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Comment on Is the Duty of Fair Representation Too Weak? by Modest Proposer

Modest Proposer — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:19:48 +0000

Are unions going away?
I’ve been involved with labour relations for over a decade and I can’t see it taking place. The Supreme Court, after all, has just found that collective bargaining is a right.
There is no question that the traditional base of private-sector unions in manufacturing industries is in decline. But that is the result of a seismic shift in the economy and not a wave of decertifications.
Many unions were not quick off the mark to follow the growth of the service sector. But that appears to be changing. Models of unionization are evolving to attract new members.
Are unions irrelevant?
I am not a union member, but I have studied enough modern history to know that many of the workplace benefits we take for granted are the direct result of union demands. They didn’t just happen. Would they remain and perhaps even multiply without the pressure that employers feel from unions? Are employers all different now (scrupulously fair, understanding, perhaps even generous) to what they were in the bad old days? I’m not convinced.

Comment on Is the Duty of Fair Representation Too Weak? by Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 28 May 2009 03:15:25 +0000

Grievances are an antiquated and expensive way to solve problems between employers and employees. There is a much better dispute-resolution mechanism available to both sides — and it’s called “common sense,” to borrow a phrase from Mike Harris.

Unions are, thankfully, on the way out. The CAW is finally waking up to reality. And workers at manufacturing firms like Toyota and Honda have figured out they don’t need third-party interference in the relationship.

Unions too often protect the jobs of workers who, in any other company, would have been fired a long time ago. They trumpet mediocrity. Just look at the quality of Ford, GM and Chrysler versus Honda and Toyota.

There may have been a time when unions were relevant. But that time has passed. And grievances need to go the same way. The employer pays the bills, it has the right to run its business the way it wants.

That’s what I’m in favour of — dissolve the grievance process altogether. It is too time wasting and costly to continue, especially in this economy. The day is not long off when unions will no longer be able to steal money from workers’ pockets. And the entire country will be better off without them. I know that’s harsh, but I own a small business. If you saw the books of many companies, you would understand the margins are too small for this kind of nonsense to continue.

After all, good workers never file grievances — it is ALWAYS the troublemakers who should be fired.

Comment on Is Pattern Bargaining Dead? by CAWsupporter

CAWsupporter — Mon, 11 May 2009 13:55:43 +0000

I read Gord Sova’s opinion with interest, but was disappointed with the comment by John from Mississauga. The writer is ignorant or, at best, mean-spirited.

Why are some people in Ontario opposed to making a decent living? Would you like it if your employer came to you and said despite all the years of hard work you gave, we are taking away everything we said we would give you? And then when you agree to that, a government comes in — one that you didn’t vote for — and tells the company it’s not good enough? Even though the company says it is? How is that remotely fair? Or justifiable?

My union brothers and I are fully aware there is a serious problem in the auto industry. Many of our good friends and families are off work and hurting. But you don’t hear us getting on our soapboxes and yelling about other industries and their pay, do you? No. Because it is counterproductive.

We have made huge sacrifices to try and save our companies. I suspect people like John from Mississauga haven’t made any sacrifices to help out their companies.

I am getting sick of defending workers earning a decent earning. I pose this question to everyone: Instead of being jealous of this “lavish lifestyle” we allegedly earn (ha!), why not ask your employer why you don’t have a good pension? Why you don’t have benefits? Why you don’t have a living wage?

We should be driving the bar higher, not lower.

Comment on Is Pattern Bargaining Dead? by John from Mississauga

John from Mississauga — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:33:52 +0000

Pattern bargaining may not be dead, but the way the CAW has practised it in recent years likely is. No longer will they be able to pick one of the (formerly) Big Three Automakers and negotiate a gold-plated deal that sets the bar for the rest of the industry, and indeed for all other unions to shoot for. The death of that type of bargaining isn’t just because of new economic conditions, it’s because of how CAW leadership approached pattern bargaining with the GM deal. The so-called concessions to GM amounted to lip service recognition that their workforce was on the edge of mass unemployment. And when they needed sympathy from government – ie money – they made the mistake of demanding the pensions, which their members never paid into, be the responsibility of Ontario taxpayers. Most people have to pay a fair amount into their own pension plans, and some people work at companies that don’t even have any. So how can you expect the public sympathy that is needed to support the call for government bailout money and support the pattern bargaining that came out of the earlier GM deal?