Tuesday, 30 December 2008
It's not about providing young people with work experience!
Wednesday, 24 December 2008
Tuesday, 23 December 2008
Mainstream media gives Harper a free ride on Hypocrisy
Yesterday, Canada's Prime Minister back peddled, and reneged on yet another one of his famous promises, by appointing 18 Senators to the upper chamber despite his previous and repeated commitment to reform the senate."Among the appointees for 18 vacancies are Conservative fundraiser Irving Gerstein, party vice-president Michael MacDonald, CTV broadcaster Mike Duffy, former journalist Pamela Wallin, defeated Conservative MP Fabian Manning, former Olympian Nancy Greene Raine, and former Parti Quebecois politician Michel Rivard."
Saturday, 20 December 2008
Wednesday, 17 December 2008
Who's to Blame? - Greedy Corporate Hucksters
A few years ago, I wrote a letter to then Premier, Lorne Calvert and NDP government MLA's urging the Saskatchewan Government not to heed the pressure that was coming from various elements of the business crowd and their political friends. A group who were screaming that the world would come to an end if the government dared to carry through on it's stated intention of providing workers with the ability to aquire additional hours of work by the exercise of length of service."But instead, the Senate said, we'll give you the loan only if the factory workers take a $20 an hour cut in wages, pension and health care. That's right. After giving BILLIONS to Wall Street hucksters and criminal investment bankers -- billions with no strings attached and, as we have since learned, no oversight whatsoever....." Read the full letter here.....
"Civil disobedience is not our problem. Our problem is civil obedience. Our problem is that numbers of people all over the world have obeyed the dictates of the leaders of their government and have gone to war, and millions have been killed because of this obedience. Our problem is that people are obedient all over the world in the face of poverty and starvation and stupidity, and war, and cruelty. Our problem is that people are obedient while the jails are full of petty thieves, and all the while the grand thieves are running and robbing the country. That’s our problem.”
Sunday, 14 December 2008
Saskatoon StarPhoenix exposed as the pro-conservative, right-wing rag it is
Wander on over to the "Owls and Roosters Blog" and read blog owner Joe Kuchta's newest posting entitled: "StarPhoenix says no to letter critical of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party of Canada; think tanks receive special treatment".“Most of the points you are making in this proposed viewpoint have been made by other commentators and letter writers since this mess began to unfold. While it’s your style to carefully document dates and times of certain speeches or opinion pieces presented by someone over the years and then to use that person’s latest utterances as a demonstration of their perfidy, it does happen that people change their minds or are, especially in politics, forced to back track on earlier positions simply to survive - to wit, Harper and the Senate appointments.
“While you have every right to comment on contradictory positions taken by public figures, I don’t have the space to devote to this minute examinations and parsing of positions while people deluge us with letters pertaining to the same thing during breaking news events.
“By all means, send in your comments in a 250 word letter and I’ll be happy to consider it. As for the last viewpoint, sorry. It’s a no go.”
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
Obama supports "Card Certification" unionization
More Child Labour in Saskatchewan - do we really want to go there?
It's timely on this the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to take a good hard look at the reasoning for, and push behind, the government's stated intention of reducing the Minimum Working Age in Saskatchewan.
Tuesday, 9 December 2008
Wal-Mart employees in Weyburn, Saskatchewan get a union
Word has come down today that the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1400 has been certified by the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board to represent the employees at the Weyburn, Saskatchewan Wal-Mart store.Wal-Mart in Weyburn Certified as UFCW Canada Unionized Store
WEYBURN, SK - December 8, 2008 - A Wal-Mart store in Weyburn, Saskatchewan has been granted union certification by the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board (SLRB) after years of Wal-Mart legal wrangling and delays, including two Wal-Mart applications to the Supreme Court of Canada to overturn the process.
"Justice has finally arrived for these Weyburn workers, in spite of Wal-Mart's endless attempts to thwart the workers from exercising their constitutional right to have a union," says Wayne Hanley, the National President of UFCW Canada.
"The time has come for Wal-Mart to end the stalling tactics and begin respecting worker rights and Canadian law. They are not above it." Read more here.....
