"36: MAGIC NUMBER ENDS GARBAGE STRIKE"

Outside workers (6,200 of them) are breathing a sigh of relief today after 36 days on the picket lines. Yes folks, the City and the Union have reached a tentative agreement that has ended the strike. After marathon talks right down to the wire CUPE (Local 416) President, Mark Ferguson announced that a deal was made that was fair and they could be proud of even though compromises were made. However, the details of the agreement have not been made public as of yet.

Meanwhile, talks still continue with CUPE (Local 79) representing the 18,000 inside workers also looking for a similar collective agreement. Local 416 is leading support to its sister union (Local 79) and once a deal is agreed upon they'll all be back to work. On June 22, 24,000 municipal workers including garbage collectors, paramedics, Ferry services, city-run daycares, summer camps, swimming pools, park and recreation services, all walked off the job holding the city hostage.

I'm scratching my head as to what they considered to be a 'fair agreement'. It's been no secret that Miller has gone publicly to say that they didn't have the funds in the city's budget to give into their demands while calling them unreasonable and selfish (without actually uttering those words). Ferguson went onto mention that by the city taking the "last concession off the table" an agreement was made possible. Could it be that Miller gave into their demands? After all Ferguson maintained all along that they would 'end this strike like they began'. No one will know until those 'details' are made public (or our taxes are increased - lucky us! NOT!). However, I can go on to tell you that this whole fiasco has left a very bad taste in the mouths (and stench in the noses) of Torontonians. So much so that I think this just might be the nail in the coffin for him come election time. Bottom line, this strike should never have happened.

You know when your city is featured on CNN, and not because of it's scenic beauty or world renown international cuisine but rather for its mountains of garbage which only discourages tourism you have a problem (and Houston isn't going to help you either). Hey, it's only summer and we only thrive on people spending their almighty dollars. A feature in Canada's very own 'Maclean's' magazine with the cover reading 'Toronto Stinks' with a caricature of Miller in a trash can sporting a banana peel on his head only adds to this city's tarnished image as a clean place with lots of things to do and fresh air. We all know that's been replaced by overflowing trash bins, the stench of mounting garbage and suspended city-run services. Yeah, that's a first class city if I ever saw it. It turns its citizens into second class. How appalling is that!

But then I look at Windsor and think things could have been worse. It only took 101 days of arguing and the dreaded name calling to finally reach a deal for that city last Friday. That truly was a city under siege. Imagine if that was TO? Add a Pride Parade, Indie Weekend, a Taste of this and that festivals, and Carbana to the mix and you have one solid mess on your hands. Oh and I'm not even going to touch the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition). Yuck!

Why do I have this sneaky suspicion that Torontonians won't be too happy once the details of this agreement are revealed? You know it's just too bad we don't have a Union that represents the citizens of this city. I could just see it now turning the tables on them. We'd hold the city hostage by not pay our taxes and we'd still get the services anyway. After all isn't that what's happening to us anyway? Hey, a girl can dream. But wouldn't that be something eh? Wouldn't that be something.....