Originally Posted by Ownaginatios

Really? How the hell did they get that to begin with...

Does anyone else have bankable sick days?

Etobicoke Hydro did, for sure.

I think since the amalgamation into one ginormous power those working under Toronto Hydro can no longer gain them, but can keep the ones they had previously.

Originally Posted by DannyV

If they do go on strike, CUPE will make sure it will be when it will hurt us the most (possible York U situation???)

http://dailynews.mcmaster.ca /story.cfm?id=6291

Hmm, looks like they're attempting to do something about it now.

Originally Posted by Ownaginatios

http://dailynews.mcmaster.ca /story.cfm?id=6291

Hmm, looks like they're attempting to do something about it now.

Yes, that Offer to Settle is with CAW, not with CUPE (which is for the TA's). I'm waiting for a response from a contact to let me know where CUPE is standing right now.

Originally Posted by tauntobr

Yes, that Offer to Settle is with CAW, not with CUPE (which is for the TA's). I'm waiting for a response from a contact to let me know where CUPE is standing right now.

Oh, well, let us know when you get that information

Originally Posted by tauntobr

I'm sure that this option has come up at the bargaining table, but we can't really say much about it since speculation is useless anyways.

Interesting because most of what you're saying about unions is based on speculation from a few personal testimonies and sweeping ridiculous generalizations.

It's not true that in many cases unions do very little. You just can't generalize unions like you're doing.

I'm willing to engage in this discussion but making huge generalizations and bashing ALL unions because of some isolated incident that my (insert relative here) experienced isn't constructive or very intelligent.

Originally Posted by .:callen:.

It's not true that in many cases unions do very little. You just can't generalize unions like you're doing.

Yes it is, because if unions were all fighting for workers rights and bargaining hardball, there would be many more unionized workplaces on strike at any one time. Most places simply renew their contracts every time the contract comes up. It's in situations like those where the unions are pretty much equal to legalized rackets.

Originally Posted by Ownaginatios

Oh, well, let us know when you get that information

CUPE will be in a strike position sometime in september or october. We need to look at what CAW does in response to the University's offer to settle, because if CAW decides to go against the offer, then CUPE will likely play hardball as well... this very well could be a rough school year :S

Originally Posted by tauntobr

Yes it is, because if unions were all fighting for workers rights and bargaining hardball, there would be many more unionized workplaces on strike at any one time. Most places simply renew their contracts every time the contract comes up. It's in situations like those where the unions are pretty much equal to legalized rackets.

Striking is not the only time unions are involved in protecting workers' rights and they are certainly relevant even when contracts are renewed unproblematically. Unions are involved in:

a) The administration of benefit programs.
b) Advocating for workers during the grievance process
c) Providing funding, advocacy and advice during cases of wrongful dismissal
d) Ensuring that the employer lives up to the terms of the collective bargaining agreements
e) Providing outside (though certainly not neutral) analysis of an employer's financial plans


Further, the presence of a union and the knowledge that the union will take action when needed keeps employers from violating the terms of their collective agreements.

Moral of the story: Even in cases where contracts are renewed unproblematically, unions still play an important role and are not "rackets."

McMaster on strike...what does that mean for students?
Nicole, I know you'd mentioned the Registrar's Office and Financial Aid. Does all business halt if they decide to strike? What happens to people who need their services?

Originally Posted by goodnews.inc

McMaster on strike...what does that mean for students?
Nicole, I know you'd mentioned the Registrar's Office and Financial Aid. Does all business halt if they decide to strike? What happens to people who need their services?

You will be SOL, up the creek without a paddle, ummm.....I can't think of any more, someone help me out?

Originally Posted by Bobble

Striking is not the only time unions are involved in protecting workers' rights and they are certainly relevant even when contracts are renewed unproblematically. Unions are involved in:

a) The administration of benefit programs.
b) Advocating for workers during the grievance process
c) Providing funding, advocacy and advice during cases of wrongful dismissal
d) Ensuring that the employer lives up to the terms of the collective bargaining agreements
e) Providing outside (though certainly not neutral) analysis of an employer's financial plans


Further, the presence of a union and the knowledge that the union will take action when needed keeps employers from violating the terms of their collective agreements.

Moral of the story: Even in cases where contracts are renewed unproblematically, unions still play an important role and are not "rackets."

Hmm... let's see.

Definition of protection racket:

"A protection racket is an extortion scheme whereby a powerful entity or individual coerces other less powerful entities or individuals to pay protection money which allegedly serves to purchase protection services against various external threats." (where external threats = the potential damage caused by the criminals running the racket)

Ok... so... Since worker's rights are protected by the Government of Canada, the collective agreements are essentially frivolous, and cover mostly individual things such as vacation time, pensions, etc. Since the original use of a union was to protect against what are now illegal actions by employers, union services aren't really worth all the trouble. Today, unions:

A) force membership, and force the payment of dues
B) if you're like me and just want to work, and therefore choose not to participate in a strike or other union movement, you're considered a "scab" and are subjected to abuse, coersion, possible assault (these were all common place back during the union movement when unions and organized crime sometimes worked together).

So... pay the dues or else... sounds like a racket to me!

Right-to-work legislation would fix this problem.

Originally Posted by goodnews.inc

McMaster on strike...what does that mean for students?
Nicole, I know you'd mentioned the Registrar's Office and Financial Aid. Does all business halt if they decide to strike? What happens to people who need their services?

There will be people working. However, not the support staff. Essentially, managers would be running the place since they're under a different union. Realistically though the managers can't do their jobs and the jobs of numerous staff members.

Originally Posted by tauntobr

I'd also like to add: I'm not sure what progress has been made, but unless the situation has changed without my knowledge, our TA's could be going on strike this year.

Originally Posted by lorend

Aha! Someone knows what I'm talking about...

lol I knew what you were talking about:

Originally Posted by Mowicz

Whuh oh. ):

That's never good news.

What a bunch of BS, I TA'd one semester a couple of years ago, and that was the last time the TAs were on strike...lol.

If they do strike, God-forbid, look for the nerdy guy with "Macinsiders.com" and "I want to teach damnit!" written on his sign.

I just got an update regarding the status of the unions at Mac, and possibility of a strike from the Office of the Vice-President (Education) of the MSU:

Firstly, don’t panic about the strike vote. This is a vote to authorize the bargaining committee to make the decision to go on strike. While it isn’t exactly a good thing for the prospect of not having a strike, this is a pretty standard part of the collective bargaining process. Strike votes often happen without strikes ever occuring.
However, if an agreement is not reached by September first, for CAW, and both sections of CUPE (TA’s and Post-Docs), the bargaining teams for the three unions HAVE been authorized to call a strike.
The University, at this point, intends to stay open in the event of a TA strike, with classes still running.
As for welcome week with CAW, those conversations are ongoing.
CUPE Demands are not public yet, and as non-participants in the bargaining process, I do not have acess to them.

Aaaand so VIA Rail is officially on strike: http://www.ottawacitizen.com /Last+...157/story.html

But yay for Greyhound and Coach Canada I guess...