Canada's reputation going down the toilet
On December 3, 2008 the General Secretary of UNI Global Union (representing some 20 million workers in 150 different countries) wrote Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper denouncing the recent signing of the "so-called" Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement. You can download a copy of the PDF version of that letter by clicking on the UNI logo to the right. It is also reproduced below in text format.Office of the Prime Minister
Mr Stephen Harper
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa K1A 0A2
CANADA
Nyon, 3 December 2008
On behalf of UNI Global Union I express our dismay that your government has entered a free trade agreement with Colombia.
Colombia is the murder capital of the world for trade unionists. There is no other place in this planet that poses as many threats and dangers to trade unionists. Acts of murder and violence are perpetrated with impunity.
There is an almost total absence of the judicial pursuit of those committing crimes against trade unionists, of the thousands of cases before the authorities decisions have only been made in a handful of cases.
This year UNI lost one of its local bank union leaders Leonidas Rojas who was murdered in his own apartment. THe government investigator initially claimed, as they have so often done, that this was a crime of passion. Yet just days ago a paramilitary group claimed responsibility for his murder. The same group declared that Geneva based ngo's, such as UNI Global Union, that have worked to protect trade unionists in Colombia are now a legitimate military target. Your trade agreement only brings succour to such anti democratic and violent groups.
The Canadian government should have used these trade talks as an opportunity to create leverage to ensure that basic trade union and human rights in Colombia were fully respected and allowed to flourish. That you have chosen not to do so is a blow to Colombian workers and their trade union organisations.
Your government has chosen to sign an agreement when the murder of trade unionists is on the rise. The violation of trade union rights has created a climate of fear that has effectively destroyed collective bargaining in Colombia. This coupled with the absence of a social safety net has left millions of Colombians marooned in poverty. The benefits of trade will only assist the current business elites.
On behalf of our 20 million members in 150 countries I express our outrage that your government has signed an agreement which will do precious little for the Colombian people and perpetuate a culture of brutality and death in the country.
I have the highest regard for Canada and its people, sentiments which I shared with the 2008 Governor Generals Leadership Conference which I addressed in Alberta this June. This future generation of Canadian leaders was shocked to learn of the tragedy that is Colombia today. We regret that your government has pursued a policy which will bring no practical benefit to those in peril or improve the lives of Colombian workers. I appeal to you to reconsider your position and nullify this agreement.
Yours sincerely,
Philip J. Jennings
General Secretary
Monday, 8 December 2008
Democracy is being hijacked alright - but not by any Coalition
Thanks to Dr. Dawg over on Dawg's Blawg for his post "Conservative coup d'état?". I sincerely hope that people are raising questions about the obvious double standard and constantly changing "rules of the game"."The Alberta lawyer who drafted a power-sharing proposal between Stockwell Day, Gilles Duceppe and Joe Clark in 2000 is now suggesting that the Conservatives should defy the Governor-General if she were to ask the Liberal-NDP coalition to form a new government if the Conservative administration falls on January 27." Read more here....
Friday, 5 December 2008
"Cut and Run Stevie" makes his mark in history
Prorogue Precedents1629: King Charles I in England
Will Canada's gov't be next casualty of crisis?
Thursday, 4 December 2008
Prime Ministerial Double Talk
Double-Talk
Working with the Bloc wasn’t such a big deal when Stephen Harper did it in 2004
JOURNALIST: So why did you write that letter to the Governor General with Gilles Duceppe and Jack Layton saying in the event of a confidence vote situation do not call a snap election - are we to assume that therefore you’re working to form a coalition?
HARPER: There seems to be an attitude in the Liberal government - that they can go in, be deliberately defeated and call an election - that’s not how our constitutional system works. The government has a minority - it has an obligation to demonstrate to Canadians that it can govern. That it can form a majority in the House of Commons. If it can’t form a majority, we look at other options, we don’t just concede to the government’s request to make it dysfunctional. I know for a fact that Mr. Duceppe and Mr. Layton and the people who work for them want this Parliament to work and I know it is in all of our interests to work. The government has got to face the fact it has a minority, it has to work with other people.
SOURCE: Interview with Stephen Harper, September 2004.
www.cbc.ca/sunday/harper.html
Harper 'lies' about coalition details: Broadbent
Video - CBC Website
Wednesday, 3 December 2008
Don't you find it all a bit hypocritical and hysterical
What we are witnessing is elected representatives of a combined majority of Canadian citizens assuming control of government from a group of representatives representing a minority of Canadian citizens. 63% = majority, 37% = minority.
