Rob Ford plays the PR game in the early stages of labour negotiations with city unions

Sure, it’s still early in the game, but Rob Ford appears to be winning the public relations battle with the city’s unions. Speculation about a potential lockout in the New Year has been rampant following a list of demands the city issued to CUPE. For his part, the mayor has been quick to claim that the union folk are the only ones talking about a work stoppage, and that his side is focused on negotiating “in good faith.” Whether that’s true or not really isn’t the point. Ford’s end game is likely to discredit unions in the public eye early and appear once again to have taxpayers’ interests at heart. If that’s the case, it seems he’s off to a good start. Read the entire story [Toronto Sun] »