Literally. If you're in Vancouver, that is, courtesy of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), who have been on a strike longer than some marriages. Thus, the uncollected garbage all over the city is sitting around developing a pungent stench.
There are so many questions that could be asked. Why wasn't garbage collection classified an essential service, preventing any occurrence of a stinky strike? Who keeps walking away from negotiations, prolonging the strike? Should this much power belong to unions? If the majority of affected constituents are (understandably) angered by this strike, do they have the power to counteract? What is the government doing to ensure this type of long-term labour dispute doesn't happen again in few years?
Let's try to address the first question. According to the Canada Labour Code Review: "In British Columbia, the provincial board can designate essential services that are deemed necessary to prevent immediate and serious danger to the health, safety and welfare of residents in the event of a strike or lockout." Shouldn't garbage collection fall under this umbrella? Surely piles of rotting garbage littering the streets is not considered healthy, or safe, or a positive contributor to the welfare of residents. Might I add that the provincial statute does not recognize economic impact as a criterion in determining a service essential, which is preposterous. If economics were considered, society would be all the better for it. A strike means that able-bodied workers are not earning dollars that could be spent to fuel our economy. Not only that, other able-bodied workers are negatively affected by the terrible smell and unable to function at their full potentials, never mind the medical side-effects of inhaling festering bacteria.
With so many workers off the job, who is actually sitting at the bargaining table? The libraries are closed, parks and recreational facilities are closed, construction has halted, garbage isn't being collected, and a whole host of other services are idle. The people at the head of this chaos are CUPE, specifically CUPE leaders. I suppose this is the one time they're actually working and earning their fat paychecks. However, how does walking away from negotiation sessions help matters? I'm sure all the striking employees have not signed off on the contract the leaders are pushing to the city. Do all the striking employees like losing their wages (the strike is now entering its fourth week)? Other municipalities around Vancouver have accepted new contracts and are all back at work, so why is Vancouver being so stubborn? Do they not realize that they are being paid by taxpayers and the funds are limited?
So then, should this much power belong to the unions? Are they wielding their authority responsibly? If they are unreasonable, are there policies in place that state the ill consequences? Are there ill consequences? I believe that unions have been given too much power by previous governments and this should be rectified. When people apply for these jobs, they sign a contract willingly, knowing all terms and conditions. They agree to work for certain wages and benefits, with no other compensation besides what is listed in the contract. This is the same as any other person who is not self-employed. Why then do these people think they have the right to stop working and demand more? Why has the government given these people that right? It doesn't make logical sense, or economic sense. If I choose to stop working, I am fully aware that I will cease to receive any payments for services or work that I have not delivered.
With the strike continuing in its capacity for such a long period of time, residents are having troubles coping. What democratic power do these unfortunate citizens have to counteract the unruly civic workers? If the union members have been granted rights by the government, shouldn't taxpaying citizens who are being squashed by their garbage be entitled to some retribution? What happened to democracy? Why are the lives of so many being manipulated by so few?
Of course, I have no doubt the government will do absolutely nothing to prevent this from happening again. At least the contracts signed by other municipalities have a term of 5 years, during which (fingers crossed) a strike is unlikely to manifest.
There are so many questions that could be asked. Why wasn't garbage collection classified an essential service, preventing any occurrence of a stinky strike? Who keeps walking away from negotiations, prolonging the strike? Should this much power belong to unions? If the majority of affected constituents are (understandably) angered by this strike, do they have the power to counteract? What is the government doing to ensure this type of long-term labour dispute doesn't happen again in few years?
Let's try to address the first question. According to the Canada Labour Code Review: "In British Columbia, the provincial board can designate essential services that are deemed necessary to prevent immediate and serious danger to the health, safety and welfare of residents in the event of a strike or lockout." Shouldn't garbage collection fall under this umbrella? Surely piles of rotting garbage littering the streets is not considered healthy, or safe, or a positive contributor to the welfare of residents. Might I add that the provincial statute does not recognize economic impact as a criterion in determining a service essential, which is preposterous. If economics were considered, society would be all the better for it. A strike means that able-bodied workers are not earning dollars that could be spent to fuel our economy. Not only that, other able-bodied workers are negatively affected by the terrible smell and unable to function at their full potentials, never mind the medical side-effects of inhaling festering bacteria.
With so many workers off the job, who is actually sitting at the bargaining table? The libraries are closed, parks and recreational facilities are closed, construction has halted, garbage isn't being collected, and a whole host of other services are idle. The people at the head of this chaos are CUPE, specifically CUPE leaders. I suppose this is the one time they're actually working and earning their fat paychecks. However, how does walking away from negotiation sessions help matters? I'm sure all the striking employees have not signed off on the contract the leaders are pushing to the city. Do all the striking employees like losing their wages (the strike is now entering its fourth week)? Other municipalities around Vancouver have accepted new contracts and are all back at work, so why is Vancouver being so stubborn? Do they not realize that they are being paid by taxpayers and the funds are limited?
So then, should this much power belong to the unions? Are they wielding their authority responsibly? If they are unreasonable, are there policies in place that state the ill consequences? Are there ill consequences? I believe that unions have been given too much power by previous governments and this should be rectified. When people apply for these jobs, they sign a contract willingly, knowing all terms and conditions. They agree to work for certain wages and benefits, with no other compensation besides what is listed in the contract. This is the same as any other person who is not self-employed. Why then do these people think they have the right to stop working and demand more? Why has the government given these people that right? It doesn't make logical sense, or economic sense. If I choose to stop working, I am fully aware that I will cease to receive any payments for services or work that I have not delivered.
With the strike continuing in its capacity for such a long period of time, residents are having troubles coping. What democratic power do these unfortunate citizens have to counteract the unruly civic workers? If the union members have been granted rights by the government, shouldn't taxpaying citizens who are being squashed by their garbage be entitled to some retribution? What happened to democracy? Why are the lives of so many being manipulated by so few?
Of course, I have no doubt the government will do absolutely nothing to prevent this from happening again. At least the contracts signed by other municipalities have a term of 5 years, during which (fingers crossed) a strike is unlikely to manifest.
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