But what really floors me is the hatred-filled diatribes coming from the mouths of those who declare themselves to be the rightful and duly elected leaders in this democracy we call Canada. Don't you find it all a bit rich to hear them bemoan and exaggerate the agreement between the "Liberals", the "Socialists", and the "Separtists"? I sure do.
This all from a group who have no problem whatsoever abandoning the sovereignty of our nation through the signing of "so-called" international trade agreements.
How is it that working and cooperating with elected Canadian citizens from Quebec in Canada's Parliament is described as treasonous, yet it's quite all right to sign multi-lateral and bi-lateral trade agreements with countries where the murdering of union leaders is a regular occurrence? Or where human rights abuses, and environmental abuses are simply ignored.
How is it that playing by the rules of our system of representative and responsible government is equated to being an attack on democracy, yet it's quite all right to sign interprovincial and overarching agreements like TILMA and the AIT that include provisions handing corporations the ability to sue duly elected governments for multi-millions of dollars for those governments exercising their responsibility to regulate and legislate in the public interest?
In case you haven't been paying attention - deregulating the global financial industry and handing over control to the corporations is exactly what got the world into the economic mess we find ourselves in right now. Even George W. Bush, the most unpopular President in the history of the United States of America, acknowledges that.
What we're witnessing here is our democratic system working - the way it's worked in this country since confederation. The ones who are screaming the loudest are the priviledged few and the corporate elite who see control slipping away, and they don't like it.
Get ready for the full frontal attack - they own the media, and they own the airwaves - they will spend millions to deny the results of the last election. Because contrary to what they would have you believe - they didn't win, they only got a minority. Hang on, it's going to be a wild ride.
Tuesday, 2 December 2008
The Harperites Are Misrepresenting Our System of Government
If you only read one thing about the current situation in Ottawa, read Laxer's piece here.....
Coalition Accord Released
Monday, 1 December 2008
PSSST, Gilles! Wanna unseat Paul Martin?
PSSST, Gilles! Wanna unseat Paul Martin?Sunday, 30 November 2008
A trip down memory lane
When Stephen Harper was leader of the Opposition in 2004 he co-signed a letter to then Governor General Adrienne Clarkson asking her to consider a coalition government if the minority Liberal government faltered and failed to get support of the other parties in Parliament."As leaders of the opposition parties, we are well aware that, given the Liberal minority government, you could be asked by the Prime Minister to dissolve the 38th Parliament at any time should the House of Commons fail to support some part of the government’s program. We respectfully point out that the opposition parties, who together constitute a majority in the House, have been in close consultation. We believe that, should a request for dissolution arise this should give you cause, as constitutional practice has determined, to consult the opposition leaders and consider all of your options before exercising your constitutional authority. Your attention to this matter is appreciated."
-From a letter to then-Governor General Adrienne Clarkson signed by all three opposition leaders: Gilles Duceppe, Jack Layton and Stephen Harper (September 9, 2004)
"Harper: Well there are lots of things that could bring the government down, but my opposition can not bring the government down. The government can only be brought down because it alienates several parties in the House. And the first obligation in this Parliament, if the government wants to govern, it has to come to Parliament and it has to show that it can get the support of the majority of members, through the Throne Speech, through legislation, and through budget and supply, and the government to this point has made no effort to do that, but that's its first obligation."
Canadians deserve better!
Globe and Mail columnist Jeffrey Simpson captures the real Stephen Harper in his Saturday, November 29, 2008 column entitled: "Economist with a tin heart, politician with a tin ear" (click to view original web article)."Economist with a tin heart, politician with a tin ear
JEFFREY SIMPSON
From Saturday's Globe and Mail
November 28, 2008 at 9:23 PM EST
Prime Minister Stephen Harper called an election to secure a majority, and failed to get one.
This week, he created a completely unnecessary crisis that now threatens his government's very survival. And they call Mr. Harper a great strategist and superior tactician?
Thursday's economic statement was an economic lame duck and a political boner. It revealed, among other things, the kind of Conservative Party that all but its core supporters suspected would eventually be outed: a group of ideologues, led by a Prime Minister who discarded his campaign sweater to reveal an economist with a tin heart and a politician who looks everywhere for political advantage.
