employees it must be exercised prior to the end of business on Novermber 20, 2007.

Miscellaneous
All Employees who return to work shall suffer no loss of seniority. Entitlements to Vacation leave in 2007, Supplementary Vacation, Sick Leave, Gratuity Leave and trigger dates for vacation increases and salary increments shall not be affected by the work stoppage.

Layoffs Due to Contracting Out

2007-10-06T16:39:00.000-07:00

Previous blog: Issues - Lay Offs

Most contentious element of the entire bargaining process which started in July 2006. I am not surprised by the mediator's recommendations. It is a fair measured response to a difficult issue.

5. LAYOFFS DUE TO CONTRACTING OUT OF WORK PERFORMED BY CUPE 391 MEMBERS pg 34

6. LAYOFFS DUE TO CONTRACTING OUT OF WORK PERFORMED BY CUPE 15 MEMBERS (CITY AND PARKS) pg 4

The Employer must communicate to the Union no less than six (6) calendar months before the date on which the Employer intends to contract out the work.

Once such contracting out notice is given to the Union, the Employer and the Union will meet, in good faith, to discuss and consider the following:
Alternatives to the proposed contracting out;
Priority placement of the affected employees;
Retraining, job search and outplacement support for the affected employees;
Severance Provisions (including early retirement options). If the Employer and the Union cannot agree to the severance provisions, the matter wil be referred to Brian Foley, or another mutually agreeable arbitrator, for a binding decision.

Filling of Vacancies (ALL EMPLOYEES)

2007-10-06T16:31:00.000-07:00

Previous blog: Issues: Attraction and Retention

The City receives what it has been seeking. The settlement will allow the city to jointly post, internally and externally, job openings which are at Pay Grade 26 or higher.

Vancouver is the only city in Metro-Vancouver restricted from jointly posting job openings internally and externally.

Where internal and external applicants are considered equally qualified in terms of skills, knowledge and ability, preferene will go to the internal applicant. 12 pg 8

Reclassification / Classification

2007-10-06T15:26:00.000-07:00

Written from a CUPE 15 perspective.

Previous blog: Issues - Job Classification

Remember Ron Suzuki. Programmer at Strathcona Community Centre who has been working on a Reclassification Process with 10 other programmers.

Problem - it's been 10 years and counting. That's called negotiation by attrition.

The new proposed process is streamlined and allows either side, City or CUPE, to request arbitration. Arbitration has tended to work in the unions favour. The proposed process would take between 119 and 209 days or just under 7 months.

It is, as I hoped, binding.

Dispute Resolution Process

Any difference concerning the allocation of a position to an existing Schedule "A" class or to a new or amended classification established by the Employer, or the Employer's refusal to conduct a classification review, shall be dealt with in the following manner.

1. Request for Information

If Union disagrees with a decision, noted above, it must contact the General Manager, Human Resource Services within 14 days of receiving the decision.
The General Manager, Human Resource Services has 14 days to respond.
If the Union disagrees with the response and wishes to pursue the matter both parties move on to Step 1.

2. Step 1

Involves a large group meeting of Union and Employer representatives.
"The focus of the meeting will be fact-finding on job duties and responsibilities."
The Employer will respond within 21 calendar days of the Step 1 meeting.
If the grievance is not resolved the Union has 21 calendar days from receiving the Employers response to refer the grievance, in writing, to Step 2.

3. Step 2

The focus of the meeting will be:

the application of classification principles in allocation the disputed position to either an existing Schedule "A" classification or a new classification established by the Employer.

The Employer has 21 calendar days to respond.

If the grievance is unresolved after the conclusion of Step 2, the Union may advance the grievance to Arbitration by advising the General Manager, Human Resource Services in writing with 14 calendar days of the final Step 2 response.

4. Arbitration

The Union and the Employer have 14 days to decide on an arbitrator. If they can not decide withing 14 calendar days of the referral then either side may "Apply to the Director, Collective Agreement Arbitration Bureau, within the following 90 calendar days make the appointment of the arbitrator.

If, however, after no agreement and no referral to the Director, Collective Agreement Arbitration Bureau, the grievance shall be considered dead.

If the grievance does proceed to an Arbitrator the decision shall be final and binding on both parties.

Each party will pay half the expenses of the Arbitrator and the expenses of their representatives.

Ray Cam and Britannia Schedule "A" Employment Pool will be part of the process, by the Arbitrator, when considering the proper allocation of a position in classification disputes.

Scheduling Auxiliary Employees

2007-10-06T14:44:00.000-07:00

Written from a CUPE 15 perspective.

Previous blog: Issues - Scheduling Auxiliary Employees

A good compromise is developed which provides the City with flexibility in scheduling yet develops a process to convert an auxiliary position into a Regular Full-Time or Part-Time employee.

7. JOINT COMITTEE - AUXILIARY SCHEDULING (CITY AND PARKS) pg 4 - 5

The Employer will review the feasibility of developing or acquiring a system(s) or establishing processes that will:
facilitate the scheduling of Auxiliary staff in both the City and Park Board;
assist in matching employees' skills, competencies, and qualifications with the availability of work;
make more transparent to both employees and members of the public seeking work the employment opportunities within the City and Park Board; and
link available employment opportunities to the City's recruitment and advertising processes, including civic websites.

The second point, above, is the most critical piece. If CUPE's original offer had been accepted any Auxililary could request placement in any position based on seniority. Skills, competencies and qualifications become the guiding process in hiring for auxiliary positions.

8. AUXILIARY EMPLOYEE CONVERSION REVIEW (CITY AND PARKS) pg. 5-6

This joint committee will make two sets of recommendations. The first is due June 30, 2008 and the second June 30, 2001. Reports are submitted to the "General Manager of Human Resource Services who will provide recommendations to City Council and the Park Board."

"The Employer shall share with the Union all information necessary for the review process including:
the pattern of auxiliary hours over the past two(2) years and
the operational criteria applied previously in conversion reviews done by the parties in both Parks and the City.
The Union will be provided with the opportunity to conduct worksite visits to review exisitng employees' shift schedules.

Once committee discussions have concluded:

the Employer will identify the auxiliary hours that the Employer is prepared to convert to Regular Part-Time positions based on the criteria of previous conversion reviews;
the Employer will also identify the employees who would be affected by such conversions.

The last two points could be problematic given the level of trust between CUPE executive, staff and the senior managers.

MY VIEW

A fair process which reduces the ability of managers to bypass qualified staff with favourites has been formalized. The system will match skills, competencies and qualifications and allow Auxiliary and Temporary staff to register their availability for work and their intent to:

seek regular full-time or regular part-time employee status;
return from one season to another or form program period to another; or
simply be available on an on call basis.

If the Joint Committee is not dysfunctional then converting those auxiliary postions which match the committee's criteria into regular full-time and part-time positions will benefit those staff.

Settlement Offer in Brief

2007-10-06T14:28:00.000-07:00

Source: Vancouver Sun, Saturday October 6, 2007

WHAT DOES EVERYONE GET?

Foley's 39 pages of recommendations include:

ALL UNIONS

17.5-per-cent increase over five years.
$1,000 signing bonus and a provision that vacation time and progression up the pay ladder, usually based on years worked, will be calculated as if the employee had been at work during the strike.
Contracting-out language that requires the city to give six months' notice before any contracting out and provision for employees doing that work to be offered alternatives like other jobs, early retirement or retraining.
A "partnership agreement" laying out ground rules for city work at Olympic venues, giving workers some rights to work and the city some flexibility in rescheduling work (library workers not included in THIS).

INSIDE WORKERS

City to "consider" seniority when it is assigning work to casual employees.
A process to convert casual workers to full-time or regular part-time status.

OUTSIDE WORKERS

A $1-an-hour increase, above all other increases, for trades workers.
Joint committee to work out a four-day week for people who work in garbage collection, equipment maintenance and parks.

LIBRARIANS

300 of the library's 700 employees, mostly the higher-paid full-time staff, get moved up the pay scale.

THE CITY

Labour peace
Language in provisions like contracting out, harassment policy and whistleblower protection that gives the employer reasonable room to move.
Ability to give staff hired from other municipalities the same vacation time they would get in their new job as they had in their old one.

2010 Olympics - Settlement Offer

2007-10-06T07:50:00.000-07:00

This is written from a CUPE 15 perspective.
Prior blog: Issues - 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Agreement (Sept. 09, 2007)

Compromise with an eye to special event management defines the proposed 2010 Partnership Agreement.

Designated Facilities(2) and Employees Working at the Facilities(3)

The City shall:

set the hours of operation and designate the facilities and practice facilities and other sites to be used in preparation for and in conjunction with the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and other sponsored events and celebrations. 2. (a) pg 13

The City shall:

designate the positions and assign the employees that will work at the "Designated Facilities and Sites" during the periods that VANOC has exclusive use (2009 November 02 through to 2010 April 09 - 2.(c) pg 13). The Employer shall advise the Union in writing of the positions required within a reasonable time after the Employer makes that determination. 3. (b) pg 14

Regular Full-Time, Temporary Full-Time and Regular Part-Time Employees:

who are normally assigned to work at the "Designated Facilities and Sites" who do not wish to, are not able to or are not assigned to work at such "Designated Facilities and Sites" during the "Exclusive Use Period" shall be assigned to other duties consistent with existing flexibility on hours of work available to the Employer under the applicable Collective Agreement with no loss of regular earnings providing there are not other unrelated reasons.., 3.(c) pg 14

CUPE had sought to designate all locations as CUPE 15 work sites. The settlement offer instead states VANOC will:

give priority consideration to utilizing CUPE 15 Local members to perform work in the "Designated Facilities and Sites" that is usually performed by employees in the bargaining unit during the "Exclusive Use Period" and to perform work in those facilities and sites that is unique to the "Games" or new to the facilities.

However, VANOC retains the ability to use non-Employer employees, non-bargaining unit employees volunteers, contractors, or exempt staff of the Employer to perform any work or direct or manage the work of employees at the "Designated Facilities and Sites during the "Exclusive Use Period." 3(d) pg 14

CUPE had also, and I believe wrongly, sought to maintain the standard 7 hour/day and 35/week work schedule throughout the "Exclusive Use Period." They also requested that any modifications to work scheduling must be vetted through the union. The Foley settlement offer rightly does not include this request.

The City shall:

have the right to transfer employees to or from the "Designated Facilities and Sites" and/or modify available hours at the "Designated Facilities and Sites" during the "Exclusive Use Period" in order to:
adjust staffing levels;
meet operational or program requirements;
facilitate alternate uses;
provide back up capability related to the "Games" and/or
enhance the opportunities for staff to participate in the work related to the Olympic experience. 3(f) pg 15

Staff working at "Designated Facilities and Sites" "may be required to work up to eight (8) hours on a shift or forty (40) hours in a week straight-time hourly rates. 5(a) pg 16

The City was wrong was in requesting two (2) non-consecutive days off in each week during the "Exclusive Use Period." The mediator's settlement offer states:

Due to the nature of the "Games" and the extended hours of operation, the normal work week during the "Exclusive Use Period" shall be any five (5) days with two (2) consecutive days off in each week. - 5(a) pg 16

CUPE and the City do agree on providing opportunities "to observe or receive training/orientation from specialized personnel engaged in procedures /methods of operation that are not commonplace in public venues" provided VANOC agrees. 3(h) pg 15

Uniforms

CUPE 15 requested and received the $50.oo one time payment to cover the cost of cleaning VANOC issued uniforms. The same provision is within the Richmond Partnership Agreement. 7(d)pg 17

CUPE had also requested the right to wear a CUPE pin. The mediator left the final decision with VANOC but included the modifier "discrete" CUPE pin. 7(c) pg 17

Direction of Employees

CUPE requested that at least one City Exempt staff be at each "Designated Facility and Site" during the "Exclusive Use Period." "to provide direction to the Employers employees."The mediator agrees but states that employees are also expected to take directions from VANOC's designates. 8 pps 17,18

MY VIEW

The Foley revised Partnership Agreement improves both the City's and CUPE's offer. It eliminates CUPE's doctrinaire approach to the Olympics by providing a flexible working framework for an immense and complex special event which will confront unexpected problems requiring immediate solutions.

Library Workers - Settlement Offer

2007-10-06T05:02:00.000-07:00

ALERT - Library Workers - Vote Tuesday @ Central Library

Please be advised that CUPE 391 (Vancouver Public Library workers) will be voting on whether or not to accept mediator Foley's recommendations and previously agreed to items as basis for settlement on Tuesday, October 9th, 2007 from 9:30am to 5:30pm in tents outside Central Library. (Initially, the library workers were scheduled to vote on Sunday.)

CUPE 391 lists four bargaining issues:

* Pay equity
* Improvements for part-time and auxiliary workers
* Improved language for job security
* Improvements for health benefits

Pay Equity
The Achilles heel of the entire settlement offer as no pay equity language is included. CUPE 391 members were hoping for language similar to the Burnaby Library agreement:

Pay Equity for Library Workers: A Joint Committee will oversee a review of all library classifications (except the Page classification) to compare them with City of Burnaby classifications. The review will be complete by the end of 2007. Up to 2% of Library straight-time payroll in 2007 and up to 1% in each of 2009, 2010 and 2011 will be provided to fund pay adjustments for library classifications. While this won’t achieve full pay equity, it is a major step forward.

