Dear Mr. President Live - Pink

Fire them first - ask questions later

On March 6, 2008 the mean-spirited Sask. Party government walked into the Labour Relations Board in the middle of a hearing and fired the Chair and Vice-Chairs of the Board, and replaced the three of them with 1 hand-picked Chair.

This mean-spirited and vindictive knee-jerk action by the new government is rapidly becoming their trade mark in how they deal with people that they determine they don't like.

Their action was so ill-conceived that it actually violated the Trade Union Act (the very Act which the Board is legislated to administer and uphold). These actions have been soundly condemned by the organization representing over 300 labour lawyers across Canada.

In an attempt to try and partially correct their blunder, yesterday (April 10 - over a month later) the Sask. Party government introduced, yet another amendment to the Trade Union Act - "Bill 24". It's a very short Bill that achieves one thing - it tries to cover-up the mistake. (see below)

2 Subsection 4(1) of The Trade Union Act is amended by adding "not more than" before "two vice-chairpersons".

If it's good enough for farmers, it's good enough for workers

Today (April 10, 2008) the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour issued a news release applauding the Sask. Party government for conducting public meetings respecting Crop Insurance.

Worker’s Deserve Public Consultations

The Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL) applauds the provincial government’s announcement that they will conduct ten public meetings across the province this spring to discuss an overhaul of Saskatchewan Crop Insurance.

“It is important that farmers will have an opportunity to have input into the overhaul of this program which is of vital importance to them”, said SFL President Larry Hubich. “Crop Insurance is vital to farmers and they should be consulted”.

“It’s interesting to contrast this consultation process against the lack of meaningful public consultation when it comes to developing new labour laws (Bills 5 & 6) that are important to all Saskatchewan workers”, Hubich said.

Hubich stated “Labour has asked the Premier, the Labour Minister and other MLA’s to meet on Bills 5 and 6 and to participate in public debates on these issues. To date no elected government members have stepped forward. They are ignoring the workers of our province on these matters”.

“I once again call on the government to abandon Bills 5 & 6 and conduct public hearings or public debates so that we can discuss this legislation in an open, respectful and thoughtful manner. Legislation that affects citizens, whether labour laws or crop insurance, should have broad public consultation. We know that farmers deserve and appreciate being involved – workers deserve the same courtesy and respect”.

Download a PDF version of the news release here.

Saskatoon Labour Council to hold Public Forum on Labour Bills

The Saskatoon and District Labour Council will be holding a public forum on the Sask. Party government's anti-worker, anti-democratic labour bills (5 & 6). The forum will be held on Thursday, April 17, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.

The Brad Wall government has been invited to participate and the government has decided to send two bureaucrats to speak on the government's behalf. The moderated forum is open to the public and the following individuals have been confirmed as speakers:

Chris Axworthy, President
University of Saskatchewan Faculty Association

Barb Cape, President
Service Employees International Union Local 299

Mike Carr, Associate Deputy Minister
Labour, Employee and Employer Services (Government)

Larry Hubich, President
Saskatchewan Federation of Labour

Mary Ellen Wellsch, Director
Legal Policy and Legislative Services - Labour (Government)

Download a copy of the poster/notice here. (PDF Format)

Is "clean coal" possible? - The Real News

In Saskatchewan and Canada it's now okay to hate:

Given the events of the past few days I am trying out a new feature on my blog.

On the right side of this blog, immediately below my photo is a poll that will be running for 2 weeks.

If you wish, you can select multiple choices from the available options.

HYPOCRITES! Every last one of them!

Kathy Young, Premier Brad Wall & Conservative MP Tom Lukiwski in 1991 video

Wander over to the "Owls and Roosters Blog" for the best analysis, so far, of the now infamous 1991 Saskatchewan Conservative Hate Video.

Blog owner, Joe Kuchta does a masterful job of chronicling the double standard and hypocrisy of members of the Sask. Party, members of the Federal Conservatives, and of other right-wing political operatives and their supporters.