Instead of trying to grow Conservative support, he appealed only to his party's core. Instead of acting in a statesmanlike fashion at a time of crisis, he opted to play politics, proposing to cancel public subsidies for parties, a move that would disproportionately benefit his.
Instead of reaching out, as leader of a minority government and as president-elect Barack Obama is doing by talking to moderate Republicans, he smacked his opponents in the chops. Instead of heeding the advice of economists everywhere that the economy needs stimulus, he got his Minister of Finance to present a budget that offered cutbacks and tiny surpluses that absolutely no one believes will be realized.
There is a plausible case for caution, to wait a bit until economic issues clarify themselves and until the new American administration settles definitively on its approach. The government therefore, quite credibly, could have gone to Parliament, said it could not offer precise numbers because of unprecedented volatility, said there would be a deficit but a modest one limited in time, promised a budget in January, got a few infrastructure programs speeded up, and asked for suggestions. After all, this was a government that had admitted the economy would be in a "technical recession."
That would have been prudent, statesmanlike and economically credible. There would have been no political crisis; the country would have accepted that the government had heard its concerns and worries; and a serious plan could have been developed.
Instead, the government unsheathed its ideological swords, attacked political opponents, public-sector unions, disregarded overwhelming economic advice in the country (including from deficit hawks, premiers, and conservative-minded economists) and dared the opposition parties to turn the other cheek - a move, to the government's apparent surprise, the other parties were not prepared to do.
The economic statement was wrongly conceived on every front.
It misdiagnosed what the economy needs, and offered a completely bogus explanation.
Said the government: We have already injected $31-billion of stimulus in the economy through tax cuts since 2006. As if tax cuts in 2006 were designed for stimulus in 2009. No one believes that.
That would be like President George W. Bush saying his tax cuts of years ago were designed to help the current recession. Conservatives cut taxes mostly when the economy was robust (and therefore at the wrong time and in the wrong way, but that's another matter). The point now is that the stimulus hasn't been enough.
The government also gratuitously set off a political firestorm that will damage the Conservative Party.
Taxpayer subsidies for political parties exist everywhere around the world, even in the United States, where Mr. Obama refused them because he was raising so much private money. The subsidies exist, there as here, as a quid pro quo for eliminating corporate and union contributions. As such, they help parties finance themselves, do their work, and therefore contribute to democracy.
But since the Conservatives have mastered soliciting contributions from individuals better than their opponents, they now propose to eliminate the public subsidy that amounts to a tiny sum relative to total government spending. Nothing the Conservatives have done has been so malevolently partisan as this.
Finally, the government created a potential constitutional situation in which it could be defeated and replaced, quite properly under constitutional convention, by a Liberal-NDP coalition.
Late yesterday, Mr. Harper refused to modify his economic statement, put off confidence votes for a week to buy himself some time, and in effect dared the Governor-General, should it come to this, not to exercise her proper constitutional authority to ask another party to try to form a government without bringing on an election.
He argued that if his government were to be defeated, there would have to be an election, which is not consistent with constitutional convention. He was really threatening a possible constitutional crisis that, again, would be of his own making and that he would hope to turn to his partisan advantage.
The miscalculations have been stunning. Mr. Harper's strategy has accomplished already the near-impossible: to bring the Liberals and NDP together.
He had so many other, less partisan options at a time of economic crisis and grave national concern. That he acted in this fashion, at this time, was enormously revealing. And very sad."
Friday, 28 November 2008
Opposition parties to topple Bush's buddy Steve
AP PhotoThe mainstream media is buzzing in anticipation that the Canadian opposition parties will form a coalition next week to topple George W. Bush's best buddy - Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper.
CBC - Chrétien, Broadbent brokering possible coalition: reports
Global TV - Another election? (video)
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
Should the public own the auto industry? - The Real News
Tuesday, 25 November 2008
The struggle for decent work
Reproduced below is the lead article from the most recent issue of the SFL Labour Reporter (Dec 2008). You can download a copy of the complete Labour Reporter issue (in PDF format) by clicking here...."Before we send our young people into the work force, we should feel confident they will be guaranteed basic worker protections."
"The struggle for decent workI bet you didn’t know Oct. 7 was proclaimed World Day for Decent Work by the International Trade Union Confederation, which has 311 national affiliates and represents 168 million workers in 155 countries.
So what is decent work? The International Labour Organization defines it as productive work for women and men in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity.
