[SpongeG]

seems they are rejecting the mediated contract

what is really bad and stupid is these workers don't like the "wording" that contract workers can be used - yet 75% of them are working for private companies while the strike drags on

they showed people going to vote and one guy rolled up in a truck that belionged to a private garbage company and he said he's had a job since day 1 of the strike and he was going in to vote no

i wish the city could just fire these people :hell: they obviously don't need the jobs

[deasine]

ahed of me again on the news articles XD

Inside Workers Accept, Outside Wokers accept (not 2/3 majority though), Library workers Reject

[deasine]

City vote split
Outside and library workers reject deal while inside workers vote in favour.

Doug Ward and Frances Bula, Vancouver Sun
Librarians and outside workers, including garbage collection staff, will remain on strike against the City of Vancouver, but inside workers could be
back to work as early as Thursday.

That was the divided outcome of votes announced late Tuesday by the three Canadian Union of Public Employees locals representing more than 5,000 striking civic workers in Vancouver.

A slight majority of outside workers — 57 per cent at the city and 58 per cent at the parks board — actually voted to accept a mediator’s report and return to work. But the vote failed to meet the two-thirds majority threshold required in the bylaws of CUPE Local 1004 for ratification of an agreement.

Local 1004 president Mike Jackson urged the city to return to the bargaining table and resolve remaining issues, which he said were mostly non-monetary.

Looking slightly chastened by the fact that a narrow majority of his members had defied the union leadership’s recommendation to reject mediator’s Brian Foley report, Jackson told reporters that “we’re that close and I don’t see a problem in getting back to the table and just resolve some of these minor issues that we have.”

Inside workers, members of CUPE Local 15, voted 73 per cent in favour of accepting the Foley proposal, which gives all civic employees a 17.5-per-cent wage hike over five years and a $1,000 signing bonus. The inside workers also won improved contract language dealing with contracting out, harassment, whistleblowing and job reclassification. They also forced the city to withdraw earlier demands for concessions.

Paul Faoro, CUPE Local 15 president, said inside workers could be back to work as early as Thursday, depending on how city council votes on the Foley proposal today.

“We believe the collective agreement ... has been bettered,” he said Tuesday night after the results were announced. “And our members can go to work knowing this is the best collective agreement under the circumstances.”

Nearly 2,000 of Local 15’s 2,500 full-time members voted. The return of inside workers to their jobs would mean the reopening of indoor recreational facilities, city-run day cares, indoor swimming pools and theatres.

Local 1004’s Jackson said his local will probably send pickets to city hall on the day inside workers return to work. “I would imagine that there would be some kind of welcoming party for Local 15 people.”

But he said the picketing at city hall could be short-lived if the Labour Relations Board rules it illegal.

Local 15’s Faoro said his members would honour any picket lines set up by the other locals.

Foley had predicted the 83-day-old civic strike could extend into the new year if outside workers and librarians rejected the package. But Jackson dismissed the prediction as “fear-mongering,” saying, “we are obviously that close and we just want to get back to the table.”

Outside workers are upset that after a three-month strike they are being offered what they believe is a worse deal than what was given to outside workers in other municipalities, said Jackson. “We had to go on strike for what everybody else has settled for so we find it only fair that we actually get what everybody else did.”

Jackson said tradesmen in the District of North Vancouver, Burnaby and other municipalities were given a $1.50-an-hour trades adjustment while Foley proposed a $1-an-hour adjustment in Vancouver.

Jackson said they also want other non-monetary improvements related to overtime and health benefits.

It’s expected that most of the inside workers from Local 15 will return to work. Three hundred inside workers, however, could still be behind picket lines because they share work sites with Local 1004 outside workers. Another 50 members of Local 15 could also face pickets from striking librarians because they share work sites.

Library workers, members of CUPE Local 391, overwhelmingly rejected Foley’s recommendations, with 78.1 per cent voting against it. More than 550 people voted throughout the day Tuesday at the plaza outside the central library in downtown Vancouver.

Alex Youngberg, president of Local 391, said the recommendations, which would have pushed about 300 of the 775 library workers up a pay grade on top of any regular increase, didn’t give library workers a fair and equal settlement. “This is primarily a female workforce and we do not get equal pay for work of equal value,” Youngberg said. “So the haves were getting more and the have-nots were getting less.”

A small group of library workers cheered as the results were announced Tuesday night. Bargaining chair Ed Dickson said Foley’s package could be the basis of a deal and urged library managers to get back together and bargain to make improvements to it.

Youngberg said they wouldn’t need any additional money to what Foley had recommended, but they’d like to see the increases he offered spread out equitably to all the library workers.

City council votes today on the deal. Vision Vancouver councillors said Tuesday they would endorse the Foley package. Councillor George Chow said the Vision caucus would like Foley to remain involved in the talks if any local rejected it.

dward@png.canwest.com


©Vancouver Sun

Source: http://www.canada.com/globaltv/bc/story.html?id=9c072f73-06e7-4854-b016-9676318769f9&k=94940

Video Link: http://video.canada.com/Video.aspx?31712

[cornholio]

Im fully backing the workers. In fact I really don't know why anyone wouldn't, unless their hypocrites, jealous or maybe they are biased because there is something at stake for them personally. All three of the reasons are pretty bad and pathetic in my opinion, though jealousy is the worst of them all, you know I don't make that so why should you type shit.
In any case eventually both sides will come to a agreement, and in fact the city can privatized out all their services if they want to...though I doubt they would save any money.