The City of Surrey did settle with it's Library staff:

Pay equity was not a bargaining issue in this round, as it is for striking Vancouver library workers (CUPE 391), as Surrey already put a gender-neutral job evaluation plan in place a number of years ago that was recently updated. This plan resulted in significant wage increases for a number of lower paid classifications. SOURCE: CUPE BC

Brian Foley responds in the Saturday October 6 Vancouver Sun

Their biggest issue was getting pay equity for library workers, who are paid less than city workers for what they feel is work of equal complexity. Library union negotiators had asked for a committee to make recommendations on how to even out the differences.

Foley decided not to do that.
"I didn't want to give them some wishy-washy committee. Just give them the damn money."

The settlement offer does upgrade multiple positions one pay grade but also includes the following language:

17. (b) The following footnote will be added to the Wage Schedule:

"The employer and the Union agree that, where a wage adjustment is made, it shall not be used as the basis for argument or as comparison criteria to alter the classification or value of any other classification."

Improvements for Part-Time and Auxiliary Language

CUPE 391 described this issues as:

Almost half of CUPE 391 members are either part-time or auxiliary workers. Of these 380 workers, only 50 members receive any kind of pro-rated health and vacation benefits. The rest of these employees receive only a small percentage in lieu of benefits that comes nowhere near fair compensation.

Offer includes:

(6) WORK SCHEDULING - AUXILIARY AND PART-TIME EMPLOYEES

A new Letter of Understanding entitled "Work Scheduling - Auxiliary and Part-Time Employees" will be incorporated into the collective agreement.

A Joint Committee will be established, consisting of not more than (3) representatives for the Employer and the Union, to review and to discuss issues around access to and scheduling of part-time and auxiliary hours. . . Committee shall remain in place until June 20, 2008, but no later, by which time it shall report its findings and any recommendations to their respective principals. Where a recommendation is approved by the principals of both parties, such recommendations shall be implemented no later than prior to the next round of collective bargaining. (Ed. Note - 2012)

Excluded Positions (15) RECOGNITION AND SCOPE

Seven positions are proposed as excluded though incumbent can chose to remain in the bargaining unit. One the incumbent vacates the position then the position is excluded from the bargaining unit.

Improved Language for Job Security

CUPE 391 stated:

Contracting out is a big threat to our workforce and the public services we provide. Contracting out is a trend that offers no real savings while negatively affecting our ability to offer a quality service. We can not afford to lose talented people who care about the communities in which they work.

Contracting out language, in this offer, is the same as it is for CUPE 15 and 1004. I will discuss it in a later post.

Health Benefits

Family Illness(10) and Gratuity Plan(11) are included for part-time staff.

Extended Health Plan (7) is the same as it is for CUPE 15 and 1004

MY THOUGHTS

I did not expect pay equity language in the offer. I think the City is arguing that it is the role of the provincial government to develop pay equity language which is consistent across the province instead of the current ad hoc municipality by municipality approach. Ontario has such legislation in place. I also believe Mr. Foley sensed no give from the City on this issue.

Regarding auxiliary and part-time employees the library offer lacks an "Auxiliary Employee Conversion Review (8) pg 5" found in the CUPE 15 offer. I don't know if this was sought by the Library bargaining team.

CBC TV news, last night, best described the thinking on the library picket line. It's deciding between what was sought and an empty wallet.

I won't venture on how CUPE 391 will vote. It will be a long thoughtful weekend for these union members.

----------------------

Anonymous said...

Many Library employees are upset that the vote is being held on Sunday, forcing them to decide between pre-existing Thanksgiving plans and the vote.

October 5, 2007 7:21 AM

CUPE Update - Oct. 5, 2:14pm

2007-10-05T14:40:00.000-07:00

ALERT: Foley's recommendations and previous agreed to items

[October 5, 2007 02:14 PM]

CUPE 15, CUPE 391 and CUPE 1004 bargaining committees are currently meeting to review Foley's recommendations and all previous agreed to items. They are considering whether or not they will recommend or reject Foley's recommendations.

Find relevant documents below:

* CUPE 15, CUPE 1004 and CUPE 391: Foley's Recommendations

cleaner copy than CBC.ca post

* CUPE 15: Items previously agreed to
* CUPE 1004: Items previously agreed to
* CUPE 391: Items previously agreed to

CBC POSTS ENTIRE SETTLEMENT

2007-10-05T13:41:00.001-07:00

Anonymous said...: Complete recommendations are posted here:
http://www.cbc.ca/bc/news/071005-strike.pdf; October 5, 2007 1:33 PM

---------------
It is the full 39 page "RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SETTLEMENT" All that's needed now are CUPE 15, 391 and 1004's response.

Foley Recommendations Leaked

2007-10-05T13:16:00.000-07:00

Sources: Canadian Press, CBC.ca, Globe and Mail,

CityTV received a leaked copy of the recommendations. Brian Foley is quoted as saying this set of negotiations ranks among the most difficult, challenging, complicated, and emotional settlements he has mediated in his 30 year career.

What's been leaked:

17.5% pay hike over 5 years
$1000.00 signing bonus
workers would not suffer any loss of seniority, vacation pay or sick pay due to strike

Contracting Out

city to give the union 6 months notice if it intends to contract out - including the 2010 Olympics

city to make provisions for displaced staff through retraining, severance or retirement

Whistleblower

city enact legislation passed in principle by city council

Library Workers

increase of one pay grade for some categories of library workers

Establishment of a committee to look into setting up a compressed work week

Recommendations on 60 outstanding issues

Civic Strike Settlement Vote - Oct 8 - 10

2007-10-04T13:19:00.000-07:00

ALERT - CUPE 391 Votes TUESDAY 9:30 - 5:30 @ Central Library

CUPE 15 Revised Bargaining Update - October 4, 2007

MY NOTE:
Vote dates were revised for CUPE 15 and 1004 members as Monday October 8th was a travel day for those with pre-existing Thanksgiving plans. Street level picketers complained that Thanksgiving preparations and family events would hinder members from fully reviewing the proposed settlement for a Monday vote. Tuesday voting is the result.

Voting Schedule

Local 15 - Monday, October 8th & Tuesday October 9th - Croation Cultural Centre

Approval Requires 50% + 1

Local 391 - Tuesday, October 9th, - Central Library - Outside Tents

Approval Requires 50% + 1

Local 1004 - Tuesday, October 9th - Maritime Labour Centre

Approval Requires 66%

Metro Vancouver LRB - Tuesday October 10th

Vancouver City Council -Wednesday October 10th

CUPE Locals 15, 391 and 1004 will receive Mediator Brian Foley's recommendations for settlement on the morning of Friday October 5th.

CUPE 15
The mediator's recommendations for settlement, together with the Bargaining Committee's statement of approval or rejection will be available to pick up at the following locations:

CUPE 15 Strike Headquarters - 1369 Kingsway, Vancouver (map)

Saturday Oct. 6 - 9:30am - 5:00pm
Sunday Oct. 7 - 10:00am - 5:00pm

CUPE 15 Office, 545 West 10th Avenue (map)

Saturday Oct. 6 - 9:30am to 1:00 pm

Copies should be distributed to picket lines by the coffee wagons on Saturday October 6 and Sunday October 7.

CUPE 15 Bargaining Committee members will be available for informal meetings to discuss the recommendations as follows:

Saturday

Strike HQ @ 10:00am, 12:00 noon and 3:00pm
CUPE 15 office @ 10:00am & 12:00 noon

Sunday

Strike HQ @ 10:00am & 12:00 noon

CUPE 1004 Bargaining Committee will hold information meetings.

Date: Sunday, October 7

Location: Maritime Labour Centre, 1880 Triumph Street (map)

Times:

9:00 am Boardroom #1
1:00 pm Auditorium
4:00 pm Auditorium
7:00 pm Auditorium

Voting will take place at 1004 Strike Headquarters - Maritime Labour Centre
1880 Triumph Street entrance

Tuesday, October 9, 7 am to 7 pm

For further details, contact the 1004 Strike
Office at 604-253-5138 or visit the website
at www.1004.cupe.ca

CUPE 391

Important Changes to Upcoming Information Meeting & Ratification Vote

Instead of one meeting and vote, we will be having two informational meetings on Sunday and voting on Tuesday, October 9.

In addition, the Bargaining Committee will be visiting picket locations on Monday to answer your questions.

Informational Meetings
Sunday, October 7
Meeting #1: 10 a.m.
Meeting #2: 2 p.m.
Croatian Cultural Centre, 3250 Commercial Drive (map)

Ratification Vote
Tuesday, October 9
9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Central Library, 350 West Georgia St.

There will be no pickets up at Central on Sunday, attending the informational meetings will count towards your picket time.

We will be activating our communications tree regarding these changes, however, if you know of any members who may not have received this message, please let them know.

If you have any questions, please speak to your Picket Captain.

NOTICE OF POLL - Revised (CUPE 15)

Voting on the settlement recommendations will take place on:

Monday, Oct. 8 & Tuesday Oct. 9, 2007 at the Croation Cultural Centre

3250 Commercial Drive in Vancouver (map)

There will be a members' meeting before each voting period.

Polls will open at the conclusion of each meeting.

If you have already picked up a copy of the recommendations please bring it with you. Copies will also be available at the Croatian Cultural Center.

Monday, October 8th

Meeting Begins: 9:00am Polls Close 11:30am
Meeting Begins: 1:00pm Polls Close 3:30pm
Meeting Begins: 4:00pm Polls Close 7:00pm

Tuesday, October 9th

Meeting Begins: 10:00am Polls Close: 12:30pm
Meeting Begins: 2:00pm Polls Close: 4:00pm

-------------------
Speculation Sweepstakes goes to:

Anonymous said...

No the buzz is they phoned Foley today and he said maybe Friday

October 3, 2007 5:56 PM

Anonymous said...

told ya

October 4, 2007 12:23 PM

The prize - satisfaction. What can I say - I'm cheap.

Orpheum Picket Video

2007-10-03T19:26:00.000-07:00

Produced by WorkingTV

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Orpheum Picket Fall Out - Press Releases / News Stories

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra & the 1981 Vancouver Civic Strike

Georgia Straight - October 4, 2007

The president of the Vancouver Musicians' Association says the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra's musicians have been placed in a difficult situation by a recent B.C. Labour Relations Board ruling.

Rabble.ca
VSO / CUPE Discussion Thread

Jurassic Park Board - 03

2007-10-03T18:22:00.000-07:00

Park Board staff traveled to the Toronto Zoo to inspect Dinosaurs Unearthed's indoor 16 dinosaur show.

The Discovery Channel covered the opening.

After clicking on the link - click on News & Press. The video is slow to load.

At the bottom right hand corner is the background audio control. Turn that off to hear the video.

Dinosaurs Unearthed

Just don't confuse Dinosaurs Unearthed with Dinosaur's Unlimited.
-----------

Jurassic Park Board - 01

Request for Proposals / Dinosaur Alternatives
Park Board Management's Jurassic Treatment of Community Centres

Jurassic Park Board - 02

The Rationale
Pete McMartin's story tracing genesis of Jurassic exhibit proposal.

Orpheum Picket Fall Out

2007-10-02T21:43:00.000-07:00

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra - Press Release

VSO Concerts Affected by CUPE Strike

Before and during the VSO’s Opening Weekend concerts, the conduct of CUPE members on picket lines at the Orpheum resulted in violent and obstructive behaviour – some of which required police action to mitigate – which, together with other conduct of picketers, has led to the VSO being strongly concerned for the safety and welfare of our customers, musicians, administrative staff, and volunteers.

Despite a decision reached Wednesday, September 27th by the Labour Relations Board, which issued an interim order granting third party picketing relief at the stage door of the Orpheum Theatre, giving the VSO every right under the Labour Code to conduct business at the Orpheum Theatre, we believe that safety is of paramount importance – a belief that has led to the decisions made regarding the above concerts.

We apologize for the inconvenience, though this issue is beyond the VSO’s control. Please remember that all concerts outside of the Orpheum will be performed as scheduled.

Email: customerservice@vancouversymphony.ca

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VSO concert goer will not be purchasing symphony tickets again

CUPE [October 3, 2007 11:42 AM]

Bill Pollard, a VSO concert goer, UBC employee and CUPE 2950 member wrote a passionate letter to the VSO today (see below) explaining his reasons for why he will not be purchasing Vancouver Symphony Orchestra concert tickets again. He is unhappy with the VSO attempt to brand all CUPE workers as a result of what police consider to be a "minor alleged assault" that has not even been heard in court yet.

Branding the isolated incident concerning Mr. McLure (the actual cause and effect of which has yet to be heard before the courts) as 'union intimidation' smacks of elitism and class warfare on the part of the VSO. Rather than admit that the symphony has no business performing at a concert hall behind picket lines, you chose to brand members of my union as a 'threat' worthy of closing your doors. Shame.

I close with a suggestion for Mr. Tovey and your Board of Directors: if you don't want Union members attending your concerts, don't send us your advertising.

Bill Pollard

Today is day 76 of this civic strike of 6,000 workers - a strike that by any objective standard can only be seen as most peaceful and disciplined in memory, with this police charge on the weekend being the first during the strike. What is most ironic, is that it is alleged to have occured this Saturday while CUPE 15 picketers, who haven't seen a pay cheque in over 2.5 months were dressed up in formal wear and singing songs to concert goers who were crossing their picketline purely for entertainment reasons - not to get their kids to daycare or ensure they receive some vital civic service, but purely for entertainment.

