When would be a good time to strike
On the face of it, striking during a recession would seem to be pretty daft.
After all, people are unemployed and all, and you’re out there with the collective power to protect and improve wages and working conditions that are better than other jobs and certainly better than none.
It’s true that there are people out there working for less. And there are people who have no work at all. But how would caving to the employer’s demands help that?
And how much of a hit would the unions have to take to placate the people urging their friends and tweeps to dump garbage at the Toronto CUPE locals offices?
Some City of Toronto workers can, if they retire after 25 years of service, cash out half of their unused sick leave up to a maximum of six months.
That’s got people quite in a lather. But people were also in a lather when Hospital workers in BC protested being fired and offered jobs at half their salary.
So I’m guessing a 50 per cent wage cut and total loss of benefits wouldn’t do it. What would I wonder? Minimum wage? A dollar a day? Five pence to milord for permission to come to work?
I think the People who work in the real worldâ„¢ who are ready to commit vandalism after one day of garbage strike would do well to imagine their next conversation with their employer should they get what they want.
It’ll go like this:
Boss: “You know, [insert your name here], you’re a hard worker and all, never miss a day, but the fact is over at the City of Toronto, people pay five pence to milord for permission to come to work, and we need to be competitive, so here’s a new competitive wage and benefit package for you.”
Angry Twitterer: “Oh. Crap.”
I think the City of Toronto people are out because their employer is demanding take-aways that will set them back decades.
And yes, it’s easy for me to say “patience please” – I live in Ottawa. And if you fedex me your garbage, I can refuse the package.
But if it wasn’t the recession, it would be SARS, or the tourist season, or Hurricane Juan, or something.
There is never a good time to go on strike. That’s for sure. But when a union does (and it’s a rarity) it’s not a decision taken lightly or easily, if for no other reason, anticipation of the rancour that will doubtless ensue.
