Secrecy and negotiations

Like the rest of you, I know nothing about negotiations going on between the government and union representatives.  But for this one time, that's alright by me ... with a couple caveats.

During this past year, Dalton McGuinty wrote the textbook on how *not* to engage in negotiations.  This included a YouTube video where the premier tried to do an end run around teacher representatives to speak directly to teachers. I managed to find this video today but now it has *interesting* subtitles added.  Here it is for your enjoyment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgCYhxmhx3A.

A year ago too, the government brought lawyers into the talks who tabled a take-it-or-leave-it offer.  Some negotiations.  Bill 115 was then passed shortly before the Kitchener-Waterloo by-election and it was used by the government to try and win both the by-election and a majority government.  And many of us wonder too if there wasn't some subtle messaging conveyed to representatives of the English Catholic union, OECTA, to get the agreement that set the groundwork for Bill 115?

There is a reason why real collective bargaining is held behind closed doors.  This gives each side some time for sober second thought and an opportunity to back away from a position without losing face.  When talks are in public, negotiators can become caught having to defend a position they might want to move away from later.  In public, there can be little give-and-take.

Negotiating experience, both inside and outside the education sector, tells me there has to be some honest dialogue between sides to reach an agreement and this can only happen in private.  I'm willing to give the parties the benefit of the doubt for the moment with the understanding that they are only talking about legislation to enshrine collective bargaining rights and the framework for future negotiations.  If this is indeed the content of the talks, then I am in favour of discussions continuing out of the public eye.

Of course, only time will tell.  I hope the government and unions are making good progress so that a public announcement can be tabled soon.  It has been a hard year for everyone involved and further waiting takes its toll.  But let's all take a deep breath now and await the promise of spring.


The views expressed in this blog are my personal views only.