[listening - dj spec: the vexed episode (cd 1,
the part where the public enemy radio phone dis ends and destiny's child's bugaboo gets, uh, bugged).]

i don't know what it is about thunder bay, but the way the unions there chronically manage to barely not fuck things up is a master of science that borders on pure cosmic fluke.

news is that a settlement in the safeway labour dispute has been made, paving the way for safeway to return to thunder bay. this strike started in october 2001 and official word ended in june 2002, when the supposed ultimate offer was nixed, although in one messed up vote where the workers were pressured to vote no or not show up, leading to a drawn-out protest. safeway effectively gave up on thunder bay, closed the stores and took down their signs.

i'm having difficulty digging up the entire history of this dispute, but the basic gist was that the thunder bay staffers were against the butchers or meathandlers being moved away from the stores, which accounts for 1-2% of the workforce. all the other cities were able to agree, but thunder bay was defiant. apparently, all this time, the union was sponsoring their members' mortgages, ensuring that the various clerks and other staff didn't go bankrupt (although effectively coddling them from getting other jobs).

i have to admire that level of solidarity, to stick it out for this long for these principles. i never would have thought that safeway would be back so soon again. i wish i had taken some photos of the logoless boarded-up buildings now.

this is one of a number of strange labour disputes in thunder bay history. the closest one that comes back to mind is the 1999 CUPE municipal strike that lasted 13 weeks, which forced the complete neglect of all parklands, garbage collection and many other city services. thunder bay was supposed to be the testing ground for other strikes countrywide for a higher rate hike, but was a total failure as they settled for a mere pittance of what they wanted. the local head was raked over the coals.

2003.02.17 update: safeway plans to re-open in march with most of the meat workers getting other jobs due to the pre-packing in manitoba.