London Mayor Matt Brown was called out by his former union Monday as inside city hall workers hit the picket lines for the first time in nearly 40 years.

On Day 1 of a strike by 750 inside workers, union leaders sought to amp up the political pressure by training a focus on Brown, who until late 2014 spent the better part of a decade in high school classrooms as a unionized teacher.

“He needs to remember those principles that he enjoyed under his collective agreement as a teacher,” said Fred Hahn, Ontario president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). “He needs to apply those same principles as the leader of this city.”

Hahn made the remarks at a boisterous Monday morning rally outside city hall that drew hundreds of the CUPE Local 101 members who have walked off the job.

Brown was a high school teacher when he was first elected to city council in 2006. He left the job after his mayoral election last fall.

Even an official with his former union, the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation, noted that career as she spoke out in support of the city’s striking workers.

“Matt Brown was an active OSSTF member,” said Evelyn Daley, who leads the union locally. “I would hope he would show some compassion (during) this difficult time.”

Asked by The Free Press if those remarks were unfair, Brown sidestepped any conflict.

“I’m going to stay focused on making sure that we can bring both parties back together for meaningful discussions,” he said. “I’m the mayor of the City of London. We have important work to do and that’s my focus.”

What’s been offered by city hall — and what’s been rejected by the union — is coming into sharper focus now talks have broken down.

The most recent deal proposed by the city included wage increases in each of the four years of the contract, along with increased benefits.

But the union has cited concessions it considers “ridiculous.” According to Local 101 president Shelley Navarroli, they include:

Making employees work later hours and weekends.

Reducing early retirement benefits for new hires.

Changing the language around job evaluation.

These would mark the first updates to the contract language since 1967, to which Navarroli said Monday, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

The inside workers, Navarroli noted, also feel singled out by city hall, which has not sought similar concessions from other unionized employee groups, specifically the outside workers who handle such duties as trash collection and road repairs.

“I find it interesting that they seem to be singling us out,” said Navarroli, who grew emotional while addressing the hundreds of sign-toting union members. “We’re being targeted for some reason.”

The union refuses to accept any concessions, she said.

Local 101 last went on strike in 1979.

The absence of 750 employees will hobble services inside city hall, though it remains open. One senior manager was seen working the front desk Monday.

Navarroli described the gulf between the two sides as large, and typified the situation’s uncertainty when asked how long she believes the strike could go on.

“I don’t know,” she said. “I don’t know.”

patrick.maloney@sunmedia.ca

twitter.com/patatLFPress

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THE NEGOTIATIONS

The city has offered a four-year deal that includes annual wage hikes and increases to benefits, Mayor Matt Brown says. But it’s also seeking concessions that CUPE Local 101 leaders call unacceptable. The union says they include:

Expanding the hours during which employees can be scheduled to work, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day, including weekends.

Cutting early retirement benefits for new hires, thus creating a two-tier program for employees who leave the job before age 65.

Altering language around internal job postings to reduce the weight given to seniority when selecting a qualified candidate.

Changing language around evaluating the pay level when existing jobs are revised; the ultimate decision could rest with city management.

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THE STRIKE AND YOU

Are you affected by the city hall strike? To discuss your situation, contact Free Press reporter Patrick Maloney at 519-667-5512 or patrick.maloney@sunmedia.ca