This is the way it isIt is becoming very obvious that the TWU strategy has and continues to be to somehow convince the Minister or the Board to order and arbitrated settlement. The current offer of a mediator is a step in that direction, thus the TWU have embraced this offer made by the Minister.
On the other hand, the Telus strategy has and continues to be to somehow get the TWU rank and file to officially or even unoffically vote on their latest enhanced contract offer.
The way I see it is that the ONLY way the TWU will EVER get their desired objective of an arbitrated settlement ordered by the Minister can ONLY be AFTER the current Telus offer has been voted on and decisively turned down by the TWU rank and file.
Until the current real Telus offer is voted on I cannot see any way that the Minister nor the Board can or will order an arbitrated settlement.
So, it looks to me that the TWU will HAVE TO ALLOW a vote in order for them to have any chance of getting an arbitrated settlement.
Telus senses this and thus they will not be at all supportive of the current offer of a mediator since it would be pre-mature until a strong negative vote has shown the TRUE need for mediation and arbitration.
After all, mediation and arbitration have always been steps of last resort. So as long as there remains the legitimate enhanced Telus offer on the table which the TWU rank and file clearly reject via a vote__and not simply the TWU negotiators rejecting as they have recently done__logically there will not be any need for any steps of last resort.