Thursday, July 16, 2009

Will CUPE Windsor Vote to End Strike?

Well, it's been over 100 days since CUPE Locals 82 and 543 went out on strike. In retrospect, for CUPE workers, the strike was lost before it started. You could call this "the Battle of the Little Bighorn".

I have written several posts about this strike, and have kept my neutrality throughout, as I wanted to see this strike with clear vision. I especially wanted to understand the "politics" of this strike.

Right out of the starting gate, CUPE was attacked by the Windsor Star. Star opinion writers, editorial writers, headline writers (if that is what they are called) and news reporters, boy, they all piled on. Every real or imagined mistep by CUPE leaders and workers was amplified on the pages of the Windsor Star; believe me, they went all out. This is not to say that CUPE leaders were error free--they were not--and some CUPE members did some real goofy stuff.

Recently, a Windsor Star Editorial admitted that sometimes "Polarization is not always bad and it has often been a necessary step in important causes and movements." That sums up their position, clear as day.

As I have said many times, the Windsor Star and other such papers have a right and duty to publish strong opinions via editorials and opinion writers; they have several of them, and they get lots of space. But for management to use the news reporters and the full weight of the newspaper itself to attack and vilify an organization is wrong. In case we had forgotten, the Windsor Star reminded us (by their actions) that strikes are not only about about money, benefits, and working conditions, they are also about power.

With political cover from the Windsor Star, it was easy for council members like Alan Halberstadt to jump on board as the train left the station. CUPE has promised retaliation against such council members next election. My advice to CUPE: "speak softly and carry a big stick".

There will be a strike vote today on the City of Windsor offer to CUPE workers. CUPE workers will vote to go back to work, my guess 64% in favour.