Library Vote this Weekend?

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

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]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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:

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

   North	South

2. 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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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