The opposite of negotiating

On Wednesday, Diane Rabbani, the head of the British Columbia government's public service agency, announced her associate deputy minister Ron McEachern would be euphemistically leaving that job on January 2. Mr. McEachern, who is well-liked and respected by colleagues, had been principally responsible for representing employer-side interests during collective agreement negotiations with civil service unions. No word yet on the reason for his...er...departure. But agency cube farms are abuzz with rumours the Liberals may be looking to make radical changes to those agreements. And Mr. McEachern's incremental approach to labour negotiations may not have fit in with that plan.