The contract will, nonetheless, slow down the process. It would have taken sympathy strike action by other unions to force the Tory government to back down on successor rights and job cuts altogether. The fundamental measure of success, however, is the post-strike strength of the workers on the job and in society. It showed that working people are ready to fight. During the strike many Union members wanted the Executive Board to meet and deal with pressing issues, like the proposal to raise strike pay.
Members deserve a more democratic and responsive leadership.
This mixed message undercut our commitment to fight the attack on public services. Worse, it conceded ideological ground to Harris' Common Sense Revolution. The truth is, there's no need or justification for cuts and layoffs. Public services should be expanded, not cut back. With the infamous three-year Social Contract now at an end, the agreements of nearly a million public workers are up for renewal.