Unions Have Made A Better Life For All Canadians

By David Murray on March 24, 2014

By David Murray. I was at the local gym in Pitt Meadows today working out. I overheard a conversation from a young man who was talking to a young lady. He was telling her that he was doing all the work and the older guys, twice his age were doing nothing. He was saying that he hated working for a union.
I guess it would be hard to blame him in some ways. After all he was all of 22 years old! His generation has not seen much positive press about belonging to a union. When the B.C. Liberals took over the government in 2001 approximately 44% of all workers belonged to a union. Today sad to say it is only 26%. 2001-to 2014 , that is a couple of generations for a young worker.
I went up to him and started talking to him. I was interested in why he had such a bad opinion about unions.
He went on to tell me that at his job , there are two-tiers. Workers with benefits and young workers with little or no benefits (medical-sick leave-etc). Most of his generation are not getting 40 hours a week. A lot of them are working part-time and have to get a job somewhere else. This makes it hard to participate in a lot of the union activities, meetings etc. (Companies are making it harder all the time for younger workers-With all the new labour language it is getting harder and harder to get union benefits)
After I let him have his say, I agreed that things certainly were not perfect in the union movement. That being said I started to ask him some questions? Did he know that people used to work 10 hours a day and six days a week , with NO overtime. Sunday was the only day they got off. There was no medical plans what-so-ever. No seniority, when you got old and couldn’t do the job any longer you were let go for a younger worker.
There was no work safe policies that all workers enjoy today. Women had it even harder, very low pay, no sexual harassment policy. And of course no child labour laws, kids were in factories working at age 8 and 9.
He didn’t realize that the union movement did so much for workers in the early part of the century.
Why would he? Now a lot of companies when you are being hired as part of your training show you a video on why you do not need to belong to a union.
Plus so many companies have reduced their amount of workers so that low paying contractors can come in and do as much as cheaply as possible. We have a “Free Trade Agreement” with China. This is making it hard to compete for workers. Outsourcing of jobs in our country has reached epidemic proportions.
This has not been the fault of Unions and Canadian workers.
It has been caused by corporate greed! Canadians companies currently are holding billions of dollars in surplus money and not reinvesting it in our country to create jobs or stimulate and grow the economy. It is shameful.
The young man after talking to him for five minutes, thanked me for telling him about the hundreds of thousands of Canadians who toiled and suffered under adverse conditions so we all could enjoy a better life.

 

 

Mike Farnworth first to cast hat in ring for NDP leadership

 

 

By Michael Smyth, The Province March 3, 2014

 

 

 

NDP leadership candidate, Mike Farnsworth, speaks during a debate themed on "youth" issues at SJ Willis school in Victoria on March 31, 2011.

Photograph by: Lyle Stafford , Times Colonist

Christy Clark may have won an election few expected her to win, but Mike Farnworth says he knows a thing or two about winning himself.
Now he’s out to prove it.
“I’m running for leadership of the New Democratic Party,” the veteran NDP MLA told me.
“I don’t believe for a minute Christy Clark is unbeatable. I’m running to be premier — and I intend to win.”
With those words, Farnworth, 54, becomes the first official entrant in the race to replace Adrian Dix as NDP boss and leader of the Opposition in the legislature.
Farnworth, first elected as MLA from Port Coquitlam in 1991, didn’t expect to get another shot at the job after finishing second to Dix in the 2011 NDP leadership contest.
“Like everyone else, I thought we were going to win last May,” he said. “But we didn’t seal the deal.”
Despite a 20-point NDP lead in the polls at the campaign’s start, Clark’s Liberals cruised to an upset victory, forcing Dix’s resignation announcement in September.
How did the NDP blow it? Farnworth points to Dix’s mid-campaign policy flip-flop on the proposed Kinder Morgan oil pipeline.
Dix maintained for more than a year that he was neutral on the Alberta-to-Burnaby pipeline, pending the outcome of environmental hearings. Then, out of nowhere, he announced on Earth Day that he was opposed to the $5.4-billion project.
“That was not good,” Farnworth said.
“One day I’m on the doorstep saying one thing to voters, and the next day I have a different message. And it was like, ‘Where did that come from?’”
Farnworth said the so-called “Kinder surprise” threw a scare into voters over the NDP’s ability to manage and grow the economy.
“I think many voters said, ‘Wait a second. Resource development is important and these are our jobs,’” he said.
“It allowed the Liberals to characterize us as a party without an economic vision.”
He said that’s why he wants to be an NDP leader who supports jobs and economic growth.
“We can’t be perceived as the party of ‘no’. Otherwise, the people of this province, especially in the Interior, will just say ‘no’ to us again.”
He said he personally still supports the NDP’s original position on Kinder Morgan — neutral, pending the outcome of environmental hearings — putting him offside with the party’s current stand against the project.
Farnworth also criticized the NDP’s “positive” election campaign, saying the party should have fought back harder against the Liberals’ negative attack ads.
“I admire what Adrian did in terms of having a positive vision for the NDP,” he said.
“But we didn’t fight hard enough to hold the Liberals accountable for their record on things like the HST.”
Does that mean he would run negative ads next time?
“You know that’s what the Liberals are going to do and you have to fight fire with fire,” he said. “If I’m leader, we will never fight an election campaign with one hand tied behind our backs.”
By the time that next election rolls around in 2017, the Liberals will have been in power for 16 years.
Farnworth said the party can break the dynasty by beating the Liberals in Lower Mainland suburbs, where the New Democrats were badly beaten in May.

NDP Sports Critic Matthew Dubé’s statement on lifting the quebec soccer federation's ban

NDP Sports Critic Matthew Dubé’s statement on lifting the quebec soccer federation's ban

On behalf of all New Democrats, I welcome the Quebec Soccer Federation’s decision to repeal its ban on Sikh religious headgear.

