[Azure]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Uhhh....that was pretty much the point I was making. I was pointing out the double-standard you hold towards union and management.

Not, really. My argument is very current as it proves that companies are actively trying to circumvent labour laws by moving the labour to exploitative countries. My point was that private industry does not have a history of compassion or collectively beneficial actions, quite the contrary. Their mandates are to make a profit by any means necessary, and they've proven time and time again that they're incapable of policing themselves. So yes, having an agent that at least somewhat keeps them in check is important.

Again, your argument that unions are necessary are based on happenings that do not occur in Canada. We all know companies outsource to China to get better prices. How is that Canada's fault? How does make it necessary for unions to exist in Canada?

From there your argument falls apart because you are still stuck with the idea that companies are supposed to police themselves. That is simply an outright lie. The Canadian and provincial governments have workplace health and safety laws in place that are quite strict. You have yet to provide me with examples of companies in Canada that are allowed to operate with those 'evil' practices that companies like Foxconn employ in China. Employees are protected in Canada by government regulation. It has nothing to do with the existence of the union, and hasn't for many years. The fact that there are literally millions of non-unionized employees in Canada who do not complain about their work environment proves this.

Just because "many" see it as fair does not make it so. The only requirement they have by law is to pay minimum wage, and we've seen countless examples in the U.S. of pushing to remove minimum wage laws. Again, these companies are not acting with anyone in mind but themselves. Why should we blindly trust them to act in good faith without the presence of unions?

So now your example involves the US? Last time I checked Obama was in favor of increasing the minimum wage.

Oh, and if you would actually bother to do some research on workplace health and safety, you'd realize that companies are required by law to do a lot more than just pay minimum wage.

I haven't dealt with Alberta labor laws, but I know in Manitoba there are countless safety laws to consider when you start a business, build a factory, and hire employees.