....Comrade Miller knew the state of the citie's fiscal condition and should have campaigned on a wage and benefit freeze for all city unions. Also He should have asked his buddy McGoonty to bring in legislation, along with the open shop legislation, that strikes can only be called during the winter months.
Mayor: jobs at stake
Giving in to union costly for city
Giving in to the union's demands would force the city to lay off workers, says Mayor David Miller.He also repeated his claim yesterday at City Hall that the 27-day municipal strike is "unnecessary."
"What should tell everybody it was unnecessary was the moment they (CUPE Locals 416 and 79) went on strike, they then walked right back to the bargaining table," Miller said. "Negotiations are still ongoing ... but at a pace that is far too slow for Torontonians, and certainly far too slow for me."
But Mark Ferguson, president of CUPE 416, fired back with his version of events.
He said the strike happened "because the city waited until we were three weeks into the strike to table an offer that gave us something to work with.
"If that offer had been tabled before the strike deadline, we may not have had to strike," Ferguson said in an e-mail.
He also accused Miller of lying to Torontonians and the pickets by claiming the city is not seeking any concessions.
"Taking away our members' accumulative sick plan is a huge concession."
As if Miller didn't have enough on his plate, Ontario Coalition Against Poverty protesters stormed City Hall yesterday over the lunch hour and rallied outside the front door of Miller's office.
About 40 OCAP supporters accused the mayor of being a "fraud" because the city's strike contingency plan does not adequately provide services for welfare recipients during the labour disruption.
"If you are someone who has a home, and you have a bag of garbage and you want somewhere to take it, a provision has been made for you (during the strike)," charged OCAP founder John Clarke. "But if you are someone on social assistance, and you need basic services, you don't get it provided for you."
Miller agreed with Clarke, or at least shared his concerns about what impact the strike was having on welfare recipients.
Miller said the "most vulnerable" were still able to apply for welfare during the strike, but because of limited staff, applications for special claims, like the special diet, were not being received.
"This is a strike against the most vulnerable Torontonians, including social assistance recipients and children," he said.
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