I support unions. True, I am not a ideologue who believes in an a union in every office, plant or store: but I believe when a company does not treat its employees fairly; when staff are intimidated against speaking up when they feel wronged; when people are arbitrarily fired just because they are getting older or someone younger will do the job cheaper; or when workers do not share fairly in the profits of an enterprise, a union can be a job saver, a dignity protector and a fairness advocate.
And even those who have a Pavlovian antagonistic response to unions should realize a lot of the work and holiday benefits they themselves enjoy every day in their non-union environment, are thanks to the struggles fought by unions and their members.
But I do believe some Canadian unions have lost their way: those in the auto industry, through crippling strikes and shutdowns enforcing outrageous wage and benefit demands, slowly strangled the goose that laid their golden eggs; and, too many other unions have been hijacked by radical left-wing activists … armchair Che Gueveras … who have used members’ dollars and resources to support anti-Israel, anti-American ”revolutions”, and even terrorist organizations, while remaining so silent on “socialist” countries’ abuses of human rights and their citizens.
First of all, CUPE Ontario’s latest anti-Israel resolution is nothing new: they passed a worse anti-Israel motion, when Israel came under totally unprovoked attack by Hesbollah in Lebanon and reacted with crushing force. Again, I would not object to such motions if they condemned excesses on both sides; it’s the one-sidedness I abhor.
But CUPE’s bias is nothing compared to what regularly goes on in Quebec: respected union leaders regularly march in anti-Israeli protests, side by side with people waving flags of organizations officially deemed by Canada to be terrorist groups: Hesbollah and Hamas (their flag even bearing the picture of a machine gun! But no problem for Quebec labour!).
At a Montreal demonstration Jan. 4, Quebec labour leaders marched in a protest where chants were shouted in Arabic openly calling for the murder of Jews. Informed of the chants, the Quebec labour leaders disassociated themselves from such statements, but have kept marching with the mob.
In fact, on Jan. 10, Quebec labour leaders also took part in a demonstration where Arab protestors shouted “Slaughter the Jews” and ”Hesbollah! Nasrallah! Jihad! The Jews are our dogs!” No one stopped them .. and no Quebec labour leaders left the demonstration.
These slogans are blatant anti-Jewish hatred, not just anti-Israeli. And despite their explanations that they disassociate themselves from such statements, the fact that Quebec labour leaders so regularly still take part in these protests shames their unions.
Ironically, it’s the Union movement itself that pays the highest price for all this bias and radicalization. It’s their image that is most hurt!
During the first half of 2008 (the latest statistics I could find) union membership in Canada grew by 53,000 to 4.2 million members, but as a SHARE of the total workforce, unionization actually dropped. . And more than 71% of those who are unionized are in the public sector, where union membership goes along with the job, no choice. A much smaller percentage of Canadian workers in the private sector are opting to join unions, where the membership rate now lags at a mere 16.3 per cent.
Clearly Union officials in Canada should stop shooting themselves in both feet, and capturing the headlines, with one-sided (and there’s the key!) radical politicized internationalist slogans, votes and protests.
If they are going to pass anti-Israeli and anti-American resolutions, how about a few also condemning Hesbollah, Hamas, Iran, Cuba, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia … where human rights are MUCH more regularly ignored or outright trampled than in Israel or the United States.
Or better yet, why not concentrate on improving workers’ rights here and expanding membership instead of scaring off prospective brothers and sisters with radical one-sided political stands and biased motions.
Harv Oberfeld
6 responses so far ↓
1 Patrick Bell (NOT the MLA) // Feb 24, 2009 at 5:55 am
Brilliant Harvey! Unbelievable how some groups can get away with such outward hate given our constitution.
2 Captain P. // Feb 24, 2009 at 10:22 am
Hey Harv, it’d be easier to accept you as a guy who’s qualified to pontificate about the Mid-East if you would at least learn how to spell “Hizbollah” correctly.
More to the point: yeah, yeah, we’ve heard this same BS for years; poor little defenseless, helpless Israel, surrounded by all those nasty, murderous, smelly, bomb-throwing Ay-rabs; how it suffers! Of course, you’re the expert here, Harv, and if you say that there’s no infringement on human rights in the West Bank or Gaza, well then hey, it must be true; naturally, you’ve been there to scope things out for yourself, right?
