As we move towards week 12 of the "Endless Strike", CUPE strikers in Windsor are changing their tactics. From now on they are playing hardball!
According to very recent accounts in the local Windsor Star, CUPE workers are blocking city buses, invading city hall in large numbers to confront council members, challenging carnival workers picking up debris and just being, well..... much more visible.
Dear Striking City of Windsor Employees:
These tactics won't work! You don't need to be more visible, the folks over at the Windsor Star have taken care of that for you. With few exceptions, your every move will be reported with negative connotations, and in some cases you will be made to look foolish. Why do you think council members like Halberstadt are not on your side?
The Windsor Star has really raised the stakes, by running a story in today's paper, of a Muslim woman, accusing CUPE workers of making "rude and bigoted" comments. The matter was reported to police and of course the offending people are nowhere to be found. I don't know what happened, and I certainly don't support such activity. However, if the Windsor Star ran a story over every such allegation, there would be no room in the paper for anything else. And as everyone knows, it is impossible to defend yourself, when such allegations are given considerable space in the media. The folks at the Windsor Star know this quite well.
Fair or unfair you lost the strike 12 weeks ago. Read my post of April 28 and my post of June 1st.
My advice again, cut the best deal you can and get back to work.
Yours truly,