--------------------

VSO says no concerts this week due to civic strike

Tuesday, October 02 - 11:26:15 PM Tamiko Nicholson

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - Concerts are off this week for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra because of the CUPE strike. The Classical Mystery Tour featuring music of the Beatles with the VSO has been cancelled for Wednesday. If you have tickets for this event, you can call Ticketmaster or VSO customer service.

The VSO Pops concerts won't be happening this Friday and Saturday, but could possibly be rescheduled. The Tea and Trumpets concert for Thursday has been rescheduled for April. The VSO said the behavior of some CUPE picketers, particularly a recent incident where police were called in, has led to the decision to call off shows this week.

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VSO cancels shows after picket-line scuffle

MARSHA LEDERMAN

October 4, 2007

Vancouver -- Sometimes the show mustn't go on. The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra has decided to cancel or move its shows scheduled for the Orpheum Theatre, as the strike by city workers continues.

Last week, the VSO decided to go ahead with its season-opening concert at the Orpheum, a city-run property, after the Labour Relations Board agreed to disallow picketing outside the stage door.

But after an assault charge was laid resulting from an altercation on the picket line outside the theatre Saturday night, the VSO changed its mind. In a release, it says it is "strongly concerned for the safety and welfare of our customers, musicians, administrative staff and volunteers."

As a result, the Classical Mystery Tour (the VSO playing the Beatles) and the VSO Pops concerts scheduled for this week have been cancelled. Tonight's Tea and Trumpets concert has been rescheduled for April.

--------------------

Weekend incident outside Orpheum leads to assault charges

Tuesday, October 02 - 01:06:55 PM Shane Bigham

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - A Vancouver man is facing assault charges after a weekend incident outside the Orpheum Theatre. Police were called on Saturday after an Orpheum employee was attacked. Police say security followed the suspect who was arrested a short time later at Granville and Smythe. Fifty-four year old William George McClure is facing a charge of assault.

Police are not commenting on whether the attack has anything to do with the ongoing civic strike in Vancouver. The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra was allowed to hold their opening night at the theatre on Saturday, despite pickets at the front door.

---------------

From the Vancouver Province -

That's Strike, as in Job Action . . .

Vancouver police confirmed today that a CUPE worker faces assault charges after allegedly "striking" a VSO violinist in the family jewels over the weekend.
William "The Masher" McClure, a 54-year-old city clerk who belongs to CUPE Local 15, allegedly struck the 55-year-old male violinist outside the Orpheum Theatre, which is behind picket lines but permitted to honour its VSO concert-series commitments as per a B.C. Labour Relations Board ruling last week.

. . . "Dirty Pool, McClure!"

The Masher was supposed to remain 10 metres away from the stage door, but something about the violinist, perhaps his frilly silk cravat, reportedly set the normally mild-mannered clerk off. The VSO is adding "extra security personnel" for future performances and posting laminated copies of the Queensberry Rules on all concert hall doors.

---------------

Man charged with assault of city employee at Orpheum

Vancouver Sun

Published: Tuesday, October 02, 2007

A 54-year-old Vancouver man, William George McClure, has been charged with assault of a city employee at the Orpheum Theatre on Saturday night.

Police said a man was arrested for assault at Granville and Smithe after an alleged took place after striking civic workers set up a picket line outside the theatre for the season-opening concert by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

The opening night ahead after the Labour Relations Board granted leaving one door of the Orpheum open to the musicians and house technicians.

The public, however, had to cross CUPE picket lines.

Some of the 20 to 30 picketers at the three public entrances to the Orpheum on Saturday chanted "shame-on-you" at ticket-holders.

nhall@png.canwest.com

Our Political Leaders at Work

2007-10-02T21:35:00.000-07:00

Visionary non partisan leadership. Hmmm. I guess there really isn't any hope.

Councilors continue to bicker about the most minor of issues.

Oct, 02 2007 - 3:20 PM

VANCOUVER/CKNW(AM980) - While city workers continue to walk the picket line nothing has changed inside the walls of city hall.

Councilors continue to bicker about the most minor of issues.

The furor erupted when Vision Vancouver councilor Heather Deal accused the mayor and his staff of releasing to the media first rather than council a report from the task force on the film industry on Friday afternoon.

Cope councilor David Cadman then demanded an apology.

“You did this intentionally and it's manipulative and it's unbecoming of the office of the mayor and you shouldn't be leaking things to the media before we in this council have received those reports. Okay...it was wrong and I want an apology...”

Cold, Wet and Waiting to VOTE

2007-10-02T19:41:00.000-07:00

It's November gray on October 2nd. It rained, poured, was windy and then thundered.

People are chilled, wet and weary.

Learning that the mediator had delayed release of the settlement offer until October 8th has frayed nerves and tested picketer patience. Apparently I'm not the only prickly picketer.

CUPE 15's bargaining committee has announced that they will schedule information meetings and provide an accept or reject recommendation.

The bargaining committee and union executive, at this point, carry as much influence as a movie critic. They will express their opinion but only unionist connoisseurs will take heed.

Most picketers will base their vote on:

personal experiences, both at their job and with the union; and
what their opinion is on the negotiating obstacle of "No Layoffs Due to Contracting Out."

There is no consensus for or against on this final point.

Given this increased frustration people will hold their vote close to their chest. Fire Fighters (reported on CTV Oct 2) attempting to extinguish burn barrels are requiring police support to cool aggravated picketers. Thankfully they are not the majority but only a few idiots and fools are required to undermine the efforts of so many picketers.

The few overly aggravated, otherwise known as bullies, don't give a damn why you vote the way you do just as long as you vote the way they do.

CUPE and the City have perception obstacles to overcome.

CUPE has to convince many that this strike was not hijacked by CUPE's executive as a means to leverage greater gains for those CUPE locals that have already settled.

The City's senior management must prove that they are not as arrogant as their take it or leave it style of bargaining would imply.

Regardless, the union and the city have 5 years to develop a positive working relationship.

Will they?

No.

Negotiators, on both sides, will simply seek new and innovative means to aggravate the other until 2012.

It is at this point where visionary non partisan leadership is required.

Logic Need not Apply

2007-10-02T16:56:00.000-07:00

Week 11 of striking has started. The most important lesson - never expect consistency or logic.

Kiri Te Kanawa can not perform in the Orpheum but the Vancouver Symphony can. Why?

Garbage is ignored on Vancouver's east side until the media reports the disparity in services between east and west side parks.

Parking meters are maintained but services for vulnerable populations such as children, youth and seniors are not.

What's this Process Called?

2007-10-02T16:14:00.000-07:00

Somewhere over the course of discussions with Mr. Foley we have moved from an "enhanced mediation" to a "modified mediation process."

Here's an idea - why not just call it"mediation."

CUPE 15 Mail

2007-10-02T14:40:00.000-07:00

Received: October 2, 2007

Dated: October 1, 2007

Re: Mediator Brian Foley's Recommendation for Settlement

As all members are aware, the Mediator, Brian Foley is expected to release his recommendations for settlement to the parties on October 8, 2007.

Once we have received his recommendations we will be making them available to our members as soon as possible.

Your bargaining committee will be making a recommendation to accept or reject the mediator's recommendations. We also will be scheduling information meetings and voting times, dates and locations later in the week of October 8, 2007.

Important: Because of the short turn around time we will not be mailing the recommendations out, so you should monitor the CUPE 15 website (www.cupe15.org) for times of meetings and voting arrangement or stay in touch with Strike Headquarters and CUPE 15. We will also distribute information through Strike Headquarters and the CUPE 15 office when it is available.

Globe and Mail Article Wrong

2007-10-02T12:13:00.000-07:00

New CUPE posting.

City source gets it wrong: no recommendations for council to vote on

[October 2, 2007 10:21 AM]

MEDIATOR FOLEY HAS YET TO ISSUE RECOMMENDATIONS

VANCOUVER - An anonymous city source, who claims he is familiar with negotiations, has created confusion among CUPE members, the media and the public today by falsely stating that "Vancouver city council could vote as early as today on a mediated settlement to the 10-week-old civic strike." The truth is Mediator Brian Foley has not issued his recommendations yet, so it is impossible that either party could be in a position to vote on them.

Globe & Mail article, "Council vote on settlement imminent, source says", October 2, 2007

Below (text and PDF) is letter of agreement on mediation process agreed to by the parties on September 21st, 2007:

To: Richard Scott/Mike Zora
Donn Stanley
Keith Graham/Paul Faoro
Ken Davidson/Mike Jackson

From: Brian Foley

Re: MEDIATION PROCESS AGREED TO ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2007

This is to confirm the following agreement between the City of Vancouver and CUPE Locals 15 and 1004 respecting the mediation process to be utilized after September 21, 2007.

1. The matters still unresolved between the City and CUPE Locals 15 and 1004 as of September 21, 2007 are set out in attached Appendices 1 and 2. All other matters are agreed upon as set out in the City's draft Memorandum of Agreement respecting CUPE Local 15 dated September 12, 2007 and the City's draft Memorandum of Agreement respecting CUPE Local 1004 dated September 13, 2007.

2. As soon as possible, I will finalize arrangements to meet separately with the bargaining committees for the City, CUPE Local 15 and CUPE Local 1004 and I provide them with a full opportunity to make representations to me on the unresolved matters.

3. After I have duly considered the representations made to me by the three bargaining committees, I will provide the City, CUPE Local 15 and CUPE Local 1004 with my written recommendations on the manner in which I have concluded that the unresolved matters should be dealt with.

4. The City, CUPE Local 15 and CUPE Local 1004 will then submit my recommendations for settlement of the collective bargaining dispute to their respective principals for decision.

5. Communication to the media respecting the modified mediation process will be limited to the contents of this document until my recommendations are issued, after which time the City and the Unions may communicate with the media or otherwise as they see fit.

Brian Foley
Mediator

Mediation process agreed to by Mediator Brian Foley, CUPE 15, CUPE 1004, City of Vancouver and Metro Vancouver Labour Relations Bureau representatives - September 21, 2007
----------------

No quick end to city strike, union negotiator says

The Canadian Press

October 3, 2007

Vancouver -- Hopes for a speedy resolution to Vancouver's two-month-old civic strike have been dashed again.

CUPE Local 15 chief negotiator Keith Graham says there is no chance Vancouver City Council will vote today on a recommendation from mediator Brian Foley.

Mr. Graham said Mr. Foley has not yet drafted his report and no vote can be held until he does.

According to Mr. Graham, the earliest Mr. Foley could make his recommendations is Thanksgiving Monday.

Jurassic Park Board - 02

2007-09-30T23:19:00.000-07:00

The Rationale
In 1962, Hurricane Frieda blew down 3,000 trees in Stanley Park. This storm cleared sufficient space in the area to allow for construction of the Stanley Park Miniature Railway, which opened in 1964. The 20 gauge railway track is approximately one mile long and winds through towering cedar and fir trees, over trestles, through tunnels and past ponds and streams.

The major windstorm in December 2006 blew down a number of trees in this area, and others had to be taken down, creating additional clearings in the forest. Many of these fallen trees have been left in place on the forest floor, which adds to the creative opportunities for an exhibit. About 200,000 people ride on the Miniature Railway annually.

Source:
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS No.P2007-13, Stanley Park Dinosaur Experience, pg A-1
-------------

Miniature railway could use a triceratops or two

But that's a minority view: Public opinion is running against park board proposal for dinosaurs in Stanley Park

Pete McMartin, Vancouver Sun

Published: Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Georgia Straight comments on strike

2007-09-30T18:22:00.000-07:00

A Strike about nothing throttles residents

Commentary by Charlie Smith
Sept 27, 2007

[Excerpt]

But let's not kid ourselves about what is really extending this ugly strike. It's money. By its own very conservative estimate, the City saved over $1.3 million during the seven-week dispute in 2000. Gross savings were close to $11 million, but city staff claimed a whopping $9.6 million in lost revenues and strike costs.

Is it any wonder that city managers are placing such emphasis on parking enforcement this time around, rather than keeping community centres open for the kids? Is it any wonder that senior brass don't seem too concerned about needles in parks and no talking books for the blind? If you're confused about why this strike about nothing is taking so long to settle, just follow the money, and you'll have your answer.

1 Burn Barrel + 2 Propane Tanks

2007-09-29T22:43:00.000-07:00

OK - I don't even know how to respond to this.

Busy night for firefighters

Saturday, September 29 - 10:32:54 PM Kate Forman and John Streit

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - Vancouver Fire Department was forced to deal with a small but potentially dangerous fire tonight. A barrel was burning at the Manitoba Works Yard, but here's the scary part. There were two propane tanks sitting on top of that barrel.

Captain Rob-Jones Cook with Vancouver Fire isn't sure how they got there unless someone deliberately left them and that's something investigators will have to determine.

Five trucks were called out to the blaze and crews had to cool the tanks down so they didn't explode. The cities' Manitoba Works Yard is currently behind picket lines.

And in a separate fire, this time in Stanley Park - another tree erupted into flames earlier this evening. It was in a similar area of the park to the two previous tree fires. Fire investigators there are trying to figure out if there's a firebug at work.