But really, Harv, whatcha whining about? Your side was way ahead in the kill count in Gaza; about 1500 to 20 last I heard. And it must really warm your pro-Israel heart to know that so many of those maimed and slaughtered in Gaza (and south Lebanon) were children, who might otherwise have grown up to be suicide bombers. Like the man said, “nits make lice”. Or as the Fugs put it back in those Fabulous Sixties: “Kill for peace!!” Anyway, keep it up, Harv. Maybe “Bibi” Netanyahu will hire you as his front man on his first state visit to Canada and then take you back to Tel Aviv with him for a full-time gig. And when Bibi finally gives the order to nuke Tehran, you’ll be sitting pretty. Harv Oberfeld, FoxNews commentator, comin’ right up!
(Response: Of course, I disagree …but that’s my right in a democratic society … to speak out freely … unless the terror groups Hamas or Hesbollah take over here too!
ho)
3 DMJ // Feb 24, 2009 at 3:03 pm
It’s not that unions have lost there way, it’s that government have abandoned ordinary Canadians and the ‘Unions’ have protected them.
This has lead to a widely exagerated role of the ‘Union’, to the point where they think they are international diplomats!
Want to weaken the ‘Unions’? Then government must do this:
1) Strictly enforce minimum wages and establish laws protecting workers from abuse.
2) Strictly enforce safety rules.
3) Strictly enforce ‘tradesman’s’ ability to do work and make illegal ‘cowboys’ who undercut ‘trades peoples’.
4) Include ‘Professional Groups” such as Lawyers, Doctors, etc. as trade unions.
Only when the government protects the little people, instead of the rich & powerful, will the power of the unions diminish.
Sounds like Union talk, I know but only when the ‘common man’ feels secure knowing that laws protect him and not his employer, will the desire to join a Union wane.
4 LP // Feb 25, 2009 at 1:41 am
Hi Harv,
We could discuss this issue until the end of time without a positive solution to end the disputes regardless of geography. Until we eliminate ego and pride the conflicts will continue.
On a personal note I would like to add that I just received a victory in court regarding a wrongful dismissal suit against my former employer. Unions keep management honest and fair, however Unions are capable of going to the extreme just like the very devil they love to hate – management. When you see corporate profits hitting historical records and find out worker’s wages haven’t kept pace with inflation during the last 20 years one wonders why not union?
Neither camp is the entire answer.
Fairness, openess, and respect is.
In my opinion I believe history is being too kind to the likes of Che Gueveras and personally object to his posters taped to the wall of my local union. Due to Mr. Gueveras will the kind folks of Cuba make a living and hold university degrees, but have no freedoms and are unable to earn more money. How is that helpful?
If I might make a suggestion on a book to read?
In this Heated Place (Encounters in the Promised Land) written by Deborah Campbell (Canadian writer).
A remarkable story that opened my eyes to the conflicts in the “promised” lands.
5 Nancy Wynes // Feb 25, 2009 at 4:02 am
Hi. I emailed you awhile ago after stumbling upon your blog but I have the feeling I sent to places unknown (?). I just want to send you belated wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous retirement. I enjoyed your work very much and look forward to a continuation of your views on your blog – glad you’re still reporting – you were the best! ( I miss the days of Tony/Pam/Norm/Frosty and you!)
Sincerely,
Nancy Wynes
(Response: Many thanks Nancy for your kind words … I was privileged to be able to tell stories to people publicly for 38 years … now I’m enjoying relaxing, travelling .. and, yes, blogging too!
ho)
6 claudia // Feb 26, 2009 at 7:28 am
I have heard that the wage cost of a new car is only 7-10% of the total production price. You think that is outrageous Harvey?
(Response: not sure of percentage cost … the only relevant statistic is what your competitors are paying for similar work in the SAME market .. cant compete with Mexico etc. .. and in this regard, I believe the Big Three have been pummelled badly into terrible unrealistic labour/benefit/retirement costs/obligations compared to their competition. ho)
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