These people truly are buffoons! They don’t even understand when they can and can’t legally issue strike notice? What a crew.

Some commenters on this site really need to get a life.

Who has less of a life? People ignorantly complaining, or people complaining about the ignorant complainers?

Does anyone know out there if snow removal is an essential service? A number of years ago when the highways workers went on strike during winter, it was declared an essential service after a few fatal crashes.

What snow removal…. we have snow removal?

Just joking….actually snow removal out our way has been ok so far this year not that it has been tested much. Hopefully they’ll get a good portion of this fresh stuff out of the way before they go on strike. Normally I wouldn’t say snow removal is an essential service but the way the roads are today I don’t think an ambulance would get through.

It would seem that the nasty joke and the no name goof are on a roll.

Think that maybe, just maybe, that they set the strike date not by their legal obligations but by looking at the weather forecast?

Heavy dump-no plows-roads a mess- people stuck- they figured that they might gain a little traction;)in negotiations, put a little pressure on the city to open the change purse a crack.

I’m sure that snow removal will be deemed a safety issue and therefore an essential service. Driving around with blade 6″ above the pavement, not so much.

Four graders on Ospika this morning all with their blades up. They sending a message?

I’m sure school routes and hospital roads will be deemed essential but beyond that its highly doubtful.

Saw two graders and two loaders on Ospica this morning…..blades down clearing snow! Come on Beth…..grow up and settle this s@&t.

lonesome: go read the BC Labour Relations Code. They did everything by the book. Sorry to burst your bubble.

mayor and her new communications staff already starting the spin.

So, essentially what you are saying is that the article above is wrong when it states: “But, strike notice can’t be served until the “interim order for essential services” was ordered.”

So, did 250NEWS make a mistake?

I cut and pasted this rom the labour code book.

Chapter Six
Strikes, Lockouts And Picketing
If a union and an employer are unable to reach agreement through the bargaining process,
there are a number of options available. The two most frequently used are mediation
(which is covered in Chapter Eight of this guide) and strikes or lockouts.
Work stoppages
Generally speaking, a strike is a refusal to work by employees acting with a common
purpose. The usual purpose of a strike is to compel an employer to agree to terms and
conditions of employment. A strike need not be a complete stoppage of work. For
example, overtime bans and work slowdowns can constitute a strike. A withdrawal of
services by employees, which arises from a legitimate concern for their own safety or
health, or to enforce a non-affiliation clause, is not a strike.
Similarly, a lockout is a restriction by the employer of work that normally would be
available for employees, generally by suspending work or closing the place of employment.
It is generally intended to compel those employees, or to aid another employer to compel
employees, to agree to terms and conditions of employment.
The Code prohibits both strikes and lockouts during the life of a collective agreement and
every agreement must contain a provision prohibiting “wildcat” strikes or lockouts. Any
differences arising during its term must be settled through the grievance and arbitration
procedures set out in the collective agreement.
Bargaining requirements
Even if there is no collective agreement in force, certain legal preconditions must be
satisfied before a strike or lockout can begin. These preconditions are:
The union and employer must first have engaged in collective bargaining;
A vote must have been held to determine if the majority of employees favour
a strike, or, in the case of an accredited employers’ organization, if the
majority of the employers in the organization favour a lockout;
Strike or lockout notice of 72 hours must have been given to both the other
party and to the Board; and,
If a mediation officer has been appointed by the Labour Relations Board or by the
Minister of Labour and Citizen’s Services, that appointment must have come to an
end, and 48 hours have passed.
These restrictions are intended to ensure that bargaining takes place before strikes and
lockouts begin. They also ensure that strikes and lockouts are supported by the majority
– 24 –
of those who will be taking the action, and that the potential disruption caused by a strike
or lockout is reduced by providing notice that it is about to occur.

My interpretation is that yes, the union did give their 72 hours notice, but then they had to meet with the Labour Board which makes everyone involved wait 48 hours to pass. Unless I’ve read it all wrong, this is what I took from the code.

If they did it all by the book then why was the date changed? Out of the goodness of their heart:P

Can’t go by the cupe 1048 website as the last bargaining update was October 31st. Trick or treat?

http://cupe1048.ca/?page_id=270

The labour relations board and all parties agreed to actually extended the ‘official’ strike date to December 16th, as posted on this site.

The union has also posted that they have not wanted to go on strike, but I cannot blame them for doing so the way management and mayor have made their best attempt to make sure the public is 100% against them, disrespect the staff you want to do the jobs, then expect them to respect you…. that just doesn’t make any sense to me.

The union had posted that it wasn’t about wages, but terms of hours worked and lay off clauses, etc… they never really got the opportunity to explain any of this because of the ‘spin dr’s.’ that are working on the 5th floor. During all this, the survey came out from the management / mayor and then this all started….

I’m not saying I’m right or wrong, lonesome. This is just one tax payer’s opinion. You need not agree… I’m okay with that.

It won’t take much of a strike to eat up any proposed raises.

A longer strike is better. Putting up a picket line in the winter with the wind blowing gives people time for reflection.

To bad the Management were not required to stand outside with pickets stating **Not on strike, negotiating**

Cemetery would definitely be essential service. Wonder which manager will be doing that job?

somebody told me they heard the arenas might close if there is a strike. Anybody know for sure?

I understand there might be a picket line up at the rink but can’t one of those high priced managers drive the dam Zamboni? I don’t mind crossing the picket line to play my game myself or to go watch the cougs or kings for that matter so why would either cancel games?

It is about time the managers earned their pay and showed they actually know how to run a piece of equipment.

why is we have a city manager that needs to move out of their job so the hired gun from Vancouver can come in, spend lots of money and then the mayors new hires can spin how efficient they have been…so I think it is time that the city manager start looking for a job where he can manage..or perhaps they could take a salary cut to compensate for not doing full duties

cut there wages and benefits @ least a 3rd…guess how many firefighters make $100,000,per yr…bout 25-30 of em!!

Anyone who runs into a burning building to risk there lives deserves good pay.

Zyblexteu. You sound like a real winner. I mean an uneducated winner

cut there wages and benefits @ least a 3rd…guess how many firefighters make $100,000,per yr…bout 25-30 of em!!

Firefighters are not part of CUPE.
Why would the City bring in a high priced negotiator to negotiate a strike? Maybe she could run a snow plow, on second thought it would take a lot more skill to operate a piece of equipment then it would to negotiate a strike!!

Considering how badly the taxpayer got screwed on the last agreement, it’s no wonder the City is bringing in help. Good for them.

Of course the 72 hour notice had to be refiled. The expensive lawyer for the City will drag this out as long as possible. Why not, at a grand plus per day. Or so we may think, as The Mayor and the City Manager will not release her actual costs. We as taxpayers would be more than stunned.
Toxic is the only word to describe the new culture at City Hall. Good job by the Beth and Shari Team , or the BS team for short.

Most of the people complaining are odviously not union members..If you are a union member, respect their fight.