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No more burn barrels on Vancouver CUPE picketlines

[September 30, 2007 09:10 PM]

In the interests of public safety, the safety of CUPE members on the picket line and in accordance with city of Vancouver by-laws prohibiting the burning of open fires, CUPE 15, CUPE 391 and CUPE 1004 will move from the traditional practice of staying warm on the picket line with burn barrels, to staying warm by using alternate outdoor heating methods, such as commercial propane heaters and/or barbeques. We are making this change as quickly as possible on all of the over 70 picket lines currently up in the city of Vancouver.

-----------

Vancouver Strikers won't be burning fires in barrels anymore

Sunday, September 30 - 10:30:00 PM Andrea Macpherson

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - Vancouver firefighters have been busy dealing with a number of illegal burns in the city. Captain Rob Jones-Cook with the Vancouver fire department said, "It's a long labour history thing in the City of Vancouver, its been around much long than I have. When people are on strike in bad weather, the barrels are lit so they can keep warm."

Jones-Cook said they do have to enforce the bylaw so striking workers might want to look into using commercial propane heaters. The department dealt with a small but potentially dangerous fire at the Manitoba Works Yard on Saturday night, and in that situation there were two propane tanks sitting on top of the barrel.

CUPE is heeding the fire department's request. In a press release issued late Sunday night, the union said burn barrels will no longer be used by their members to keep warm on the picket lines.

Mediator's Recommendations Delayed

2007-09-29T20:45:00.000-07:00

BARGAINING BULLETIN #24 - September 28, 2007

BARGAINING 2007 Update on Bargaining Re: Mediator's Recommendations

We have just been advised by Mediator Brian Foley that his recommendations for settlement may be delayed until possibly as late as October 8, 2007.

He has committed to do everything possible to get them to the parties earlier if possible. Members are advised to monitor the CUPE 15 website (www.cupe15.org) for further information as it becomes available. It is important to note that CUPE 15 has made our submission to Mr. Foley on September 24th, and CUPE 1004 made theirs on September 26, 2007. We understand that the City of Vancouver will be meeting with Mr. Foley over the weekend. Mr. Foley is also meeting with CUPE 391 and the Vancouver Public Library the week of October 1, 2007.

Your bargaining committee is committed to ensuring that a copy of the mediator’s recommendations for settlement will be available as soon as possible after we receive them. We will also ensure that you will have an opportunity to ask questions and to review the recommendations with your bargaining committee prior to voting.

Stay strong on the lines!

On behalf of your Bargaining Committee:

Keith Graham (Chief Negotiator)
Peter Stary (Chair)
Jeannette Black
Christine Boyd
Karl Leonhard
Betty McGee
Jordan Parente
Donald Rounding

Jurassic Park Board

2007-09-28T20:09:00.000-07:00

God love the Vancouver Park Board.

I thought it would be a slow Friday until I read today's Vancouver Province, Sun, Courier and CBC.ca.

Park Board management has put out a sixty page request for proposals to locate 25 - 30 life-size animatronic roaring dinosaurs along the tracks of Stanley Park's miniature railway. After 8 years of re-introducing native plants back into Stanley Park we now wish to offer a touch of Drumheller.

Tourist Ylang Nguyen was shocked that animatronic robots might soon be part of the Stanley Park experience.
"We came to see nature -- that's why we flew all the way to B.C. from England," she said. "The last thing we want to see is robots."
Vancouver Province

Easy Jurassic jokes abounded today. It was recommended that Park Board consider the following less expensive Jurassic exhibits:

Susan Mundick, Park Board General Manager;
Lori Mackay, Director, Queen Elizabeth District;
Park Commissioner Marty "The Clear Cutter" Zlotnik; and
Park Commissioner Heather "I am not in a conflict" Holden.

Park Board senior management, for the past 8 years, have developed a jurrasic approach to Vancouver's community centres.

Community Centre development was a North America wide post WWII movement. They were meant to recognize the efforts of fallen soldiers and provide a balance of social and recreational opportunities for neighbourhood residents.

Now the goal is strictly recreational. The Vancouver Park Board "does not do social work" is General Manager Susan Mundick's constant refrain. What she really means is let's download social programs onto local non-profits.

Each community centre has a non-profit board which generates revenue through designing programs whose revenue subsidizes neighbourhood social/recreational programs for children, youth, adults and seniors.

Over the past three years Park Board has removed itself from child care (daycare / preschool) leaving the local non-profits, Community Associations, to pick up the costs.

These Community Associations can be strong and well organized or descend into a morass of myopia, fief building and nepotism. Most are strong and community focussed.

When a community program does generate significant revenue Park Board managers request a significant share of the profit. If the Community Association disagrees it becomes next to impossible to work with Park Board senior managers unless a photo opportunity presents itself.

Further, Park Commissioner Marty Zlotnik has mused about term limits. Two terms are required for Community Association board members to understand Park Board operations and politics. What Commissioner Zlotnik wants is to clear cut the experienced Community Association members and replace them with naive new members who will readily agree with whatever Park Commissioners recommend.

The tensions between Community Associations and Park Board management has come to a head over what is called the Joint Operating Agreement (JOA). It's the rulebook which governs the relationship between the Park Board & Community Associations (non-profits).

The JOA, dated and requiring updates, has exacerbated Vancouver's east - west divide. The process involved bringing the Community Association presidents together on how to best jointly operate community centres.

Unfortunately these meetings were not well facilitated and presidents from east side centres felt marginalized by both the facilitator and their west side counterparts.

The result - an east side Presidents' table. When management representation was requested they were rebuffed though approximately 2/3rds of all community centres are on Vancouver's east side.

Park Board management's jurassic approach to community centres and their non profit Community Associations has resulted in perpetuating and stratifying the growing gap between Vancouver's recreational haves from its have nots.

Weekend Ventures

2007-09-28T20:00:00.001-07:00

CUPE members will have to be on their best best behaviour this weekend. Media crews will be out covering:

Orpheum Picket Line 6:00pm - 8:30pm (Saturday)

CUPE has requested a large turnout - CUPE hoping to surround theatre
Pickets can not block the stage entrance on Seymour but can picket entrances on Smythe and Granville
Challenge: can weary picketers not be drawn in to pointless arguments and taunts

"Word on the Street/Strike" Sunday 10:00am - 6:00pm

Visitors to Vancouver's favourite literature and literacy festival, the Word on the Street, will be delighted to discover Word on the Strike, an upbeat special event presented by striking CUPE 391 library workers at Library Square on Sunday, September 30 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. CUPE 15 has also been instrumental in organizing and supporting the event.
Capitalizing on the diverse talents and creativity of Vancouver's library and civic workers, Word on the Strike, held along side of Word on the Street, is intended as a complementary event featuring a diverse range of information tables, haiku, face painting, a puppet show, origami, buttons, and much more.

CUPE Press Release

No Left Turn

2007-09-28T19:48:00.000-07:00

Frustration with the local news media speculating that CUPE members sabotaged the City's traffic control system was brewing on the picket line today. Many wondered if a slander lawsuit is an option as they believe this was a concerted media effort to discredit picketers.

The conspiracy minded believe the City's exempt staff inadvertently reset the system's timer and that the sabotage story was designed to deflect blame and frustration.

Tom Timm, City Engineer, handled the media interviews perfectly. He said what the City knew, didn't know and why police had been called. Mr. Timm has been the best City management spokesperson throughout this strike.

10 Weeks = 1 Prickly Picketer

2007-09-27T19:23:00.000-07:00

My last couple of entries have had an angry edge. Tomorrow marks 10 weeks of picketing. Two and one half months. This week's battle - prevent depression from kicking in.

I wasn't successful.

Long naps, little personal interaction and an overarching anger with everyone - City Management, CUPE, and the fool who called AM730 to claim CUPE was responsible for the no left turn signaling problem that hit Vancouver this morning.

If ever I've seen the collective spirit of a group collapse it was after that news story ran. Emotions swung from hoping it was not true to rage if it were.

If the person responsible is a CUPE member he is truly an IDIOT a FOOL and simply a CRIMINAL.

The City with its perpetual ultimatums combined with CUPE's ideology that privatization is evil and the public sector is the epitome of virtue is infuriating.

Now I am pricky, depressed and infuriated. I can hear you all saying "Get over It."

Thats exactly what I'm doing.

My head is still foggy with lingering depression but I've made some great discoveries. I've found an open office environment where small business creatives work and network. It was invigorating to walk into an office where people thrive on challenge and creativity instead of an employer and union that prefer the status quo or stifle new ideas under the guise of extended process.

Opportunities to write, manage special events, and develop online communities have opened up. It is an exciting new world for me without the political nonsense inherent in Vancouver City Hall.

Mediator's Proposal Expected Tuesday

2007-09-27T15:32:00.000-07:00

Brian Foley's non-binding "enhance mediation" is apparently expected Tuesday morning. Voting should occur next week on Thursday or Friday.

Approval requires a simple majority of 50% + 1 by CUPE members. City management & Metro (GVRD) Vancouver Labour Bureau must also approve the vote.

If all goes well city staff could return to work after Thanksgiving.

It depends on how both sides respond to mediator's take on "No Layoffs Due to Contracting Out, " Auxiliary Scheduling, and the 2010 Olympic Agreement between staff and management.

Mindless? Lockstep? Not Bloody Likely.

2007-09-26T22:40:00.000-07:00

I enjoy reading comment threads in other forums. Flamers refer to all union members as "mindless," "walking in lockstep" or my personal favourite "parasites of taxpayers."

Colorful. Entertaining. Ill informed. Dumb.

Strikes are frustrating for everyone but serve a purpose. When negotiating a contract you need leverage to garner the best deal. Many believe that the City, as an employer, acted in good faith.

Unfortunately, the take it or leave it approach to bargaining only generated strike votes of 94 - 96% approval. Unheard of levels of support. Historically most strike mandates fall within the 65 - 80% approval rate.

Why were staff so motivated to support strike action? Beyond Sam Sullivan's comments it was the attempt to claw back benefits that they hypocritically promoted in their application to Canada's Top 100 Employers (2007 Edition).

People were striking to keep their benefits and as noted before over contract length. CTV, Tuesday Sept. 25, reported that it will take 2 years for staff to recoup the money lost in this strike. What the media can't comprehend, or won't admit, is that 39 months ends 90 days after the Olympics. There is no benefit for the employees to bargain at that time. Olympics, on average, generate debt.

Thankfully reporters and talk show host don't negotiate contracts for others.

Insanity, as defined by Benjamen Franklin, best defines the City's negotiating style.

Do the same thing over and over hoping for a different result.

After 11 months of one way time limited ultimatums and 8 weeks of strike action the City management team finally realized that bargaining actually requires two parties exchanging proposals. It started, in true Vancouver style, over coffee. Finally in week 9 mediators were brought in.

Anyone who has read this blog over time will know I am no fan of CUPE's:

No Layoffs due to Contracting Out;
Auxiliary Seniority (CUPE 15); or
it's 2010 Olympic language;

but, one way, take or leave it ultimatums have one result only - prolonged strikes.

Once the Port Moody template of 39 months and 9.75% was replaced by the 18.76% compounded over 5 years (Surrey, Richmond, North Vancouver, Delta, White Rock) why did the City not apply for non-binding mediation ( or as they call it "enhanced mediation") then?

This nearly 11 week marathon would probably have been over in weeks 3 or 4.

Library Update - Sept 26

2007-09-26T18:32:00.000-07:00

UPDATE:
Mediation with non-binding recommendations agreed to by Library and CUPE 391

[September 26, 2007 05:07 PM]

VANCOUVER – Following two days of mediation, Vancouver Public Library and CUPE Local 391 have agreed to an enhanced mediation process.

Within the next week, the representatives of the Library and CUPE 391 will provide mediator Brian Foley with verbal and written submissions on their respective views on the terms and conditions for renewing their collective agreement.

After considering those representations, mediator Foley will provide the Library and CUPE 391 with his non-binding recommendations for ending the strike.

The parties have agreed that they will then submit those recommendations to the library’s principals and the unions’ membership for acceptance or rejection by vote.

A media blackout will be in place until mediator Foley has issued his recommendations.

Managers Guide to What Not To Say 01

2007-09-25T15:14:00.001-07:00

Received this comment:

Regarding what managers shouldn't say once the strike is over, two had stopped by the site I picket at a couple of weeks ago and whined about how hard it will be for them to book holidays because all of the managers will be wanting them right away. Please forgive those of us who hold no sympathy for their plight.

Why there are strikes?

2007-09-25T14:01:00.000-07:00

A commentator directed me towards the Marginal Revolution blog which asks "Why there are strikes?"

Post Strike Garbage Services

2007-09-25T13:44:00.000-07:00

Fraser Institute: Vancouver should contract out services to avoid strikes and save money
News 1130am - Tuesday, October 09 - 12:10:13 PM Jim Goddard
-----------------------
MY VIEW

Before the next civic contract expires in 2012 I would be surprised if the City is involved in any garbage or recycling services.

Listening to Christie Clark's CKNW program I learned that only two cities, Vancouver and New Westminster, maintain residential municipal garbage services. Condos, businesses and apartments in Vancouver already have private services. The strike's impact is especially blunted on the downtown peninsula and in Fairview Slopes.

Burnaby has not re-tendered it's high density garbage services and has returned to providing this as a municipal service. A caller stated that it was due to the profit potential for the City of Burnaby. Vancouver, he said, is losing money by contracting out.

From a strictly monetary view that may be correct but it lacks a labour / management perspective. The City has progressively eliminated CUPE's leverage with each strike.

