To bargain or not to bargain
May 4, 2004
It is a difficult decision to withdraw from the negotiating table. Members of the negotiating team are well aware of their responsibility to bargain on behalf of the membership of the bargaining unit. The negotiating team invested considerable time in preparation for negotiations. The negotiating team spent long hours at the bargaining table, in caucus, and in strategy sessions. Meetings of the negotiating team and of the bargaining committee stretched well into the night. As a result, those who are involved in the negotiating process built up guarded optimism and openness of mind, always focused on reaching an agreement. Openness and optimism are a byproduct of involvement in the process.
Why, then, did the EC negotiating team feel that time had come to move away from the negotiating table? Twelve days of negotiations. Fifteen signed-off proposals many of which are of an editorial nature. A handful of proposals for which there was a verbal agreement at the table. Yet, none of the major issues of substance to EC members have been addressed in a manner that would be acceptable to the members. These facts speak for themselves - little progress has been made.
There was no choice. As much as CAPE is committed to reaching agreements at the table, the bargaining committee members were unable to convince themselves that there was evidence of sufficient movement on the part of the Employer to continue reporting back to members that progress was being made.
It should be understood and kept in mind that the Employer=s bargaining team is constrained by a mandate. It is not responsible for the narrow parameters within which it must address issues brought to the table by your representatives.
Moreover, mandates are similar from table to table. Not surprisingly, bargaining has not been very successful at other Treasury Board bargaining tables over the past few weeks. There is a trend, one that can be traced back to the authorities that set the mandates. When these authorities (we are talking about the Department of Finance) define a narrow mandate for bargaining, what are the chances of reaching agreements at the table? Just look at the bargaining landscape and you will have the answer.
Next in the series:
Our proposal for personal leave and volunteer leave.
May 4, 2004
It is a difficult decision to withdraw from the negotiating table. Members of the negotiating team are well aware of their responsibility to bargain on behalf of the membership of the bargaining unit. The negotiating team invested considerable time in preparation for negotiations. The negotiating team spent long hours at the bargaining table, in caucus, and in strategy sessions. Meetings of the negotiating team and of the bargaining committee stretched well into the night. As a result, those who are involved in the negotiating process built up guarded optimism and openness of mind, always focused on reaching an agreement. Openness and optimism are a byproduct of involvement in the process.
Why, then, did the EC negotiating team feel that time had come to move away from the negotiating table? Twelve days of negotiations. Fifteen signed-off proposals many of which are of an editorial nature. A handful of proposals for which there was a verbal agreement at the table. Yet, none of the major issues of substance to EC members have been addressed in a manner that would be acceptable to the members. These facts speak for themselves - little progress has been made.
There was no choice. As much as CAPE is committed to reaching agreements at the table, the bargaining committee members were unable to convince themselves that there was evidence of sufficient movement on the part of the Employer to continue reporting back to members that progress was being made.
It should be understood and kept in mind that the Employer=s bargaining team is constrained by a mandate. It is not responsible for the narrow parameters within which it must address issues brought to the table by your representatives.
Moreover, mandates are similar from table to table. Not surprisingly, bargaining has not been very successful at other Treasury Board bargaining tables over the past few weeks. There is a trend, one that can be traced back to the authorities that set the mandates. When these authorities (we are talking about the Department of Finance) define a narrow mandate for bargaining, what are the chances of reaching agreements at the table? Just look at the bargaining landscape and you will have the answer.
Next in the series:
Our proposal for personal leave and volunteer leave.