[SpongeG]

after seeing how greedy the working strikers are i am losing sympathy for them

the one guy who they showed on the news was so smug about working during the strike and was going to vote no and said he can stay out as long as he needs to - well duh hes working in the private sector now

the other said 17.5% was nothing for a raise - most people would be lucky to get that much

I think Vancouver is one of the remaing cities who hasn't privatized a lot of its services - maple ridge, coquitlam both have private garbage collection among other things

if these people want job security than they should go into secure job fields and better themselves instead of expecting it just because they feel entitled

[westcoast604]

Apparently the city has accepted the mediators recommendations as of 2:30pm Wednesday. Strike might be over soon after all.

October 10, 2007
Council votes to accept mediator’s recommendations

Vancouver City Council voted today to accept mediator’s Brian Foley’s non-binding recommendations for a new contractual agreement with the City’s workers. Council also voted to approve the funding recommended for library workers, should the Vancouver Library Board also accept the mediator’s recommendations during its vote later this afternoon.

“The City of Vancouver’s immediate priority is to facilitate the return to work of CUPE 15 members and the restoration of related services,” states Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan. “I would like to thank the citizens of Vancouver for their ongoing civility and patience during this strike.”

CUPE 15 represents about 3,500 of city’s “inside” workers, responsible for customer services provided at City Hall, such as processing development permits and licenses, as well as providing services at a variety of city-owned and operated venues, such as theatres and daycares. Some civic sites rely on a mixture of inside and “outside” workers, represented by CUPE 1004.

“We’re very pleased that a clear majority of our workers voted in favour of the recommendations. Our city managers need to work with our returning staff to determine a schedule for which services can be restored and when,” said City spokesperson Jerry Dobrovolny. “We’ll provide that information as soon as possible, and will work to keep everyone informed during this evolving process.”

People are encouraged to visit the city’s website for ongoing updates on related to city services.



NOTE TO EDITORS: There will be a media briefing to provide more details on service availability and timelines:

2:50 p.m., Wednesday October 10
Strathcona Room, Sub Ground, City Hall

[murman]

Im fully backing the workers. In fact I really don't know why anyone wouldn't, unless their hypocrites, jealous or maybe they are biased because there is something at stake for them personally. All three of the reasons are pretty bad and pathetic in my opinion, though jealousy is the worst of them all, you know I don't make that so why should you type shit.
In any case eventually both sides will come to a agreement, and in fact the city can privatized out all their services if they want to...though I doubt they would save any money.

Inasmuch as your spelling could use some refreshing, may I contend:

Im fully backing the city. In fact I really don't know why anyone wouldn't, unless their hypocrites, jealous or maybe they are biased because there is something at stake for them personally. All three of the reasons are pretty bad and pathetic in my opinion, though jealousy is the worst of them all, you know I don't make that so why should you type shit.

Unions: the answer to the question no one is asking.

[mr.x]

everyone but the book nerds...

[deasine]

unfortunately so... but outdoor workers need a change of heart too.

Just to let you know City of Vancouver is expected that all public services will be restored to normal on Friday. I will post a news article or video when i get one (Refer to Global News).

[mr.x]

watch out for rats in your homes....they've had so much food to breed on over the last few months, and now that it's getting colder they're going to find warm shelter.

maybe we need some coyotes to level out the rat population?

[hollywoodnorth]

City services resume as Vancouver's inside workers return to jobs
Community centres, pools, theatres to open by the weekend
Last Updated: Thursday, October 11, 2007 | 6:21 PM ET
CBC News
Story Tools: E-MAIL | PRINT | Text Size: S M L XL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACK
Most inside workers for the City of Vancouver were back on the job Thursday, while informal talks with the two CUPE unions still on strike were scheduled for Friday.

The 3,500 inside workers, represented by CUPE Local 15, voted Tuesday in favour of a mediator's proposal aimed at ending the 12-week-long civic strike. However, the 800 library workers, represented by Local 391, and the 1,800 outside workers, represented by Local 1004, mostly voted against the deal.

City spokesman Jerry Dobrovolny said Thursday that Local 391 and Local 1004 have told the city there are just a few minor issues that need to be settled in order to end the strike.

But Dobrovolny said some inside workers were not able to return to work at some locations because they were still behind the picket lines of outside workers.

The local for outside workers called off a plan to "greet" returning inside workers arriving for work at city hall after the city agreed to meet Friday.

Even so, some 1004 members turned up, clearly unhappy that fellow CUPE members had decided to return to work before all the locals had reached a deal with the city.

"We should have had more people down here just to let the inside workers know we're not that happy with their decision," said Moreno Agosti, a 17-year-veteran with the streets department who was outside city hall in the morning.