Privatizing 100% of the garbage / recycling supply chain would give the city the upper hand in negotiations. Civic strikes are known as garbage strikes. If garbage was picked up during a strike would residents care how long the it lasted?

City Managers in Top 5% of Canadian Incomes

2007-09-25T13:21:00.000-07:00

$89,000.00 marks the bottom end of the Top 5% of income earners in Canada.

This story generated many pointed comments as most managers would fall inside this income strata. Most pronounced was how the weakest link in interpersonal skills could end up as the General Manager for Human Resources with a $164,838.00 salary.

The distrust of certain, not all, managers is still quite evident. When the strike ends the one statement a manager should not say is:

This strike has been hard on all of us.

Any one who complains after making over $77.00/hour for the past 10 weeks will lose any and all respect of returning staff.

$300,000.00 marks the bottom end of the Top 1% of income earned in Canada.

City Manager Judy Rogers falls within this category. I don't begrudge her the amount. I would not want a job that regularly consumes 15 hours a day of navigating the inflated egos of politicians and the unrelenting demands of taxpayers and employees. CUPE has consistently complained about Ms Roger's pay but it is fair when comparing equal pay for equal work in other cities across Canada.

Check out CBC.ca's High Income Canadians

Stats Canada High-income Canadians

Why Relationship Management Matters

2007-09-25T13:05:00.000-07:00

One of my favourite blogs eaves.ca explores relationships in contract negotiations by comparing the Edmonton Oilers with the Ottawa Senators.

CUPE Expects Mediator's Offer & Vote Next Week

2007-09-25T00:15:00.000-07:00

BARGAINING BULLETIN #23 - September 25, 2007
BARGAINING 2007

Following three days of discussions with mediator Brian Foley, both CUPE Locals 15 and 1004 and the Employer agreed to an enhanced mediation process.

Your Bargaining Committee met with Mr. Foley on September 24 to review with him the outstanding issues between our Union and the Employer. He will now meet with both Local 1004 and with the Employer after which he will issue non-binding written recommendations for the settlement of both our and Local 1004’s labour disputes. All parties have agreed to submit the mediator’s recommendations to a vote.

We anticipate that Mr. Foley’s recommendations will be available some time next week. As soon as possible after we have received them, we will provide the recommendations to our members and schedule a membership vote. The decision on the recommendations will require a simple majority of ballots cast. No proxy voting can be permitted.

Vancouver’s City Council and the GVRD Labour Relations Bureau will also vote on the mediator’s recommendations.

Your Bargaining Committee asks all of our members to maintain the strong solidarity and support of your issues that you have demonstrated over the past weeks. We assure you that we are doing everything possible to achieve a positive resolution to this struggle.

On behalf of the City, Parks, Ray-Cam and Britannia Bargaining Committee:
Keith Graham (Chief Negotiator)
Peter Stary (Chair)
Jeannette Black
Christine Boyd
Karl Leonhard
Betty McGee
Jordan Parente
Donald Rounding

That Strike that Keeps on Taking

2007-09-24T11:08:00.000-07:00

When this strike ends be prepared for a significant wait time as staff prepare / repair fields and rinks.

The malicious scattering of debris at Killarney Park highlighted other problems with that and other fields. Simply cutting the grass will not make the fields safe and playable. Killarney and other fields have holes and depressions which must be filled and then left to settle before they are safe for competitive sports.

Playing fields have to be cut, aerated, holes filled, rested, aerated again and more soil as fill settles before fields are ready for competitive play. Expect a month of preparation. That is if all the staff required to do the job are still working for the City.

Ice rinks, except for Britannia, had all their ice removed. Why Britannia's ice remains I don't know. It will take anywhere from 2 - 6 weeks to rebuild the ice in the remaining rinks (West End, Kerrisdale, Kitsilano, Riley Park & Sunset.) Killarney has been torn down and Trout Lake is scheduled for demolition as each will be a practice site for the 2010 Olympics. Minor Hockey programs will be placed under even greater scheduling pressure.

The 2 - 6 week time line presupposes no damage during ice removal or while rinks have sat empty. Sunset's ice rink will be a challenge as it is a sand floor and problems were uncovered when it was de-iced.

If the strike were to end this week playing fields and ice rinks would not be ready until mid to late October.

Killarney Youth Soccer Assn. Comment

2007-09-24T11:04:00.000-07:00

KYSA respects all parties involved in the Vancouver civil strike and does NOT support any actions by soccer parents acting independently.

CUPE Press Release on Killarney Park

2007-09-24T09:34:00.000-07:00

CUPE strongly condemns dumping of dangerous debris on sports field

[September 24, 2007 06:00 AM]

VANCOUVER - In response to reports that dangerous debris (nails, broken glass, concrete) has been dumped on a Vancouver sports field (Killarney), CUPE has issued the following statement:

CUPE strongly condemns the malicious dumping of dangerous debris on the Killarney sports field. Whoever has done this has seriously jeopardized public safety, including the safety of children who may be playing there and the safety of CUPE workers, who we hope will be mowing the lawns and maintaining the fields again shortly.

This civic dispute has been hard on everyone. However, there is no justification for endangering the life and safety of others.

CUPE members dedicate their working lives to serving the public, to making their communities clean, safe and enriching to individuals and families. Not being in a position to provide our quality civic services to our friends and neighbours in Vancouver is difficult for us, but it is unbearable to see our public spaces being purposefully made unsafe.

Like everyone, we look forward to the end of this civic dispute and restoration of civic services and in the meantime expect such malicious acts to be stopped immediately.

Enhanced Mediation

2007-09-22T19:58:00.000-07:00

Friday it was announced that after three days of talking each side would agree to "enhanced mediation."

The City and CUPE will submit their respective positions to Brian Foley who as "enhanced mediator" will review and craft an enhanced non-binding agreement.

CUPE members (15 and 1004) will vote to either accept or reject the enhanced offer. City senior managers will review the enhanced proposal and decide whether it is acceptable.

Settlement of this dispute required third party intervention. I have believed that since the start of this strike.

Remember, this is a personal grudge match between two sets of negotiators. It will take outside intervention / pressure to bring them together and bargain. Civic Strike Time Lines - July 31

The endgame to this strike will be binding arbitration. CUPE 15 Bargainers Top 3 Issues - Aug. 21

It's not binding arbitration but at least a third party is now involved.

Mark Thompson, a professor emeritus at the Sauder School of Business at University of B.C astutely said in the Vancouver Sun article Vote coming in long-running civic strike:

Approving Foley's recommendations allows both sides to save face as well, said Thompson.

"It's non-binding, so neither side has to say, 'We knuckled under,'" he said.

The issues are ideological and personal. The wage and term component (18.76% compounded over 5 years) was the simple element of this dispute. Commentators like Bill Good and Christie Clark can't seem to wrap their heads around that. They instead repeat:

"whatever financial gains were won in the contract are now lost from the length of the strike."

Ideology drives this strike. CUPE believes that only public sector union members should work in publicly funded organizations. Privatization is portrayed as an evil which breaches the public trust.

Fear has ensured it's length. Professor Thompson notes that "each side is weary from the length of the strike" but with so much time and lost wages invested by those who believe their jobs will be privatized it will be difficult to accept an offer without "No Layoff's due to Contracting Out."

The City's initial "take it or leave it approach" and attempting to set Port Moody's 39 month / 9.75% as the regional template failed. Municipalities worked independent of Vancouver and struck deals with their unionized staff. Vancouver has not only ensured a rocky relationship with it's staff but has also lost significant political capital in the region as noted in the Vancouver Courier article Suburban soundoff.

City management faces the challenge of increased residential taxation, as directed by council, increased employment costs and the high cost of operating in Vancouver. Agreeing to CUPE's demand of "No Layoffs Due to Contracting Out" is not feasible. Flexibility is required. A mix of public and private staff where customer service and adaptability are the primary measures.

CUPE 15 auxiliaries must remain scheduled by talent and skill instead of by length of time served. Many of these jobs are entry level and provide opportunities for new young staff to get their foot in the door. The City, in it's last offer, did state that it would work with CUPE in identifying auxiliary positions that should be reclassified as regular part time or regular full time.

Reclassification of current employees is where the City can be flexible. The Vancouver Sun story Job reclassification is a sticky wicket describes how Strathcona Community Centre programmer Ron Suzuki has been working on job reclassification since 1997.

Mr. Suzuki is the type of employee a company wants. He raised, this year, $250,000.00 for low income families to participate in breakfast and recreational programs. If the City is concerned about retaining and attracting new staff then people like Mr. Suzuki should not be treated in such a callous manner.

I do believe that the enhanced mediation will succeed but the vote will be close.

When the enhanced offer is finally released I will review it and write what I believe will be the challenges for either side.

Remember even if CUPE 15 and 1004 vote to accept the enhanced offer the strike continues until CUPE 391 Library Workers accept their offer.

CUPE 15 and 1004 will Vote

2007-09-21T22:56:00.000-07:00

Jonathan Woodwards article explains why the "enhanced mediation" process is vital for both sides of this dispute.

Vote coming in long-running civic strike

Jonathan Woodward
Vancouver Sun

Friday, September 21, 2007 [ 7:00pm]

As the civic workers strike enters its 65th day, the city is starting to look a bit grimy. Crows and other animals have picked apart the garbage bags from these overfilled trash bins beside an eastside elementary school. There is still no end in sight to the strike.

The stage was set today for a vote that could end the city's second-longest civic strike.

Negotiators for the city and two of its striking union locals - representing inside and outside workers - agreed today they will formally present their positions to private mediator Brian Foley next week. Foley will then write a series of non-binding recommendations, which city managers will consider and union leaders will take to their 5,000 striking members in a vote.

"This doesn't mean the garbage will get picked up, but this is our first commitment to get a vote," said Mark Thompson, a professor emeritus at the Sauder School of Business at University of B.C.

There's been no agreement that negotiators for the city or for CUPE locals 15 and 1004 will vote to endorse Foley's recommendations, Thompson said. But since both sides are weary with a strike that has dragged on since late July, it will be politically difficult not to support them, he said.

"[CUPE 1004 president] Mike Jackson [would] have to stand up in front of his members and say, 'Stay on strike,'" said Thompson.

"When you've been out for nine weeks, you'd better have a darn good argument," he said.

Approving Foley's recommendations allows both sides to save face as well, said Thompson.

"It's non-binding, so neither side has to say, 'We knuckled under,'" he said.

No dates were set, but the vote could happen in about two weeks.

Such a vote is decided by a simple majority of those voting, said Thompson, but there's no guarantee it will end the strike.

"What if one local votes yes and the other votes no?" he said. "There are lots of permutations here."

At 65 days and counting, Vancouver is approaching its longest municipal strike ever. Outside workers, including garbage collectors, went on strike on July 19, followed by their inside counterparts three days later.

Talks have broken down three times as both the union and the city appear to be at loggerheads on a half-dozen major issues, including the scheduling of auxiliary workers and whether a unionized member can be laid off if the city decides to contract out services to the private sector.

Last week, both sides entered mediated talks with Foley. As a private mediator, he has no powers under B.C.'s labour laws, but he can propose solutions if both sides agree.

While neither side could be reached for comment as they remained in a "media blackout," both sides referred to Foley's process as "enhanced mediation" in their respective statements.

Negotiators for Vancouver's striking library staff, CUPE Local 391, continued negotiating today under B.C. Labour Relations Board mediator Debbie Cameron.

jwoodward@png.canwest.com

Killarney Grass

2007-09-21T16:17:00.000-07:00

CKNW reported at 4:15pm that parents from the Killarney Youth Soccer Association hired a contractor to cut the grass at the Kerr and East 49th field.

Joan Lichtman (41), Member at Large of the Killarney Youth Soccer Association Board, claims that CUPE pickets threatened the contractor. News1130 expands on the alleged threats.

CKNW reported the contractor denied he was threatened. He said he was simply informed that he was crossing a picket line and asked to stop working on the field.

The contractor stated he was unaware that the field was behind CUPE's picket line otherwise he wouldn't have done it.

Parents are now planning to mow the field tonight.

-----------

Soccer parents fail to bring out the mowers

Friday, September 21 - 09:40:58 PM Andrea Macpherson

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - The soccer practice for the Killarney Tigers went ahead, but no one brought their lawn mowers.

Soccer Mom Joan was trying to rally up concerned parents to take action on the soccer field and says many people didn't want to interfere with CUPE.

" There's a lot of people on the board of directors who didn't want to do this, despite the fact it's our field! It's frustrating, it's so frustrating, because all we want is for our kids to play soccer."

Joan says the group shelled out hundreds of dollars to pay a landscaper to mow the lawn at Killarney Oval but he couldn't finish the job because picketers threatened to come back with more people if he didn't go voluntarily.

She says last minute planning is partly to blame for lack of action on her part.

---------------------

Frustrated moms want Vancouver field mowed
Striking workers won't allow cleanup, unless done by managers mowers

Jonathan Woodward, Vancouver Sun

Published: Saturday, September 22, 2007

VANCOUVER - Angry soccer moms say they'll defy Vancouver's striking civic unions and mow a neglected eastside soccer field this morning.

Striking groundskeepers are "holding our kids hostage" by letting the fields degenerate and stopping the soccer season from getting off the ground, said Joan Lichtmann, 41.

When the soccer moms hired a contractor to mow the city-maintained field at Killarney Park Friday morning, he was approached by picketing workers and told to leave, she said. "We've got our field still not cut, and the worst part is that you can't fill the holes," she said. "This is what is going to break our kids' ankles when they try to play."