Decent work:
- Provides security in the workplace and social protection for workers and their families;
- Offers better prospects for personal development and encourages social integration;
- Gives people the freedom to express their concerns, to organize and to participate in decisions that affect their lives; and
- Guarantees equal opportunities and equal treatment for all.
What is Saskatchewan doing to promote and to ensure its citizens have decent work? With legislation like Bills 5 and 6, which make it more difficult to organize and to bargain as unions, we are definitely moving in the opposite direction.
The Sask. Party government wants to lower the minimum working age for children working in hotels, educational institutions, hospitals and nursing homes from 16 to 15. Children as young as 14 will be able to work with parental consent in those sectors.
Any union activist from the service or healthcare sectors will tell you these are some of the most dangerous places to work, as demonstrated by the high number of injury claims the Workers’ Compensation Board receives every year from workers in these industries.
Ask any young person about the service industry and whether or not basic labour standards, like minimum call-out pay, are met. The restaurant industry has a reputation for ripping off its young workers.
Of course young people want the opportunity to gain skills and experience in the workplace and to earn some money. They deserve that opportunity. But before we send younger and younger people into that workforce, shouldn’t we feel confident that they will be guaranteed basic worker protections? And that they will be free to join a union in order to organize for those protections?
As a labour movement, we struggle to ensure decent work for everyone. Our government should be doing the same."
Monday, 24 November 2008
More Anti-Union Spin
For one of the best analyses and commentary you'll ever see, check out a recent blog posting over on the Owls and Roosters Blog entitled: Saskatoon StarPhoenix resorts to historical revisionism in latest attack on labour groups.Sunday, 23 November 2008
Countdown: Wal-Mart, The Republican Brand
What to do with the North American auto industry? - The Real News
Murdering Trade Union Leaders? No Problem for Harper's Canada
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, right, meets with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe at a bilateral meeting in Lima, Peru on Friday, Nov. 21, 2008. (Andrew Vaughan / THE CANADIAN PRESS)Thursday, 20 November 2008
Great Ads from American Rights at Work
Check out the website at: AmericanRightsatWork.org
Occupation 101 - Voices of the Silenced Majority
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21259.htmOccupation 101
Must Watch Video
WARNING
This video contains images depicting the reality and horror of war and should only be viewed by a mature audience.
1 hour 27 minutes 59 seconds
"A thought-provoking and powerful documentary film on the current and historical root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Unlike any other film ever produced on the conflict -- 'Occupation 101' presents a comprehensive analysis of the facts and hidden truths surrounding the never ending controversy and dispels many of its long-perceived myths and misconceptions.
The film also details life under Israeli military rule, the role of the United States in the conflict, and the major obstacles that stand in the way of a lasting and viable peace. The roots of the conflict are explained through first-hand on-the-ground experiences from leading Middle East scholars, peace activists, journalists, religious leaders and humanitarian workers whose voices have too often been suppressed in American media outlets.
The film covers a wide range of topics -- which include -- the first wave of Jewish immigration from Europe in the 1880's, the 1920 tensions, the 1948 war, the 1967 war, the first Intifada of 1987, the Oslo Peace Process, Settlement expansion, the role of the United States Government, the second Intifada of 2000, the separation barrier and the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, as well as many heart wrenching testimonials from victims of this tragedy."
http://www.occupation101.com/
View full video at Google video here....
Monday, 17 November 2008
Just What We Need - More Child Labour
Luis Castaneda holds a picture of his brother Nery Castaneda, who died at the age of 17 while working an unsafe job. Many employers are ignoring child labor laws which result in injuries and deaths. (Photo: Robert Lahser / The Charlotte Observer)So, apparently Saskatchewan needs more child labour.
How long before we start seeing headlines like this:
Child labor going largely unchecked or
Federal, state lawmakers vow to get tougher on child labor.
Not long, we already have employers in this province exploiting and ripping off young workers - and that's before the Sask. Party makes it easier yet.
Check it out: Exploitation of young workers in Saskatchewan.
or this: Regina Restaurant Rips Off Workers.
Saturday, 15 November 2008
A New Vision for Workers in the USA
Hey Brad - Pay Attention!
Join the SEIU Employee Free Choice Campaign by clicking here....
