1. WHEN DO WE GET OUR CITY SERVICES BACK?
Unclear. Mayor David Miller called a news conference yesterday to announce details, then said he could not provide any details since the back-to-work protocol was still being negotiated with CUPE.
2. WHAT'S THE HOLDUP WITH THE BACK-TO-WORK PROTOCOL?
Miller would not be specific, but said the issue is related to "how we deal with the cleanups." To be determined: the extent to which outside contractors are involved; provisions on overtime for city workers.
3. AFTER THE PROTOCOL IS SIGNED, WILL THE CLEANUP BEGIN IMMEDIATELY?
No. Local 416 has indefinitely postponed its ratification vote, originally scheduled for yesterday. If Local 416 votes to ratify, city council will hold its own ratification vote tomorrow .
4. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE LOCALS VOTE TO RATIFY BUT COUNCIL VOTES TO REJECT?
City negotiators would have to return to the bargaining table, though undoubtedly in a severely weakened position. "If the unions ratify and city council doesn't, that would be extremely problematic, obviously," Miller said.
5. MILLER SAID THE SICK BANK WOULD BE "ELIMINATED" UNDER THE TENTATIVE DEALS, THEN THAT IT WOULD BE "PHASED OUT." WHICH IS IT?
More like the latter. Under the deals, current workers could opt to receive an immediate cash payout for banked sick days or to continue to accumulate days until they retired. The program would indeed be eliminated for new workers.
6. HOW EXACTLY WOULD THE DEALS AFFECT THE CITY'S $140 MILLION CUPE SICK BANK LIABILITY?
Unclear. The final impact would depend on the number of employees who chose the immediate payout rather than the continued accumulation. Immediate payouts would shrink the liability, but the accumulation would increase it.
7. WHAT HAPPENS IF LOCAL 416 REJECTS ITS DEAL?
The possibility appears unlikely. Wage increases, as Miller said, are in line with other recent public sector agreements, and workers will welcome the preservation of the sick bank for the duration of their careers.
8. NOW THAT LOCAL 79 HAS RATIFIED, WILL ITS MEMBERS RETURN TO WORK EVEN IF LOCAL 416 AND CITY COUNCIL HAVE NOT YET VOTED?
Unclear. Late Tuesday, Local 79 president Ann Dembinski (above) demanded her members be permitted back immediately upon ratification – but Miller said they are welcome back whenever: "Workers are on strike. They're not locked out. They can come back right now." The issue is complicated by the delay in the Local 416 vote. A Dembinski spokesperson did not return phone calls yesterday.
9. HOW QUICKLY MIGHT WE GET OUR CITY SERVICES BACK IF AND WHEN ALL PARTIES RATIFY?
After the 2002 strike ended on a Thursday, island ferry service, full ambulance service, and golf course operations resumed Friday; day camps and daycares reopened Monday; pools were open by Monday and temporary dumpsites cleaned by Sunday night; garbage collection resumed on schedule. The city says it will not be able to resume "full service" for "several days in many operations and program areas."
10. WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH MY GARBAGE WHILE ALL THIS GETS SETTLED?
You know the drill.
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