The parents plan to return with their own mowers today at about 8:30 a.m., she said.

But CUPE 1004 president Mike Jackson, who represents outside workers, including grounds-keepers, said his workers won't back down.

"I understand what they're trying to accomplish, but if they cut the field, it prolongs the strike by letting the city know people are taking the services upon themselves," he said. The parents should complain to city managers and get them to mow it, he said.

But the Killarney oval field has other problems, according to senior boys rugby player Jonathon Wong.

The 16-year-old was livid when he and his coach, John Falcos, headed to the field for their first practice and found piles of rocks and 15-centimetre nails strewn over the field, which he believes were designed to stop any mowing or playing.

They spent half an hour cleaning the field on Wednesday, but when they started to play they found still more nails.

"It was too dangerous, so we called it quits," he said. His team, the Killarney Cougars, is now playing on a different Vancouver field.

Falcos also teaches girls' soccer, and said he has spent $288 renting soccer field space in Richmond because the girls can't play in Vancouver. "The fields are in bad enough shape as it is, but this strike has made it a lot worse," said Falcos.

Jackson said his workers had nothing to do with the nails.

"That's catastrophic," he said. "Not only does that affect kids and adults playing, but when this strike is over, our members are going to have to clean those fields, and [the nails will] put our members at risk as well."

Soccer enrollment has dropped by 200 players to about 400 girls this year, said Lichtmann. That translates into about $8,500 in lost revenue for the Killarney Youth Soccer Association.

jwoodward@png.canwest.com
------------------------------------

Parents make disturbing discovery at the soccer field

Saturday, September 22 - 07:47:19 PM Kate Forman/Global BC

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - Last night we told you about the parents at Killarney Oval threatening to cut the grass so their kids could play soccer. This morning the story made an interesting turn when they arrived at the field.

John Falcos is one of the parents and tells Global BC, they found debris in the grass. This included rusty nails, burnt wood, scrap metal and huge pieces of glass in two places on the pitch.

Falcos says he doesn't know if striking CUPE workers are behind it. Other parents at the field said yesterday the union was threatening to leave spikes in the grass. CUPE is not able to comment because they are currently in mediated talks with the City covered by a media ban.

-------------------

Signs warn of dangerous debris on soccer fields

Jonathan Woodward, Vancouver Sun

Published: Sunday, September 23, 2007

Several ominous paper signs have been posted outside picketed Vancouver city parks, warning parents and children not to play on the grass because it may contain "broken glass, rusty nails, rocks or concrete."

Soccer moms are worried that the signs - which preceded dumping of all of those items at Killarney Park last week - mean that other parks, including Douglas Park and Heather Park, could be strewn with debris.

"If there's a warning out there, there's an implied threat," said Joan Lichtmann, 41.

"Who would do this? It's dangerous for the kids and anyone who uses the field," she said.
Another mom, Deborah Reiner, told The Sun she found the sign at Heather Park "threatening" when she first saw it.

The signs say: "Use at own risk. Playing field may contain: broken glass, rusty nails, rocks or concrete." They are printed in black ink on paper affixed to wooden signs with tape. Some have been ripped down, said Reiner, but at least one is still in place at Douglas Park and Killarney Park.

Both women said that it's hard not to be suspicious of members of the union locals who are striking at the community centres nearby.

CUPE 1004 President Mike Jackson, who represents outside workers, said his workers were not involved.

Some 5,000 members of CUPE 15, which represents the city's inside workers, and CUPE 1004, which represents workers including groundskeepers, have been on strike since late July.

While both sides are in mediation with private mediator Brian Foley, neither is speaking to the media.

When garbage was dumped outside Mayor Sam Sullivan's Yaletown condominium in August, the Anti-Poverty Committee quickly claimed responsibility. Spokespeople for the APC couldn't be reached Sunday.

Park board chairman Ian Robertson said he didn't know of any signs, but said the board couldn't take action against the vandals without evidence.

"Whoever's doing it, you have to see them doing it," he said. "We ask for the vigilance and the eyes and ears of the neighbours."

Sixteen-year-old rugby player Jonathon Wong first discovered the nails on the field in Killarney park on Wednesday, and spent half an hour cleaning it up with his coach, John Falcos.

Then on Friday, when Lichtmann decided to hire a private contractor to mow the field, the contractor was stopped by union workers who said they were crossing the picket line.

Lichtmann announced that she would return on Saturday to mow the field herself, but by the time she and other parents arrived, someone else had dumped two distinct 10-metre trails of ash, broken industrial-sized glass, rusty nails and concrete on the field.

"The mowing was over," said Falcos, who was there at the time. "If you put a mower on that, you'll destroy your mower. If [a nail] shoots out it will kill someone."

B.C.'s labour law says that an employer must not organize people to do the work of union workers during a strike, whether they are paid or not.

Lichtmann said that city managers had agreed to clean up Killarney Park by Tuesday.

Striking workers picketing the Killarney Community Centre would not give their names to The Sun, but denied that they had any involvement.

--------------------------
Dangerous debris found as parents try to mow city soccer field

Private landscaper's earlier attempt had been foiled by striking workers, KYSA says

Lora Grindlay, The Province

Published: Monday, September 24, 2007

Broken glass, old nails and chunks of metal were discovered on a Killarney soccer pitch after a failed attempt by parents to have the grass groomed for games.

The debris, which amounted to about a garbage-can-full and included burned-out speaker casings, will remain strewn across Killarney Oval until mid-week when parks board managers are expected to mow the lawn. The city's outside workers who usually mow the fields have been on strike for more than two months.

Bargaining Update - September 21

2007-09-21T15:53:00.000-07:00

From the City of Vancouver

City and CUPE agree to enhanced mediation process

Following three days of discussions with mediator Brian Foley, the City of Vancouver and CUPE Locals 15 and 1004 have agreed to an enhanced mediation process.

Within the next week, representatives of the City and the CUPE Locals will provide Brian Foley with verbal and written submissions on their respective views on the terms and conditions for renewal collective agreements.

After considering those representations, Brian Foley will provide the City and the CUPE Locals with his non-binding recommendations for ending the collective bargaining dispute. The City and the CUPE Locals have agreed that they will then submit those recommendations to the City’s principals and the Unions’ membership for acceptance or rejection.

A media blackout will be in place until Brian Foley has issued his recommendations.

-------------------------------

From CUPE

UPDATE:
Mediation with non-binding recommendations agreed to by City & CUPE locals

[September 21, 2007 02:32 PM]

Following three days of discussions with mediator Brian Foley, the City of Vancouver and CUPE Locals 15 and 1004 have agreed to an enhanced mediation process.

Within the next week, the representatives of the City and the two CUPE Locals will provide mediator Foley with verbal and written submissions on their respective views on the terms and conditions for renewal collective agreements.

After considering those representations, mediator Foley will provide the City and the CUPE Locals with his non-binding recommendations for ending the strike.

The parties have agreed that they will then submit those recommendations to the city's principals and the unions’ membership for acceptance or rejection by vote.

A media blackout will be in place until mediator Foley has issued his recommendations.

A complete media blackout remains in effect for CUPE 391 (Vancouver’s library workers).

---------------------
CKNW

Update on ongoing civic strike in Vancouver
Sep, 21 2007 - 3:50 PM

VANCOUVER/CKNW(AM980) - An update on the ongoing mediation aimed at reaching a settlement between the city of Vancouver and its three striking union locals.

As CKNW’s Connie Thiessen reports the union locals representing inside and outside workers have agreed to an enhanced mediation process.

The union says following three days of discussions with mediator Briann Foley, the city and Cupe 15 and 1004 have agreed to provide Foley with verbal and written submissions on their terms to reach a collective agreement.

After considering those, Foley will provide both sides with non-binding recommendations for ending the strike.

The parties have agreed to then submit those to the city's principals and union membership for acceptance or rejection by vote.

A media blackout is remaining in place until the mediator's recommendations have been issued.

Bargaining Update

2007-09-20T20:39:00.000-07:00

CUPE HOTSHEET #30 Posted Sept 20 5:12pm

The CUPE bargaining teams will meet again with the City and the appointed mediators on Friday, September 21. The media blackout is still in effect, and therefore, our bargaining committees cannot reveal any information about the current status of talks. But the bargaining committees will let us know as soon as there is some news that can be relayed to our members.

----------------------------------------
Truly, no news is good news.

Abandonement Anxiety

2007-09-20T14:37:00.000-07:00

Challenging can only describe the task CUPE negotiators face as they attempt to bargain a deal that represents the diverse staff it represents.

Building Service Workers (janitors), Ice Rink Staff & Parking Metre Coin Collectors fear the loss of their jobs. When speaking with these staff their fear is palpable. What negotiator wants to explain why these jobs were sacrificed for the sake of labour peace?

No Layoffs Due to Contracting Out continues to be the primary obstacle. The City must drop it's arrogant posture. Time limited offers with benefit clawbacks exacerbated an already strained management / staff relationship.

City council members and aspiring mayoral candidates need to stop fanning the conflict and actually seek solutions. I believe that is called leadership as opposed to simply appeasing one's base.

CUPE must consider options beyond job / no job.

Abandonment defines the fear expressed by many in these staff groups. Mortgages, car payments and family expenses continue. It's easy to say "fire the lot" or "replace them all" when referring to strangers. The perspective changes when instead of strangers these are people you work with daily and chat about family, children and the future.

The role of the union is to ensure fair treatment and prevent abandonment.

That may not mean keeping the same job but at the very least it should ensure transition assistance.

Can the City assist in training? Can CUPE National do likewise? Both should.

All's Quiet on the Picket Front

2007-09-20T14:19:00.001-07:00

Mediated talks continue under a media black out but after two disappointments expectations are minimal at best.

Friday afternoon is when competing press releases, usually referred to as Fact Sheets by both sides, are posted. I am hoping it will be quiet on Friday and talks continue over the weekend.

The fall chill is appropriate given the state of relations between staff and management. Blankets, toques, gloves, fleece and heaters have replaced shorts, t-shirts and sunglasses.

In the vein of expecting the worst picket captains are requesting burn barrels. Thanksgiving is approaching and low expectations are giving way to new distractions. Recipes for barbecued turkey is the hot commodity. The debate is coals vs wood (and then what type of wood).

Re: Great Comment Worth Reading

2007-09-20T13:45:00.000-07:00

Post removed at request of writer.

New Short Film - The Flying Bicycle Brigade

2007-09-18T12:59:00.000-07:00

James Gemmill has produced another short film which succinctly explains the core bargaining issues of CUPE 391 (Library Workers).

Walking The Line: The Flying Bicycle Brigade

Sucker Punch

2007-09-16T19:05:00.000-07:00

Talks break down followed by a flurry or press releases, posturing and finger pointing. I'm glad that talks are going to mediation. Brian Foley will work with CUPE 15 and 1004 while Debbie Cameron focus on CUPE 391 (Library Workers).

But as Judy Rogers pointed out it is non-binding.

CUPE is attempting to play both sides of the mediation fence. For the past three weeks it has publicly stated it is willing to negotiate, bargain or mediate. Yet, as Jerry Dubrovolny correctly pointed out, there was no actual follow through by CUPE to initiate mediation. Each side can request a mediator and the City acted first. CUPE, through Keith Graham, can not then complain that the City has the advantage in setting the mandate. The same option was open to them.

The City continues to emphasize the amount of settlement offers it made to avert this two month shut down of civic services. What the City consistently fails to mention is that their offers were time limited and repeatedly referred to as "firm, final offers."

Ultimatums result in the equal and opposite response - Defiance.

It's human nature and the City's management team has demonstrated a surprising lack of understanding on this front.

The original offer, 39 months, would have expired in March 2010. 90 days after the Olympics conclude. Negotiations can begin up to 6 months prior to the expiry of a Collective Agreement or October 2009. Honestly, can you believe that the City would have entered into any serious discussions in the midst of the run up to the Olympics?

4 years was not acceptable to the politicians. They correctly believed that labour negotiations would become the election issue. CUPE claimed that it would never be an issue but then at the last CUPE rally union presidents leaders announced that they will work to unseat NPA councillors and the Mayor.

5 years became the next logical step but it only became acceptable to the City negotiators when settlements across the Lower Mainland set this as the contract template.

The City also consistently fails to mention that not only was the contract set to expire at the end of the Olympics but that there were benefit claw backs in the medical, dental and employee savings plan. I have stated before that I am very happy with the current benefit plan and can not in good conscience expect more.

CUPE 15 leadership is locked into "No Lay Offs Due to Contracting Out" and is opposed to the City posting jobs both internally and externally. CUPE 1004 wants to penalize the City for bad faith bargianing by asking for 1% more in its settlement.

Between the arrogance of City Managers (firm, final offer) and 19th century industrial trade unionist mindset of CUPE negotiators I just shake my head and come to the cold realization that the City doesn't give a damn about it's employees and CUPE does not know how to represent knowledge based workers.

Challenge either side and be prepared to be vilified.

Its a cold hard sucker punch. Saturday I stayed in bed all day wondering "what the hell - why even care anymore?" I'm still asking that question.

It's the start of week 9. Strike pay arrives on Friday. It covers the bills, so 20 hours/week of picket duty continues.

I'm working on the resume this week and job hunting next week.

