How do you negotiate when your word isn’t worth anything?

I was about to sneak off to bed last night when I saw this come across my twitter feed:

NEW: CUPE, which represents school support workers and custodians, says $78million in annual funding — which the government promised to restore — has yet to flow to school boards.

The deal was ratified with the understanding that the money would flow to boards asap. #onpoli

— Colin D'Mello | Global News (@ColinDMello) January 27, 2020

No matter your goal in a negotiation, you have to have the confidence of everyone at the table that you will hold true to what you promise. No matter the outcome. Thats what makes negotiations a worthwhile exercise.

I’d say these are unique actions on the part of the Ford government, but they are instead another bullet point in a long history of breaking contracts and promises since taking office. It sends a clear message to everyone at this point that we cannot take what the Ford government tells us about their intent at face value any more.

In the fight to win over the support of parents and voters in the PR campaign between unions and government this is disastrous news for the PCs. I can’t see why anyone would operate with them in good faith anymore.

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