Quote:
Originally posted by Hakan@Jul 21 2005, 05:11 PM
Unions definetely still have their place though, unfortunately, they're not where the workers need them. Most of the powerful unions are public sector unions because their employer, Government, sort of has to play by the rules and is decently accountable and transparent. I would argue that these unions hold a disproportionate and sometimes harmful amount of power. I look at BC Ferries being the prime example of this.
This does not mean that unions are not necessary or superfluous as there are countless industries which need union representation. Daycare workers and domestic workers, late night office cleaners, fruit pickers etc. If you notice, the most disadvantaged workers are usually those with the least amount of priviledge in our society, immigrants, minorities and poor people. There are no unions for the jobs which these people typically need to work in and there should be.
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What is the term.......oh yeah, bullshinguard! I am a member of a Public Sector Union, and to say the government has to play by the rules, is transparant, or even close to accountable is complete crap. Whose rules do they play by? Their own! Premier Mike Harris was having labour problems with his unionized employees, so he enacted a new law, originally called Bill 25, to transfer 2500 members to a different union, so he could sway power. Harris didn't like labour laws interfering with his master plan, so he made public sector employees exempt from the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and Ontario's Labour Laws. While any other worker has the right to refuse unsafe work, I DON'T!, while any other worker is guaranteed a minimum 8 hours off a day, I AM NOT! while any other worker has labour laws protecting contracting out of work to an outside source in your own place of work, I DON'T! Ontario has scab protection laws, but Harris/Eves made their own rules, bringing retired managers in at double pay, 24 hours a day (when they weren't working, or eve in the building for up to 12 hours of it) instead of negotiating in 2002.
Until 1991, the Province of Ontario controlled our pension, and it ran at a deficit. We took control of our own pension, and quickly built a $700M surplus, allowing us to have jail guards and Psych hospital employees, etc, retire when their age and years worked combined to reach 80. Harris wanted that money, so he attempted to bargain that control back to the government, when we refused, he legistlated control of the surplus to his government. Harris/Eves syphoned off $350M of the surplus in 2002, never to be seen again. In 8 years, the Provincial government cut 35 000 public sector jobs, including; all provincial water testing labs and half of the inspectors (then Walkerton happened), 75% of meat inspectors (Aylmer scandal), 80% of Hospital support staff such as housekeeping and health labs (SARS epidemic and spread), because basic labour laws don't pertain to us.
My union has fought to get me basic search gloves that the police forces and federal guards have had for 25 years, so that I can do my job with reduced chance of needle sticks, etc. It is still trying to get some protection for institution nurses, such as covered needles. They have been battling for 5 years to get protective riot shields back, to protect staff from thrown feces and urine, and to deflect violent, attacking offenders. While other workers are told to evacuate during a fire, and given equipment to protect them, we are told to enter the area, without the fire ######ent coat, gloves etc., because we don't have the protection of the Health and Safety Act. While Police Officers are given new equipment to protect themselves (ASP batons, pepper spray, tasers), we have the basic equipment taken away. Until you have worked in one of these jobs, you have no clue as to how they are treated.
Governments make the laws, and as I have witnessed for 13 years, will change them to their benefit in a heart beat. Easiest place for a government to lay blame, their own employees. Ontario Hydro has a huge deficit..... can't be the fact that the CEO now has his own jet, or has seen his wage go from $250 000 to $1.3M in a 5 year span, or that his Board went from 4 members making over $100 000/yr, to 12 members making between $250 000 to $500 000/yr....... naw it's the unionized guys, so we will sell portions of it off and attempt to break the union. Who controls the Labour Board? The government. Who employs the mediators? The government.
The Government is the worst abuser of labour laws, because they can.
As for the scab/ striker debate..... will you enjoy the fruit of the striker's strife, or will you turn down any benefits/wage increase they get? If you crossed for your morals, keep them, and don't accept any benefit of their actions.