The New Trough - Naomi Klein - RollingStone
Illustration by Victor JuhaszThere's a great article over on the RollingStone Magazine website written by Naomi Klein entitled: The New Trough.
"The Wall Street bailout looks a lot like Iraq — a "free-fraud zone" where private contractors cash in on the mess they helped create"
Friday, 14 November 2008
Thursday, 13 November 2008
Corporate Greed and Healthcare Privatization in Saskatchewan
There are a couple of recent posts over on the "Owls and Roosters Blog" that are well worth the read. Once again, blog owner Joe Kuchta does his usual thorough job.Tuesday, 11 November 2008
Terrorizing Dissent
Check out all 4 video segments by clicking here: http://www.terrorizingdissent.org/s1h.php
Read more at the Terrorizing Dissent web site by clicking here....
Sunday, 9 November 2008
Saturday, 8 November 2008
Gordon Campbell, Last Champion of Financial Deregulation: Dobbin
There's a great column written by Murray Dobbin over on TheTyee.ca entitled: Gordon Campbell, Last Champion of Financial Deregulation.Wednesday, 5 November 2008
'I will listen to you, especially when we disagree,' - Barack Obama
'I will listen to you, especially when we disagree,' - Barack ObamaTuesday, 4 November 2008
Daycare workers can unionize
It is yet another tremendous victory for Canadian workers asserting that their Constitutional rights have been violated by an action of the government. This time, the actions of the 'right-wing' government of Quebec's Jean Charest, who brought in a law that said at-home day-care workers in Quebec were prohibited from unionizing.
Charest's law has been struck down. (Are you paying attention Saskatchewan?)
The Quebec Superior Court has ruled the legislation violates the Charter Rights of Quebec workers.
See this article in the Montreal Gazette....
The Meltdown, Seen from Below - The Tyee
"What union leaders, labour experts and anti-poverty activists say needs to be done.
TheTyee.ca
As the global financial meltdown spreads to threaten General Motors and even the Euro, financial experts in well-tailored suits vie in the news media to frame how we arrived here and what should be done.
Their debate tends to be about just how many billion of dollars need to be delivered to banks and other financial institutions to keep the good ship globalization afloat. From quarters such as the conservative Fraser Institute, we hear that government is to blame for intruding into the market, and so less regulation is the cure.
Here at The Tyee, we noticed that most of the commentary on our Titanic dilemma seems to be coming from the passengers in first class and the government navigators who helped create the crisis. We were curious about how it looks to the crew and the passengers in third class, so we made some calls to union leaders, anti-poverty activists, and various economists and historians who make it their business to study big business without being part of the action." Read more....
Monday, 3 November 2008
Public liquor workers help keep families safe and healthy - SGEU
Check out the details of this particular campaign by clicking here....
Sunday, 2 November 2008
A Night for Rights with Irshad Manji
CUPE Saskatchewan Division is sponsoring an evening event this coming week entitled: A Night for Rights."On November 6, 2008, CUPE Saskatchewan will host a Night for Rights with acclaimed speaker, broadcaster, author and filmmaker: Irshad Manji.
The Night for Rights celebrates the approaching 60th anniversary of the United Nations International Declaration of Human Rights: a document which set a standard of treatment for all people." Read more....
Saturday, 1 November 2008
Hate Radio - Right-Wing Newstalk contributing to hatred
"What happens when Americas airwaves fill with hate? Bill Moyers Journal takes a tough look at the hostile industry of Shock Jock media with a hard-hitting examination of its effects on our nations political discourse. The Journal traveled to Knoxville, where a recent shooting at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church has left the pastor asking what role hateful speech from popular right-wing media personalities may have played in the tragedy. A lot of people are hurling insults from the safety of television studios, the safety of radio studio, the safety of cyberspace says Rev. Chris Buice, So that's a void in our community - the chance to be in the same room and to have these exchanges and remember the humanity of the person on the other side. Aired Friday, September 12, at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings). For more: http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/09122008/profile.html"
Thursday, 30 October 2008
SFL to attend International Symposium on Labour and Human Rights
Faced with an unprecedented assault on worker and human rights by the Brad Wall Sask. Party government, representatives of the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL) will attend an International Symposium entitled: "Labour Rights are Human Rights".Wednesday, 29 October 2008
Tuesday, 28 October 2008
Video: Obama's Closing Argument - truthout.org
For more information go to truthout.org
Read a transcript of this speech by clicking here....