He also challenges a number of members of the mainstream media for what can only be described as some of the worst examples of a double standard and media bias, that we've seen in this province in decades.

If this was anybody else, other than the current conservative governments of Saskatchewan and Ottawa, who had produced this video, we would be hearing relentless calls to have them punished and punished severely.

.

Apologies appreciated,

but actions speak louder than words.

Correction: I don't think "all" members of the mainstream media are biased. Just some of them. For instance, I don't think Murray Mandryk is.

Sask Premier Wall Serves Notice To Sue The Canadian Press Over Headline On Video Story

"REGINA — Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall has advised The Canadian Press he intends to sue the national news agency for defamation for a headline it ran on a story featuring controversial comments he made on a home-movie videotape made more than 16 years ago.

"The headline of the article is false and defamatory of Premier Wall and, given the breadth of its publication, is likely to result in significant damage to Premier Wall's reputation," says the letter from the premier's lawyers, dispatched Friday to The Canadian Press.
-Canadian Press"

h/t to Buckdog

"Mean-spirited government" cuts funding - contributes to poverty

The mean-spirited Sask. Party government recently announced that they would renege on funding previously committed to the building of a communty enterprise centre (including health facilities) in Saskatoon, Sk. - "Station 20 West".

As a result, thousands of Saskatoon residents, and their supporters attended a rally on April 5, 2008 to support calls for the Sask. Party government to live up to the commitment to provide the money already set aside for the project.

Photo by Heidi Fischer

Bills 5 & 6 are an Assault on Workers Rights

Click Image for Larger View

Martin Luther King: Beyond Vietnam--A Time to Break Silence - The Real News

A year to the day before his assassination, King gave this speech at the Riverside Church in New York. Read full transcript of the speech.

Wall, Lukiwski, Young, Bernston, et al. - Full Video

Organization representing 300 Lawyers condemns Wall government over LRB firings

The Canadian Association of Labour Lawyers which represents more than 300 labour lawyers from across Canada has issued a news release and open letter to Sask. Party Premier Brad Wall and Labour Minister, Rob Norris condemning their government's actions in terminating the Chair and Vice-Chairs of the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board.

"In an open letter forwarded to Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall and the Minister of Advanced Education, Employment and Labour, Rob Norris CALL/ACAMS spoke out against the summary replacement of the neutral hearing officers at the Labour Relations Board as an affront to the Board, the public and the stakeholders appearing before it."

You can view the New Release and Open Letter by clicking here. (PDF Format)

HATE

Here are links to two videos on the Global National Web-Site about the political goings on in Saskatchewan today. (April 3, 2008) - Videos will open in an external window.

Global - Video 1
Global - Video 2
Full video from CBC Site

Photo credit - canada.com

Olbermann: Wal-Mart wins "Worst Person in the World"

Global disapproval of anti-worker Brad Wall government growing

As of today, more than 2100 e-mail letters have been sent to Sask. Party Premier Brad Wall and to Minister of Labour, Rob Norris calling on their government to withdraw the anti-worker, anti-democratic labour law Bills 5 & 6.

Letters have come from around the world including from individuals in these countries:

Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Cayman Islands, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Haiti, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Turkey, UK, USA, United Arab Emirates, Virgin Islands (U.S.), Zambia.

Send an e-mail telling the Sask. Party government to withdraw and abandaon Bills 5 & 6 at: http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=350.

When all else fails: LIE

Reproduced below is an e-mail that was recently received by a citizen in Saskatoon who wrote to Sask. Party MLA Serge LeClerc regarding the Brad Wall government's anti-worker, anti-democratic labour legislation - Bills 5 & 6.