On April 25 2013, members of the New Democratic caucus wrote to FIFA urging a clarification, so that children could return to the soccer fields. Today, that clarification was provided.
 Leader of the Official Opposition Tom Mulcair was the only leader to reach out directly to both the Quebec federation and its Canadian counterpart, in order to facilitate a resolution. As he stated, sports should be about including people from all different walks of life, not excluding them.
 As adults, it falls upon us to find a peaceful solution, otherwise it’s the kids who pay the price. And perhaps we can learn a thing or two from them. After all, it was under-14 FC Brossard players who, in solidarity, sported turbans on the field last weekend.
 To be sure, the safety of our children is paramount. But when, as we have stated all along, no such safety issue exists – as was the case here – we as adults need to do the right thing and just let our kids play.
 As summer is underway and new friendships and bonds are built, I look forward to seeing Sikh children return to the soccer fields to play the beautiful game with their peers.

NDP calls for study on impacts of EI overhaul

NDP calls for study on impacts of EI overhaul

OTTAWA – With support from more than a hundred municipalities, associations and organizations, New Democrats have tabled a motion at the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) to study the impacts of the Conservatives’ radical changes to Employment Insurance.
“We are urging the committee to launch this study as soon as possible. Workers from across Canada have been contacting us to share their concerns, and we expect this to continue as long as the Conservatives press forward with these punitive and unjust EI reforms,” said François Lapointe (Montmagny–L’Islet–Kamouraska–Rivière-du-Loup), HUMA committee member and NDP critic for Small Business and Tourism.

Groups supporting the New Democrat motion include numerous municipalities in Conservative ridings, the Canadian Freelance Union, the Quebec Employers Council, the Quebec Forestry Producers Federation, the Quebec Tourism Industry Association and the Union des producteurs agricoles. 
“This is the third time we’ve called for this type of study. This time we hope the Conservative committee members will finally support our motion. We won’t give up until a formal study is undertaken. Because these reforms will have disproportional effects on seasonal workers and industries, it is imperative that we examine them more closely,” added Human Resources and Skills Development critic Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain).
“Within the context of the committee, we can hear from witnesses who support the Conservatives’ EI reforms as well as witnesses who are opposed, in order to explore the actual effects on workers and communities. Why is it so difficult to do this simple thing? What are the Conservatives afraid of?” said Lapointe.

Conservatives must not undermine international efforts to combat violence against women

Conservatives must not undermine international efforts to combat violence against women

OTTAWA - In a letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Opposition Foreign Affairs critic Paul Dewar (Ottawa Centre) and Status of Women critic Niki Ashton (Churchill) cautioned the Conservatives against playing a spoiler role on this important issue at the 23rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

A recent media release from Action Canada on Population and Development stated that at the UN meetings in Geneva, Conservatives have been seeking to renege on previously-agreed upon policy measures to take action on violence against women.
"We would like to take this opportunity to stress the importance of a comprehensive package of services that should be available to survivors of sexual violence," wrote the Opposition critics. "Blocking recommendations such as access to sexual and reproductive health services, access to emergency contraception, access to safe abortion, access to post-exposure medicine for HIV infection, and diagnosis and treatment for STIs would be a grave mistake."
The full text of the letter is attached.

• Download: june_11_2013_-_letter_to_minister_baird_re_23rd_session_of_the_un_hrc.pdf

Finance minister must honour commitment to improve retirement security: NDP

Finance minister must honour commitment to improve retirement security: NDP

OTTAWA – NDP Pension Critic Irene Mathyssen (London – Fanshawe) called on the finance minister to honour his commitment to work with the provinces to increase retirement security for Canadians. The finance minister has yet to honour his six-month-old promise to work with the provinces to increase the Canada Pension Plan / Quebec Pension Plan.

“In December the finance minister promised Canadians that he would meet with his provincial counterparts by June 2013,” said Mathyssen. “June is almost over and there’s no sign of a provincial finance ministers meeting anytime soon. I have asked the minister in the House several times when the meeting will be scheduled and he has refused to answer.”
More and more Canadians are heading into retirement without enough savings. There is a growing consensus that a phased increased in the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) is the most practical and effective way to boost the retirement security of Canadians. As even the government’s own data shows, a modest increase in CPP premiums could finance a substantial increase in benefits.
“Canadians depend on the CPP/QPP for retirement security,” said Mathyssen. “The government’s failure to show leadership on this extremely important issue shows the Conservatives don’t take the retirement security of Canadians seriously.”

Baird must press Russia to reject homophobic law

Baird must press Russia to reject homophobic law

NDP Foreign Affairs Critic Paul Dewar (Ottawa Centre) and LGBT Critic Randall Garrison (Esquimalt – Juan de Fuca) are calling on the minister of foreign affairs to urge Russian leaders to prevent passage of a law establishing criminal penalties for both Russians and foreign visitors engaging in so-called ‘homosexual propaganda’.

 “Passage of this law would be a clear violation of Russia's international obligations to protect freedom of speech and association for all Russians as a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and to protect minorities as a member of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe,” Dewar said. “Adopting this law is likely to promote increased discrimination and violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Russians.”
 “Creating criminal penalties including heavy fines and possible imprisonment for the vague offense of promoting non-traditional sexual practices through the media or in public violates international human rights norms,” Garrison said. “It will also endanger Russia's tourism industry and Russia's ability to host international events, including the upcoming Olympics.”
 Dewar and Garrison call on Minister Baird to urge Russia's upper house to defeat the proposed ‘homosexual propaganda’ law, and urge President Putin to refuse to sign the law.