Mediators Selected

2007-09-16T19:01:00.000-07:00

News1130 reports:

Mediators to help City of Vancouver and its striking workers

Monday, September 17 - 04:40:00 AM
Katharine Kitts

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - Two mediators will sit down with the City of Vancouver and its unions this week to help settle the civic strike. The effort is being called a step in the right direction, or at least it's a step to try and find some middle ground. The parties have mutually agreed to hire private mediators Brian Foley and Debbie Cameron, instead of having the BC Minister of Labour appoint a special mediator under Section 76.

Debbie Cameron was first employed by the BC Nurses Union and worked as a Labour Relations Officer and a Negotiations Officer. She became the Co-ordinator for Hospitals and Organizing in 1992. Brian Foley was involved in talks between BC Transit and the Office and Professional Employees Union during a contract dispute involving office staff in 1999.

University of Victoria professor John Fryer said all we can do now is keep our fingers crossed. "It's hopeful the mediator can pull things off. The worry is if they can't, then often that means the parties are so entrenched that a strike goes on for a very long time."

Fryer said although a mediator can help, the best kind of collective agreement is one the parties reach themselves. Foley will work with CUPE 15 and CUPE 1004, while Cameron will mediate talks between CUPE 391 and the Vancouver Public Library. The talks will be under a media blackout.

Mediators named in Vancouver civic strike

Jonathan Woodward, Vancouver Sun

Published: Monday, September 17, 2007

When Private Contracts Go Wrong (02)

2007-09-16T09:30:00.000-07:00

I posted this link to the Vancouver Courier article just before Friday's breakdown in talks. It got buried in the flurry of press releases and news stories.

Check out today's Vancouver Courier.

East Siders tired of living in an 'abandoned construction site'
Sewage work on East 20th Ave. stalled in June after a dispute between city and contractor

Cheryl Rossi, Vancouver Courier
Published: Friday, September 14, 2007

MY VIEW

Contract disputes, public sector or private contract, occur. Both will inconvenience residents while the respective parties point fingers from the comfort of their separate offices.

Mediation Mash-Up

2007-09-15T09:14:00.000-07:00

"The city and the three Canadian Union of Public Employees locals have been negotiating under a media blackout all week.

"The city ended that blackout Friday, saying the two sides had reached serious impasses on a number of issues and it is now asking the province to appoint mediators.

"The city is also asking the B.C. Labour Relations Board to appoint a facilitator to help end the strike by 800 library workers.

According to a memo issued by city manager Judy Rogers, the mediation will be non-binding and should begin next week." (CBC.ca)

"CUPE, Local 15 chief negotiator Keith Graham said his union has always been willing to enter mediation. But he disputed the city's argument that it was forced to call for a special mediator because negotiations had stalled this week.

"Graham said talks with the city adjourned Wednesday night and were set to resume this weekend with the union responding to the employer's latest offer." (Vancouver Sun)

"...Rogers says in the memo that the city has told CUPE 15 it is ready to go back to the bargaining table this weekend — and that she hopes the two sides can come to an agreement even before mediators are brought in. (CBC.ca)

"There was some movement with Local 15 and we've said we are prepared to continue to meet through the weekend," said Dobrovolny."

"About mediation, Graham said "the employer has precipitously gone down this road. It's hard for us not to believe that it's another tactic by the employer to not negotiate a deal."

"Graham also said his union would prefer mediation through the B.C. Labour Relations Board rather than the appointment of a special mediator by the provincial labor minister who will set the terms of reference for the mediation process."(Vancouver Sun)

"The province is not obligated to appoint a mediator; the B.C. Ministry of Labour had no immediate comment on whether it will act on the city and library's requests." (The Globe & Mail)

"Ministry of Labour spokesman Gordon Williams said the province received the city's request on Friday and has not yet made a formal decision. If the province decides to appoint a special mediator, both sides must agree on the terms of reference before talks begin." (Vancouver Province)

Ministry of Labour spokesman Gordon Williams said the government appointment of a mediator occurs "very rarely" and the request was not granted. (Vancouver Province)

"At the same time, the Vancouver Public Library is asking the Labour Relations Board to appoint a facilitator in its seven-week-old dispute with its workers." (The Globe & Mail)

"The VPL and the union are still at odds over wages and job security provisions." (Vancouver Sun)

"The city is still at odds with Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 15, which represents the city's inside workers, over the local's demand for a ban on layoffs caused by contracting out and the city's demand for more flexibility in the hiring of external job candidates." (Vancouver Sun)

"The negotiating team representing Vancouver's outside workers was scheduled to head back to the bargaining table Friday for a second day of talks but they were called off." (CBC.ca)

"Money is the key issue for the outside workers in Local 1004, which is seeking an 18-per-cent wage hike over five years - one per cent more than the regional pattern, said Dobrovolny.

"With Local 1004, we seem to be moving in the opposite direction. They told us that the longer they stay out on strike the higher the expectations of its members will be." (Vancouver Sun)

Great Comment Worth Reading

2007-09-14T22:45:00.000-07:00

Post removed at request of writer.

City's Offers to CUPE - September

2007-09-14T21:11:00.000-07:00

The City has posted the latest offers:

CUPE 1004 - Wants More if Strike Continues

2007-09-14T16:36:00.001-07:00

Talks Off Between City of Vancouver and Striking Workers
Sep, 14 2007 - 3:30 PM

VANCOUVER/CKNW(AM980) - Talks have broken down between the City of Vancouver and its three striking union locals.
The city has now asked the Labour Minister to appoint a mediator.

City spokesperson Jerry Dobrovolny says the city has extended an invitation to CUPE 15, representing inside workers, to continue bargaining through the weekend, but has now presented the union with 11 offers, including two this week that were rejected, "We're wanting to move as quickly as we can to end the strike and so we're trying now to do two things: one is negotiate through the weekend, but also have a mediator available for next week."

Meanwhile, Dobrovolny says the city has been presented a new twist by outside workers.

He says CUPE 1004 has indicated the longer their members remain out, the higher their wage demands will go.

Their last offer asked the city for 18.5% over five years, above the regional mandate of 17.5%.

There is word CUPE 15 members may march on City Hall next Tuesday, the day of the first City Council meeting since the summer break.

BC Labour Relations Code - Section 76

2007-09-14T16:18:00.000-07:00

Special mediator

76 (1) The minister may appoint a special mediator, and specify terms of reference for the special mediator, to assist the parties in settling the terms and conditions of a collective agreement or a renewal or revision of a collective agreement.

(2) The minister may terminate the appointment of a special mediator.

(3) The special mediator must keep the minister informed as to the progress of the mediation.

(4) The special mediator, in carrying out his or her duties under this Code, has the protection, privileges and powers of a commissioner under sections 12, 15 and 16 of the Inquiry Act.

CUPE's Response to City's LRB Mediator Request

2007-09-14T16:15:00.000-07:00

City of Vancouver and Vancouver Public Library break off talks
[September 14, 2007 03:55 PM]

VANCOUVER – CUPE 15, CUPE 391 and CUPE 1004 are disappointed that the City of Vancouver, Vancouver Public Library and Metro Vancouver Labour Relations Bureau chose to break off talks today.

The Vancouver Public Library has indicated that they will be seeking the services of a BC Labour Relations facilitator to assist with negotiations with CUPE 391.

The City has informed CUPE 15 and CUPE 1004 that they have sent a letter to the Minister of Labour requesting the appointment of a special provincial mediator under Section 76 of the BC Labour Code.

For weeks, the unions have been calling for a third party to assist in negotiations with either a facilitator, mediator or mutually agreed to private mediator. The special mediator the City has applied for means the union will have no say in the “terms of reference”, in other words who the mediator will be and whether or not the mediation will be binding.

Although the City and Library gave notice that they wished to lift the mutually agreed media blackout, the locals asked that the blackout remain in effect so that the parties could remain focussed on bargaining, however the City and Library flatly refused the request.

It is uncertain when facilitation will begin with the library workers or when mediated talks with Vancouver’s inside and outside workers will continue. CUPE will not be issuing any further comments to the media until next steps are clarified.

Contact: Diane Kalen, CUPE Communications, 778-229-0258

City Backgrounder - Bargaining with CUPE 15

2007-09-14T16:08:00.001-07:00

CUPE 15 served the City with a notice to commence bargaining on September 1, 2006. City and CUPE 15 negotiators first exchanged proposals on September 22 and met to discuss these proposals in a series of meetings on October 19, 31 and November 1.

The City presented its first offer for settlement on November 17, and after two subsequent meetings of the Benefits Sub Committee, the union put forward its first offer for settlement on November 22. The city responded to this offer on November 30.

After three additional meetings of the Benefits Sub Committee, the City presented a second offer on December 15, 2006, in response to Union concerns. CUPE 15 negotiators presented the union’s second settlement offer on January 15, 2007.

Three meetings took place on January 22, 25 and February 7 to discuss the parties’ positions, prompting the Union to present a third offer for settlement on February 16. The City again responded the union with a third offer for settlement on
February 22. Two additional meetings took place, and subsequently CUPE 15 called a strike vote, resulting in the return of a 93.5% strike mandate on April 26.

In an ongoing effort to avert job action, City negotiators came forward with a fourth offer for settlement and offered to engage a private mediator, to facilitate ongoing negotiations. On May 22, the Union declined to enter into privately
mediated discussions, and the City requested mediation through the Labour Relations Board (LRB), in order to prevent potential job action. The LRB agreed to facilitate mediated talks, and appointed Debbie Cameron as mediator on May 30, 2007.

After four mediated sessions – bringing the total number of meetings between the City and Union to twenty-two - the City tabled its fifth and last offer for settlement on July 9. CUPE 15 leadership rejected the City’s last offer and refused to allow its
members to vote on its content. The City applied to the LRB to conduct a last offer vote, in order to allow employees the opportunity to consider and vote on the offer.

The Labour Relations Board approved the city’s application for a last offer vote, which was conducted through the day on July 19. The City’s last offer for settlement was rejected by CUPE 15 employees by 89%. Of the total employees eligible to vote, 52% did so.

Following the vote, CUPE 15 booked out of mediation (discontinuing facilitated meetings), and served the City with 72 hour strike notice. CUPE 15 members began job action early on Monday, July 23.

City Backgrounder - Bargaining with CUPE 1004

2007-09-14T16:06:00.000-07:00

CUPE 1004 served the City with a notice to commence bargaining on November 2, 2006. Dates were set for early 2007 to bring parties together to exchange proposals. The first meeting between the City and CUPE 1004 negotiators took place on January 23; proposals were exchanged.

Subsequent meetings took place on February 23, March 6, March 7, and April 17. In each of those meetings, the City and CUPE negotiators discussed proposals exchanged on January 23.

On April 25 and May 22, meetings of a Sick Leave Committee took place, with a dedicated focus on attempting to resolve outstanding issues in this area. In the days following the May 22 meeting, CUPE 1004 filed notice of their first strike vote. The City was surprised by the move, since it was early in the negotiation process, and the City felt both parties were bargaining well, and in good faith.

On May 28 the City filed an application with the Labour Relations Board, asking it to declare CUPE 1004’s strike vote premature. On May 30, after a hearing on the issue, the LRB filed a decision agreeing with the City, declaring CUPE 1004’s strike vote premature. The LRB ordered the union back to the bargaining table and directed both parties to meet on June 5, 7 and 14. On May 31, CUPE 1004 cancelled their first strike vote.

Over the course of the early June meetings, the City re-tabled an offer to the union (June 7) and, in response to union concerns, tabled a second, updated offer the following week (June 14). In the days immediately following the June 14 meeting, CUPE 1004 re-filed notice of a strike vote, and on June 21, members voted 96% in favour of a strike.

The City continued to attempt to avert job action, requesting an opportunity for mediated meetings to take place. On June 27 and July 5, meetings took place at the LRB, through a mediator. After the July 5 meeting, CUPE 1004 requested the mediator ‘book out’ (discontinue facilitating meetings), and on July 10 served the City with 72 hour strike notice. Strike action did not commence on July 13, since the LRB had not completed the process of ruling on which City services would be declared Essential Services. This process was completed on July 16.

In a final attempt to avert labour disruptions, the City wrote to CUPE 1004 (July 13) and requested additional mediated meetings. On July 16, CUPE simultaneously agreed to a meeting, which took place on Tuesday, July 17, and re-served 72 hour strike notice. The City was surprised at the July 17 meeting, when CUPE 1004 negotiators attended – accompanied by a number of union representatives of various bargaining units from across the lower mainland.

After a full day of mediated discussions on July 17, it was clear that there was a significant distance between the two parties. The wage and benefit position put forward by CUPE 1004 left the City with no basis for further bargaining. CUPE 1004
members began job action early on Thursday, July 19.

City Requests Mediator for CUPE 15, 1004 & 391

2007-09-14T15:54:00.000-07:00

September 14, 2007

City of Vancouver asks Minister of Labour to appoint mediator to settle CUPE 15 strike

Today the City of Vancouver has asked the Minister of Labour to appoint a mediator to address the key outstanding issues between the City and CUPE 15, in an effort to end the union’s strike action as soon as possible. Under provincial legislation either party to the labour dispute may request a mediator and the City is now making this request.

After repeated negotiations, eleven offers, and eight weeks of strike action, CUPE 15 (inside workers) and the City have been unable to reach a settlement.