The modus operandi for this new government seems to be "When all else fails: LIE"

From: Saskatoon Northwest [sergemla@sasktel.net]
Sent: Mon 24/03/2008 10:07 AM
To: Craig
Subject: Response from Serge LeClerc-Bill 5 & 6

Dear Craig;

The Sask Party Government, and myself, feel that Bills 5 & 6 are extremely important pieces of legislation intended for the well being for people of Saskatchewan, and as well speaks to the true fairness that should exist in a democratic country/province. These Bills are also essential for the growth and sustainability of the economy of this province for the financial benefit of all of our citizens - now and in the future.

One bill speaks to essential services legislation which every other province and jurisdiction in Canada has and all we are doing is proposing to implement the best practices that exist in the rest of Canada so that our citizens are protected and not used as pawns in a power struggle over wages: ie snow plow operators going on job action just before a snow storm. This essential services legislation is balanced and fair using as a guideline the best practices what the other provinces currently have in place for their citizens. We are the only province in Canada that does not have this legislation, and we are the only province that puts union/employee/company/crown corporation bargaining ahead of the required mandated safety of its citizens which should and must be utmost for government to insure.

The second bill speaks to the certification and decertification of unions by the employees who they impact. Again, this legislation exists in every other province and jurisdiction in Canada and we have proposed the best practices that currently exist in the rest of Canada. Simply put, it will require democracy to be implemented in the certification, or decertification, process of a union by requiring ballot instead of an open vote during which a person can be bullied, threatened, or intimidated - secret ballot is the mainstead and foundation of all democracies and Saskatchewan is the only province which currently allows open vote. The legislation will also require a 45% vote for certification, or decertification, rather than the current 20% which again only exists in Saskatchewan. Most jursidictions in Canada and the USA require 50% plus 1 and so again, we think that this change is very reasonable and protective of our citizens in the workplace. Further, the legislation requires the best practice which exists throughout the rest of Canada that 50% plus 1 of the total work force within a company which is dealing with the possible certification or decertification of a union must be present for the secret ballot vote.....again, proper protections for all workers in the workplace and true democracy.

Thank you for your interest in Bills 5 & 6 and I trust that my comments on them have put perspective on our belief of the importance of passing these pieces of legislation for the full benefit of all of the people of Saskatchewan and for our future generations.

Respectfully yours,

Serge LeClerc, MLA
Saskatoon Northwest
Legislative Secretary: Corrections

Ryan Long
Constituency Assistant to
Serge LeClerc, MLA
Saskatoon Northwest
934-2847
934-2867 (fax)
www.sergemla.ca

BC residents find no interprovincial trade barriers at BC- Alberta border

Photo - Council of Canadians

"Golden, BC - On the first anniversary of the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA) between BC and Alberta, a group of Golden residents traveled to the provincial border armed with a magnifying glass to challenge one of TILMA's core premises. Upon close examination of the border, they concluded that there are no significant trade barriers to justify an agreement that undermines local democracy." (Read more....)

Canada blocks asbestos ban - The Real News

"Canada blocks asbestos ban

UN Rotterdam treaty on toxic trade restrictions marred by Canada's stance on asbestos

Tuesday April 1st, 2008

Kathleen Ruff is founder of RightOnCanada.ca, a human rights website that supports citizen action. She was the former director of the B.C Human Rights Commission. Barry Castleman is an independent consultant in toxic substances control and author of several books, including most recently, Asbestos: Medical and Legal Aspects."

Sask. Party Premier attempts to distance himself from SmallDeadAnimals Blog

Sask. Party Premier Brad Wall is attempting to distance himself from the SmallDeadAnimals Blog.

See coverage from various blogs and other media below. (watch for updates)

Buckdog: Premier Wall's Association With 'smalldeadanimals' Condemned By MLA In Saskatchewan Legislature
Sean in Saskatchewan: Sask Premier Runs Far Away From Smalldeadanimals
Giant Political Mouse: Small Dead Animals Denouced by Sask Premier
Leader-Post: Wall distances party from blog
CBC: Sask. premier distances himself from political blog