Sask. Chamber of Commerce behind government assault on workers
"Owls and Roosters Blog" owner Joe Kuchta has just posted a new entry entitled: StarPhoenix and Leader-Post attack labour; CanWest reportedly recruiting Concordia University journalism students as scabs in the event of a strike.Labour dissent 'was not planned'
Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL) Treasurer, Marvin Meickel and Recording Secretary, Wanda Bartlett recently submitted an Op Ed piece to the Regina Leader-Post regarding the appearance of Sask. Party Labour Minister, Rob Norris at the SFL's 2008 Annual Convention last week in Regina.The Op Ed piece is reproduced below, and can be viewed at the Leader-Post online by clicking here....
Labour dissent 'was not planned'
Marvin Meickel and Wanda Bartlett
Special to The Leader-Post
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Following Minister of Labour Rob Norris's speech to the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour's (SFL) Convention, it was widely reported in print, television and radio that the icy reception the minister received was in fact spontaneous. Reporters dutifully asked SFL President Hubich if he had planned the outburst and he responded "no, on the contrary".
Yet a couple of mainstream reporters, despite having not even attended the event, insisted on reporting the opposite. Leader-Post columnist Murray Mandryk goes so far as to say "Certainly, there's no doubt -- despite SFL President Larry Hubich's disingenuous assertion to the contrary -- that the supposedly spontaneous demonstration . . . was orchestrated to maximize television coverage". In the span of just three paragraphs on Oct. 25, he states four times that the actions of delegates were orchestrated.
There is simply no basis in fact for such statements and to report otherwise is to distort the events of that day. Furthermore, disparaging comments about our president, our leadership and our members is very disappointing.
Let's set the record straight. The demonstration against Norris was neither orchestrated by president Hubich, nor by the SFL executive council.
Indeed, when president Hubich indicated he would call delegates to order, the minister turned down his offer.
The truth is that the SFL executive council, composed of 24 vice-presidents and eight labour council representatives, discussed in advance the minister's upcoming visit. We decided that the most fruitful approach would be to conduct ourselves respectfully and to attempt to get answers to some very important questions from the minister.
Many of those same labour leaders then lined up at microphones following the minister's speech and proceeded to ask carefully crafted questions.
Let's be clear; the Brad Wall government has refused to consult with the working people of this province so an opportunity to meet a minister and ask questions is a rare occurrence.
The fact that the delegates on the floor chose to express their views in such a united and strong manner should signal to everyone that those 550 rank-and-file workers are fed up with being treated with disdain and disrespect by their own government. And we should all be humbled by the fact that they felt strongly enough to go against the recommendations of their own leadership as to how they should receive the minister. It is called dissent.
That workers stood up for themselves in such a manner is certainly newsworthy, but surely the media is also obligated to report on the questions asked of the minister and his evasive answers?
When asked repeatedly whether or not the minister had plans to amend any of the several pieces of labour legislation in the province, he stated they are all "under review" and gave reference to lowering the minimum working age.
When asked whether or not labour would be consulted on any potential changes to labour laws, the minister refused to answer.
Workers have been experiencing this kind of dismissive treatment ever since the Saskatchewan Party came to office. The gutting of labour laws and the refusal to dialogue with trade unions about future changes is incredibly frustrating. It should be noted that it wasn't until the minister began to sing the praises of Bills 5 and 6 that delegates got up from their seats.
Governments have an obligation to consult with individuals and groups when they intend to bring in legislation that will affect them. To refuse to do so in a meaningful way is anti-democratic. And to continue to cater to business interests and to dismiss workers' expertise and concerns is insulting.
We also note that several urgent issues of interest to the people of Saskatchewan were discussed and debated during the three-and-a-half day convention. Just some of these issues include a campaign to remove asbestos from workplaces and homes; the dangers involved in the expansion of oil extraction in the tar sands; the exploitation and abuse of rapidly increasing numbers of temporary foreign workers; and the lack of safe staffing levels in our health-care system.
As workers and as a labour movement, we will continue to take very seriously our obligation to raise these issues in workplaces, in public forums, and with our politicians.
- Meickel is the SFL treasurer and president of CUPE Local 7. Bartlett is the SFL recording secretary and president of the Weyburn and District Labour Council.
© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2008