The City has provided CUPE 15 with two additional offers this week that match regional settlement levels. These have not served to resolve the dispute. The key outstanding issues are the union’s demand for a guarantee of no layoffs in the event of contracting out, and the union’s unwillingness to provide flexibility to the employer in the hiring of external candidates.

While requesting the appointment of a mediator, the City of Vancouver remains eager to settle the strike as quickly as possible and has offered to negotiate throughout the weekend to try to reach a settlement, prior to the appointment of a mediator.

The City is making every effort possible so that its employees can return to work and services to Vancouver residents can be restored.

Media contact:

Jerry Dobrovolny
Assistant City Engineer
604.873.7331

Further Information:

Go to vancouver.ca for Fact Sheet Update on CUPE 15 negotiations

September 14, 2007

City of Vancouver asks Minister of Labour to appoint mediator to settle CUPE 1004 strike

Today the City of Vancouver has asked the Minister of Labour to appoint a mediator to address the key outstanding issues between the City and CUPE 1004, in an effort to end the union’s strike action as soon as possible. Under provincial legislation either party to the labour dispute may request a mediator and the City is now making this request.

After repeated negotiations and eight weeks of strike action, CUPE 1004 (outside workers) and the City have been unable to reach a settlement.

The City has provided CUPE 1004 with a new offer. While CUPE 1004 and the City have reached agreement on some issues, many significant demands remain outstanding. CUPE 1004 has advised that they will not settle until the disputes with CUPE 15 (inside workers) and CUPE 391 (library workers) are resolved.

In asking the Ministry of Labour to appoint a mediator to settle outstanding issues with CUPE 1004, the City of Vancouver remains eager to settle this strike so that its employees can return to work and services to Vancouver residents can be restored.

Media Contact:
Jerry Dobrovolny
Assistant City Engineer
604-873-7331

Further Information:
Go to vancouver.ca for Fact Sheet Update on CUPE 1004 negotiations

For Immediate Release: September 14, 2007

VANCOUVER PUBLIC LIBRARY ASKS FOR FACILITATOR
FOR CUPE LOCAL 391 STRIKE

VANCOUVER – Today, the Vancouver Public Library asked the Labour Relations Board to appoint a facilitator to address the key outstanding issues between the Library and CUPE Local 391, which represents library workers.

“After several rounds of negotiations and seven weeks of strike action, CUPE 391 and the Library have been unable to reach a settlement,” said City Librarian Paul Whitney.

The Library presented a new offer to CUPE 391 over the last two days that includes a 17.5 per cent wage increase over five years. The union, however, is unwilling to accept this offer and is still proposing wage and benefit increases of more than 30 per cent of payroll costs.

Additionally, CUPE 391 continues to demand guaranteed job security and no layoffs, which would eliminate the flexibility necessary for the Library to deliver services to the community.

“In asking the Labour Relations Board to appoint a facilitator to assist the parties in settling these important outstanding issues, the Vancouver Public Library remains eager to settle this labour dispute so that our employees can return to work and library services can be restored to Vancouver residents,” said Mr. Whitney.

- 30 -

For more information, please contact: Jean Kavanagh
Manager, Marketing & Communications
Vancouver Public Library
604-331- 3895
604-612-4059 (cell)

Week 8 - It's a Milestone

2007-09-14T15:11:00.000-07:00

Eight weeks of picket duty is a milestone for this Picket Boy.

It marks the end of hoping for a settlement. It’s time to:

• Update the resume;
• Hunt for a new job;
• Develop an entrepreneurial business plan.

Self-employment here I come.

Strike pay will carry me. I’ve paid $900.00 / year to CUPE ( a non-refundable tax deduction) and as of next week I’m close to retrieving $1,800.00.

I love my current job. I work front line with an incredible group of volunteers. Yet two months of striking and no resolution in sight is the incentive I need to start a new chapter / adventure.

Wish me Luck!!!

When Private Contracts Go Wrong

2007-09-14T14:28:00.000-07:00

Check out today's Vancouver Courier.

East Siders tired of living in an 'abandoned construction site'
Sewage work on East 20th Ave. stalled in June after a dispute between city and contractor

Cheryl Rossi, Vancouver Courier
Published: Friday, September 14, 2007

MY VIEW

Contract disputes, public sector or private contract, occur. Both will inconvenience residents while the respective parties point fingers from the comfort of their separate offices.

Bargaining Obstacles - No Layoffs

2007-09-14T14:19:00.000-07:00

Day 5 of the media black out and the rumour mill was in overdrive.

Bargaining is progressing on most points except one. “No Layoffs Due to Contracting Out.” Adding to CUPE’s concern is the City not stating whether the new/rebuilt ice rinks (Killarney, Riley/Hillcrest and Trout Lake) will be designated as CUPE worksites.

If I were City management I would not tip my hand.

The City is facing a fiscal challenge. (I know CUPE disagrees on this point.)

City Council is considering a further 2% transfer of property taxes from business to residential property owners. Vancouver is losing its small and medium businesses to the suburbs (Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey). Vancouver, not being a corporate hub, (Calgary has more corporate headquarters) is dependant upon small and medium sized business. The tax transfer is an attempt to stem this loss. Operating costs are quickly eroding Vancouver's desirability as a location for small business.

Residential taxpayers will simply note the successive tax increases, no comparable increase in services and the memory of an extended civic strike.

The City must develop a new labour mix, public and private, which provides affordable quality services for its taxpayers while staff wages cover Vancouver’s cost of living.

Vancouver must avoid the recruitment challenges of the West Vancouver police department. New officers can not afford homes on the North Shore. Langley or Squamish are the only options but the hellish commute is a disincentive.

Exclusively public or private is a reactionary response. Neither should have the monopoly on serving the public. The City’s job is to find that balance. That is the role of the City’s elected representatives whether CUPE likes it or not.

Increased Residential and Business Taxes

2007-09-12T14:32:00.000-07:00

First thank you for all the comments regarding Peter Ladner.

I was not surprised but am disappointed by Mr. Ladner's response.

Since both he and Mayor Sullivan have publicly stated that the average residential increase will be $300.00 over 5 years and in excess of $3,000.00 for businesses I would have assumed that the process of formulating that data would be publicly accessible too.

If the costs had not already been released both in a Mayor's communique and in Sept 7th's Vancouver Sun then I would understand Mr. Ladner's reply.

Apparently during a strike information from Vancouver City Hall is neither free nor accessible to all.

Media Blackout

2007-09-12T14:25:00.000-07:00

Yesterday CUPE 15 had a picket captains meeting. They did some finger waving about how and when people picket and are now threatening to send "picket police" to ensure people are picketing in the manner prescribed.

Regarding negotiations CUPE and the City are in offer - counter offer mode. It appears both sides are attempting to massage contract language to ensure neither side loses what face they have left.

Sticking points "No Layoffs" & "Auxiliary Seniority Pool."

Peter Ladner Responds

2007-09-11T04:04:00.000-07:00

Dear Picket Boy:

I've got your answers, but I do not deal with people hiding behind pen names or writing anonymously. You know who I am. I'll send them to you when I know who you are.

Peter Ladner

Sent 11:14pm Monday September 10

Peter Ladner - Mischief Maker

2007-09-10T14:47:00.000-07:00

Peter Ladner, in the Monday September 07, 2007 Vancouver Sun, presents the city's case:

As for the 2010 Olympics Partnership Agreement, CUPE wants to limit opportunities for employees and volunteers to participate, and to claim exclusive union jurisdiction over all Olympic sites.
We're also fighting the expectation that the 2010 Olympics will open the door to a better-than-expected deal, as witnessed by a leaked union memo saying that the city workers deserve a 2010 signing bonus.

The first paragraph is an accurate presentation of CUPE 15's offer to the City. It does, however, gloss over the City's proposal of a revised work week.

The second paragraph is an astounding fabrication matched only by the entitlement mindset of certain picketers.

Olympic linkage to a signing bonus was not ever made.

Mr. Ladner refers to a memo sent by Mike Jackson, CUPE 1004 president, to his bargaining committee. It stated or proposed, depending on the story, that CUPE would require a signing bonus, to return to work, and that the amount would increase as the strike lengthened. I have heard this sentiment expressed on the picket line.

I no more understand the entitlement logic then I do Mr. Ladner's mischief making.

If Mr. Ladner wished to question CUPE's intentions it would have been wiser to utilize CUPE's factsheet titled " 'Fiscal Reality' at the City of Vancouver."

Economy Booming
The Greater Vancouver Real Estate Board Housing Price index for all types of housing is up more than 10% . . .

A questions Mr. Ladner could have posed:

Is CUPE suggesting property taxes should always increase by the same percentage as their assessed value?

Residential Taxpayers Pay for Freeze on Business Taxes
Vancouver is shifting 2% of the tax levy away from business property taxes and towards homeowners,

Mr. Ladner could have simply implied:

CUPE, it seems, is opposed to small business. For all CUPE's anti-Wal Mart bluster about protecting small business they don't wish to give that same small business a a tax break

Contracting Out
$6.7 million to Haebler Construction Projects Inc.

Mr. Ladner could have asked:

Since when is CUPE in the contstruction business?
IS CUPE opposed to the new Sunset Community Centre or the new ice rinks?

Reserves
In 2006, the value of Vancouver's Property Fund was $1.83 billion. At the end of 2006, city of Vancouver had $339.1 million set aside in special purpose reserves. These reserves increased by 15% ($44.3 million) over the year.

Mr. Ladner could have challenged CUPE:

Which property should be sold to access profit from the property fund?
The special purposes reserves are a rainy day fund. Funds required for emergency services and reconstruction following a natural disaster. Does CUPE truly believe that this strike is a natural diaster?

Finally, a question for Mr. Ladner.

You consistently state:

Bear in mind that the above-inflation salary increases that both sides have already agreed upon will cost the average Vancouver homeowner around $300 over the five-year term of the contract, and an average business owner $3,290. This is without adding the cost of benefits still being negotiated.

Following in the spirit of Benjamin Disraeli, "There are three types of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."

You consistently state the above noted costs without ever explaining how they were determined. I sent you an email September 5th requesting the process to determine these average costs and also what the cost of the proposed contract terms, 17.5% over 5 years, would be.

No answer so far.

It appears you wish to repeat these costs enough times anticipating that taxpayers will eventually accept it as fact while avoiding any quantifiable challenge to prove it's accuracy.

North	South

Vancouver On Strike

Now It's Time To Say Goodbye. . ,

Library Workers Ratify Contract

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Canwest Preaches Competition

Library Workers Vote Friday

Library Vote this Weekend?

Frances Bula, Vancouver Sun

Library Talks - Media Blackout

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Paul Whitney, Special to the Sun

Pre-Election Posturing 02

Chantal Eustace, Vancouver Sun

Jurassic Park Board Dinosaur Meeting Oct 23rd

Library Worker Update

CUPE 391 and employer meet to make adjustments to Foley's recommendations

Pre-Election Posturing

Vancouver Garbage Pick Up Schedule

1004 Back to Work

CUPE Library Update

Sunday, October 14, 2007

CUPE 1004 - 83% Yes

The deal ends 88 days of labour strife

KELLY SINOSKI and CATHERINE ROLFSEN

CUPE 1004 Vote Result @ 5:30

Christy Clark on the CUPE strike

Christy Clark, Special to The Province

CUPE 1004 Voting Info

Vancouver Province

CUPE 1004 Recommends Yes Vote

Frances Bula, Vancouver Sun

CUPE 391 & 1004 SPEAKING WITH CITY

Gerry Bellett, Vancouver Sun, Published: Thursday, October 11, 2007

Being Your Own Worst Enemy

CUPE 15 Final Strike Pay Info

jobs@vancouver.ca

City & CUPE 1004 Meet Thursday Oct. 11

City Council Approves All 3 Deals

The Morning After. . ,

CUPE VOTE RESULTS

Column by Miro Cernetig, Vancouver Sun

Published: Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Could the fact that city taxes keep rising be related to the possibility that we're perhaps paying a premium for some of the services that could really be done more efficiently outside of city hall?

CUPE Vote Result Schedule

CUPE 15 Ratification Meeting

Metro-Vancouver LRB Approves Settlement

CUPE Responds

Foley Recommendation Index

Wage & Term, Bonus, Retro, Vacation Cash

Layoffs Due to Contracting Out

Filling of Vacancies (ALL EMPLOYEES)

Reclassification / Classification

Scheduling Auxiliary Employees

Settlement Offer in Brief

2010 Olympics - Settlement Offer

Library Workers - Settlement Offer

CUPE Update - Oct. 5, 2:14pm

CBC POSTS ENTIRE SETTLEMENT

Foley Recommendations Leaked

Civic Strike Settlement Vote - Oct 8 - 10

Orpheum Picket Video

Jurassic Park Board - 03

Orpheum Picket Fall Out

Vancouver Sun

Our Political Leaders at Work

Cold, Wet and Waiting to VOTE

Logic Need not Apply

What's this Process Called?

CUPE 15 Mail

Globe and Mail Article Wrong

getSLinks("topStoriesInSection","LAC.20071003.BCBRIEFS03-2",5)

Jurassic Park Board - 02

But that's a minority view: Public opinion is running against park board proposal for dinosaurs in Stanley Park

Pete McMartin, Vancouver Sun

Georgia Straight comments on strike

1 Burn Barrel + 2 Propane Tanks

Mediator's Recommendations Delayed

Jurassic Park Board

Weekend Ventures

No Left Turn