Richard Majkot
Message From COTAPSA’s Executive Director
My vision of COTAPSA is a strong, adaptable organization that people are eager to join. It’s an organization that represents our members to the City of Toronto, so that when COTAPSA speaks on behalf of its members the City listens.
Moreover, COTAPSA should continue to be an organization driven by fairness, seeking to entrench that principle in negotiations and agreements with the City. Personally, I want to see our members treated properly and I’m driven to achieve success for our members. Sometimes working the issues can seem difficult, but I’m always encouraged by the idea of getting the City motivated to do what I believe is right.
What I offer COTAPSA’s members are the skills and experience I’ve honed in a career as a chief negotiator in human resources. Having been trained as a mediator, I see my strength as building durable, positive relationships with the City. By establishing positive relationships with Council and senior City staff, as we negotiate, we can facilitate fair agreements over the long haul.
COTAPSA’s proudest achievements in negotiating with the City have involved getting concessions on such issues as the following:
- Sick leave plan
- Consolidated benefits plan
- Retirement plans
I was also pleased with the outcome of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) audit on parking passes where we were able to stand up for our members. What made me proud about these situations was that we persevered through some long and difficult negotiations, and were able to lessen or remove some of the takeaways that would have adversely affected our members.
Moral suasion goes a long way to achieving positive results. I think that requires maintaining contact with City councillors and staff—important work that I’m committed to keep on doing.
Richard Majkot
Executive Director
COTAPSA
