He Said, She Said

Ok so let me speculate about why, after almost 3 weeks' worth of a strike, the colleges want final offer selection.

First: re final offer selection (FOS in future), there is no question in my mind that the goal of FOS is to resolve a situation BEFORE a strike, not once one has started. See section 22 of the act. If both sides really want a settlement before a strike, and if both sides agree (a key component of FOS -- see the act as linked above) to FOS at that time, then that is a challenge to both sides to come to the table with best positions.

But to propose that FOS is a good resolution AFTER a strike has begun is ludicrous. Labour relations experts will no doubt agree that FOS creates "winners" and "losers" ... which is why I am confident its major value lies in using it prior to a strike, before there are major winners and losers established. Nobody wants to be a loser: so both sides make a reasonable offer ... and both sides then (assuming they made a reasonable submission) have a good possibility of their positions being accepted. However, with the colleges now, after faculty has eaten almost 3 weeks of a strike, suggesting that this is a way to an appropriate "solution" is ludicrous. It seems clear to me (from my albeit prejudiced position as one of those who has sacrificed perosnal $$$, to say nothing of health, as I seem to be headed toward pneumonia at present, for the "quality" issue) that this appeal for FOS at this time is simply another way for HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY to try to stick it to faculty. En-joy, Joy .... bottom line is that our faculty at our college will not forget any of this, including the "it's only a game" quote. And make no mistake ... we know that ACAATO has orchestrated this from the beginning. And those administrators at the colleges who bought into it and supported will not be forgotten, no matter how much hot chocolate or how many cookies are brought to the line in week 3.

And why are the colleges now afraid of binding arbitration? Are they afraid that an arbitrator might look at BOTH positions and make a rational decision?

I really hope that after all is said and done here, that the government will get rid of the CCBA, which is a huge part of the problem, and replace it with more standard legislation. The CCBA has been a problem for many years (as in since it was conceived). If our people (on both sides) had developed a mature bargaining relationship over the last 38 years, we might have overcome the idiosyncrasies of the legislation, but given that there is no indication of a mature bargaining relationship we need to lobby for the government to do away with the CCBA and put into place more "normal" bargaining legislation. One of the amazing things is how very few people have any idea of the unique characteristics of the CCBA, and how very different this act is from all other Ontario labour relations legislation, and how difficult this makes it for both sides.

Hello MPPs ... is anyone listening? I may have to forward this to mine!