Does Rob Ford have some secret ability to charm unions?

Rob Ford’s administration has avoided any drawn-out work stoppages, which is kind of a shocker for a mayor obsessed with fat-trimming and the like. Last night, Toronto’s 2,300 library workers ended their 11-day strike meaning libraries were a-lending today at 10:30 a.m. Meanwhile, Ford and labour point-man Doug Holyday are boasting about a deal reached with two of CUPE Local 79’s four bargaining units. However, the situation with the rest of the inside workers still isn’t resolved: the city’s long-term care centre workers are heading into arbitration and a strike or lock-out is still a possibility for the city’s part-time recreation centre workers, including lifeguards, yoga instructors and music teachers. Still, Ford predicts they’ll reach an agreement and, against all odds, most of his predictions on the labour file have panned out so far. Read the entire story [Globe and Mail] »