In a dull and anti-climactic finish to labour negotiations, CUPE ratifies a new collective agreement

CUPE Local 416 has approved a new collective agreement with the Rob Ford administration, and the resolution is surprisingly anti-climactic given that everyone—us included—assumed negotiations would end in disaster (or at least piles of stinky garbage everywhere). Rather than the city gutting the collective agreement or CUPE refusing to budge, the city and the union agreed to a six per cent pay increase over four years and weakening the “jobs for life” clause (the job security provision now applies only to workers with 15 years or more experience). Sure, it’s a significant concession from the union, but it’s also far from the fireworks we predicted. It also suggests that Ford and co. believe the way to cut gravy is by outsourcing costs, not simply slashing wages. Considering Ford’s penchant for saving money, we’re inclined to think he made the right move. Of course, he has struggled with math before. Read the entire story [Toronto Star] »