"In the beginning we were all supposed to sign the agreement together or reject the agreement together — vote at the same time," said Agosti. "But for some reason the inside workers have decided, 'Well, it's good enough for us. We're going to take it.'"

Services resume
The returning inside workers spent the day getting ready to resume handling building permits and other suspended services. Dobrovolny said there was a large backlog of work to get through, and hardship cases would be given the top priority.

Meanwhile, he said a temporary arrangement that allowed private inspectors to conduct municipal building inspections would end, and city staff would once again do all inspection work.

Community centres were expected to open Friday and pools and cultural facilities would likely be open on Saturday, said Dobrovolny.

Coun. Peter Ladner said managers have tried to do as much as possible to clear the garbage that has piled up around the city.

But Ladner said a change may be needed in the definition of an essential service in the future to ensure that garbage is collected in any lengthy strike.

[hollywoodnorth]

Vancouver outside workers to vote on tentative deal Sunday

Outside workers are scheduled to vote on Sunday on a tentative deal reached with the City of Vancouver, while library workers are said to be close to reaching an agreement with negotiators.


Vancouver city spokesman Jerry Dobrovolny speaks Friday about the tentative deal with outside workers.
(CBC)
City spokesman Jerry Dobrovolny told CBC News Friday afternoon that the tentative agreement is consistent with the recommendations made by mediator Brian Foley, whose proposed deal was rejected by union members on Tuesday night.

"After two days of discussion, the City of Vancouver and Metro Vancouver negotiators have reached a tentative agreement," he said.

"CUPE 1004 will vote on Sunday and the executives of 1004 will recommend adoption," he said.

Dobrovolny said the tentative agreement doesn't stray far from the one the union rejected Tuesday but the union said it made gains in contract language, grievance procedures and overtime and back-to-work provisions.


"I feel relieved that the dispute has ended," said Mike Jackson, president of CUPE Local 1004. "I hope that [Local] 391 the library [workers] can reach an agreement as well because they have not reached an agreement."


CUPE Local 1004 president Mike Jackson says he's hoping the library workers can reach a deal soon.
(CBC)
Alex Youngberg, president of CUPE Local 391, said the 800 library workers have been overshadowed by the inside and outside workers during the whole negotiation process.

"We're centre stage now. We're the last local left out there and people can consider our issues," Youngberg said Friday.

The library workers are expected to meet with city negotiators Saturday and sources said the union was close to reaching a deal with the city.

For the 1,800 outside workers, they are set to vote on a deal on Sunday. Two-thirds of union members have to vote to accept the deal in order for it to ratify the agreement, according to a CUPE Local 1004 bylaw.

The city will give the outside workers 14 days to return to work rather than the 10 days recommended by Foley, because many of the outside workers have taken other work during the strike, Dobrovolny said.

Foley's non-binding recommendations, tabled on Oct. 5, include a 17.5 per cent pay hike over five years, a $1,000 signing bonus, whistleblower rules, no loss of seniority, vacation pay and sick pay during the strike, and limits on contracting out by the city.

The outside workers walked off the job on July 20. Library staff have been off the job since July 26, closing 22 library branches.

Inside workers who went on strike on July 23 are back on the job after accepting Foley's deal on Tuesday night.

[SpongeG]

Thirty sanitation workers fail to show up on first day after strike

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - Missing: 30 City of Vancouver sanitation workers. The city says they didn't show up for work today, the first day back after three months on the picket lines, and they're not sure if those workers are coming back.

Under the new collective agreement, workers have two weeks to return to the job. Tom Timm with the city says they won't know how much staff they've lost until that grace period is over. But it's a problem they're already working on. "Supervisors this morning are assessing who's in, they're calling those people who didn't come in to make sure they are aware the strike is over and to find out what their plans are."

Timm says today's shortfall didn't cause a problem, as the city has nearly twice the usual number of trucks out collecting garbage, with staff from other departments. Timm says garbage collection should be back to normal by next week at the latest.

http://www.news1130.com/news/local/article.jsp?content=20071015_162814_4652

[djh]

Thirty sanitation workers fail to show up on first day after strike

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - Missing: 30 City of Vancouver sanitation workers. The city says they didn't show up for work today, the first day back after three months on the picket lines, and they're not sure if those workers are coming back.

Under the new collective agreement, workers have two weeks to return to the job.
http://www.news1130.com/news/local/article.jsp?content=20071015_162814_4652

FIRE THEIR ASSES if they're not at work day 1 after the strike, or have a *damn good* excuse for not being there.

These are the kind of people who cause Canadian Productivity to be so woefully and embarrassingly low. These people get paid, yet they produce and contribute little.

I was on the Skytrain yesterday and some woman was boasting to anybody who would listen how great her union job was, because she said her job involves her working outdoors, and if it rains she doesn't have to come in to work, but she still gets full-pay! HELLO! We're in a RAIN-FOREST? This woman probably actually works about 3 months out of 12, and gets paid for the whole year! *Great* for Canadian productivity.
And now the CoV workers get to pull the same stunt. No wonder Vancouver has by far the longest wait times for things like development permits, out of all the Metro Vancouver municipalities.

Sheesh.