It Is Too Soon To Have "OUR CHAMPION" Ride In On His White Steed....

No progress on major issues in city labour talks

City, union must live in the real world By SUN MEDIA

Normally as the hours tick down to a strike by public sector workers, the media warn the unions to be reasonable.

But in Toronto -- facing a strike by 24,000 inside and outside workers Sunday at midnight, the most immediate impact being no garbage collection -- these warnings need to be directed equally at Toronto council.

And especially at Mayor David Miller, who has twice won office with the help of the unions with which the city is negotiating.

In the last city workers' strike in 2002, Miller, then a councillor, refused to cross picket lines and was more sympathetic to the workers than management, led by then mayor Mel Lastman.

Now Miller is in charge.

Using powers granted him under the City of Toronto Act passed by the province, Miller -- beyond raising property taxes well above his promised level of inflation -- has not only significantly increased fees, but imposed new charges on vehicle licence renewal and a new land-transfer tax.

Miller must remember he's management now and his duty is to all taxpayers.

His job is not to be at the negotiating table. Miller should stay away when the union inevitably demands he swoop in to get a deal done.

It's not to have city staff negotiate a contract that makes the unions happy.

Taxpayers can't afford in a recession to keep paying for benefits like a sick leave plan that workers cash in for extra pay upon retirement.

A start at reining in those costs has to be made.

City workers should look around at municipalities across North America, who are laying off employees, and at the carnage in the private sector.

Strike now and the public may well say: "Stay out until hell freezes over."

With a little common sense on both sides, there's a deal to be had here.

They could start by dispensing with the artificial strike "deadline" of midnight Sunday.

In the real world, the deadline is whenever labour and management say it is.

In this economic climate, both sides would be wise to stay in the room until they have a deal.

Much at stake in city labour talks

Jun. 18, 2009 Much remains unresolved as Toronto and its unionized workers enter the final...