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Another Great Union "Success"
by Robert Metz
The December 11 London labour protest was all the proof we needed that
Ontario's unions no longer have anything concrete to offer their members. Their
days are numbered, and they know it.
That's why unions don't act like unions any more. Rather than focus on the
issues of their individual members as they relate to their specific place of
employment, unions have evolved into political lobby groups that just happen to
do a little collective bargaining on the side.
Unfortunately, the Ontario Federation Of Labour and its coalition of unions
have an advantage that most lobby groups do not have - a forced membership
which has no right to prevent its forced dues from being spent on political
activities. That's how union leadership is able to advance a self-destructive
ideology at the expense of its own members, regardless of whether those members
agree with them or not.
Originally, we were told by union representatives that the December 11 walkout
was going to be a protest against the repeal of certain government labour laws
by the Harris Government. Why then, was there not even a single mention of any
of these labour issues. (i.e., Bill 7, Bill 40) In the handout distributed by
the "London Committee for December 11" which organized their protest in London?
According to the handout, union protestors were now apparently lobbying against
government spending cuts to hospitals, schools, women's shelters, child
protection services, and other "essential" services. They hit every issue under
the sun, from "single mothers" to "low-income housing" to college and
university tuition.
This was a LABOUR protest?
"There is no other avenue to express our differences," said OFL president Gord
Wilson to the editorial board of the London Free Press. "We're going to use an
old tactic..."
Well, at least he got that right. Intimidation and disruption ARE old tactics.
But while an honest admission that he didn't have any new ideas or approaches
to offer was refreshing, it cannot compensate for the injury and insult he
directed at Londoners by targetting them for his "old tactics."
The harm done to the labour movement itself by its frustrated and misguided
leadership is incalculable. The harm done to society and the community at large
verges on criminal.
Many have suggested that we should "just ignore" the OFL's targetted walkouts
and it will all blow over. I disagree. Ignoring or compromising with labour
leaders who foolishly pursue illegal strike actions today will only encourage
them to become a louder, more intimidating, and dangerously confrontational the
next time around.
If, as OFL president Wilson has stated, the objective of his tactic was simply
to "shut down the community", then he and his coalition of unions weren't
entirely successful. Buses weren't running, many unionized plants were shut
down for the day, municipal services were cut, and Londoners in general were
inconvenienced at most.
Another great union "success."
Robert Metz is president and a founding member of the Freedom Party of Ontario.
