Unions don't normally care about public relations or public opinion. As long as their members are happy, goes the argument, public opinion is irrelevant. The public is angry - they hate us - union leaders shrug their shoulders, so long as their members still love them.
While I get this argument, it is also one of the dumbest, most shortsighted strategies any person in a position of leadership could possibly take. It is also a (though not the only) reason why unions have marginalized themselves in the 21st century and have many of us asking if unions are still relevant or necessary.
Witness the following example: yesterday, George Smitherman orgainized a group of volunteering citizens to pick-up garbage off the streets. A sceptical media screetches there must be a political motivation, George insists he is doing it because he cares about the city, cares about civic engagement and this is just the way he does politics.
Politics aside, this was an example of the type of volunteerism and community building that we should be thriving for (or at least that is the only possible conclusion I can draw after watching Fox's pre-game show to yesterday's baseball all-star game where President Obama claimed that America will be great again when more people start volunteering; Tim McCarver was so touched, tears started rolling down his wrinkled face until his robot skin started melting).
So how does CUPE respond? Praise Torontonians for making the best of a bad situation? Join George in his efforts to show we are all, at the end of the day, in this together? Keep their mouths shut and say nothing?
But Smitherman's call for community cleanups has raised the ire of Mark Ferguson, president of CUPE Local 416, which represents the city's garbage collectors and other outside workers.
"There's no question that any time we have the public, or strike breakers, or scabs performing the work of the bargaining unit during a labour disruption, that only contributes to a more lengthy strike," Ferguson warned.
That's right, Smitherman and his team of volunteer teenagers who are picking up trash are, according to CUPE, "strike breakers" or "scabs" who are really the folks to blame for making this a longer strike. That's right, if the strike keeps going, it's all the 16-year old who was helping Smitherman pick-up discarded Dorito bags fault.
Little did I know when I picked up a bit of trash in my neighbourhood last night, I was actually crossing the picket-line. Given my feelings about CUPE, I really am tempted to throw on some overalls and become a full-time volunteer garbage collector.
