Oh, I thought they always were. Hmmm, too bad that they decided to unionize. All an employer has to do is treat their employees fairly, pay them a decent wage, share in the proffits and send them home safely.

The union days should be over with. Between the employer and employee the unions scrape off likely $7 an hour from every person working. Does the employee get that much in value with the health care, and pension. I really don't think so.

Hmmmmm.....my union takes about 50 cents/hr.
Got me a decent pension, great benefits, an awesome wage, a collective agreement, safety rep, a rec committeee, and training programs. But I'm sure if the union days were over the companies would just do all this out of the goodness in their hearts. Hardeeharhar!

Govsux has it right.

There is usually a good reason a work place unionizes. It's not usually because the employer is fair, generous and caring.

He spoke thinks "The union days should be over with".

Apparently he/she has always had a fair, generous and caring employer.

He spoke says "Does the employee get that much in value with the health care, and pension. I really don't think so".

Spoken like a true non union employer.

Of course the employee gets much value from these benefits. Most have families to support. Most families have medical/dental issues, etc, etc.

Employees are the people that make the business profitable. Therefore they should be rewarded fairly for what they do.

I suppose He spoke would rather see line ups of people holding out their empty bowls saying "Please Sir, may I have some more?"

He spoke...if it wasn't for the unions of this world thats exactly how it would still be.

I think "He spoke" is referring to the union of "tax government tax collectors" when he uses $7/hr. :-)

Congratulations to the employees and their families. Welcome all!

Congratulations to the employees and their families. Welcome all!

Dragonmaster, you said it all. I worked in a union shop all my life and am thankfull that I did. And a union is also benificial to the empployer.

Dont forget to attend yout union meetings and partisipate on the shop level to help others.
Cheers

Congrats to the workers! It's great news!

Hmmmm .... I hope this turns out better than the mess of the late 1970's .... and I wonder what reaching impact the results will have on Mt. Milligan, etc.....

V.

Something I would like to pass along to the many unionized workers everywhere that are afraid to file grievences or complain in their workplaces.
It is your right to file grievences and or complain about conditions in your workplace that you think are not right. It is your right to stand up and be heard when you see wrongdoing in the workplace. You can not be disciplined for speaking up. Do not be afraid. Do not be afraid to stand up and volunteer to be the shop steward in your workplace. You can not be discriminated against for doing so.
How many employees out there, union or non union know that it is illegal for your employer to deduct money from your paycheques if you are short cash at the end of your shift? This is happening all the time.
How many think it's ok for their employers to handle their cash float and tips at the end of your shift? Its not ok. Stand up and put a stop to the abuse! Some employers in PG are soon to be in for a rude awakening. :-)

The days of the We, Them, Us, etc; etc; should be over. Unfortunately they are not.

The enemy of the working man is big business, big government, and big unions. They all survive on the backs of the working people. Such is life. Anyone of them would sell you out if it served their purpose.

The prolem is we need them all. So the trick is to get the best from them all. Not as easy as it sounds.

Companies grind the workers
Unions grind the Companies
Government grinds the Workers

Without Unions we would be screwed, blued, and tatooed, however they have been known to go too far.

The big killer to-day is Big Government, they are killing us with taxes, and have no fiscal responsibility. We need to take them to the wall and get their attention.

The HST campaign is just the beginning. Governments will haveto back off, or they will be looking for jobs themselves.

So for all those union men/women, you pay 50Cents an hour for your contribution. The employer pays likely in the range of $6.50 per hour to pay for the extended medical and pension. The medical is what. 60% or 80% coverage,that can be bought on the open market at $250/month. and how much do they contribute to your pension maybe $2,000 a year. So the union is spending less than $5,000 a year on your contribution of $13,000 a year. So who is getting ripped off.....

The employees could cut a better deal by offering to have a private medical/dental and a self administered RRSP.

Does the union really protect your employment. nope, the union will stand up for you if it is beneficial to the union.

There was a time when unions were needed, when the average person only had grade five education, and spent entire working carreers with one company. Times are different now. Most people have post secondary education and stick around for maybe five years with one employer.

I spent many years working in a unionized environment and I wouldn't have had it any other way. Nothing is perfect, unions included, but in my case if not for the union i would not have a pension nor would i have enjoyed a job with exceptional pay and great benefits. United we stand, divided we fall.

the union will stand up for you if it is beneficial to the union.

How does that work ? Explain to me how a union would benefit by helping their members. In the first place that’s what its all about.

And yes a union can not guarantee you employment that is the employers responsibility. I f he goes broke its probably poor management or market conditions.

. There are some fast food places in our village under one company that has at least five franchises in different areas of the City and how did this company get all the funds for their operation? From the backs of their employees many of them are children going to school.

How is it that school children are exploited? Our present government lowered the age for youth employment and to get around the minimum wage they changed the age of employment and instituted a training wage less then the minimum wage.

The muzzle loaded bunks are gone from the bunk houses in our mining and logging operations that we had during the last century but exploiting employees still goes on and it is unfortunate that our younger generation are not forming unions to control profit hungary employers.
Cheers

So, retired, you think that school kids should make $20 an hour to flip burgers? The fast food franchise you speak of teaches great life skills and you still get your burger for cheap, which is what everybody wants. I worked there as a teenager and worked my way up - it was a great way to get money for school and looked good on a resume later. The problem comes when you union types figure that you should be able to support a two car lifestyle on minimum wage.
He Spoke has it right, the labour laws are in place now such that unions are a waste of your money. Unless of course you are a cull that just wants to get by because of seniority.

I don't see where Retired thinks burger flippers at the below minimun wage employers sweat shops should be earning $20 an hour.

"The problem comes when you union types figure that you should be able to support a two car lifestyle on minimum wage".

Huh?

"He Spoke has it right, the labour laws are in place now such that unions are a waste of your money"

You go right on thinking that partner.
Did you know there are two different entities that look after employees in BC. One is called the Employment Standards Branch. These people look after non union employees. The other is called The Labour Relations Board. The LRB looks after union employees.
If the laws are so good now that unions are a waste of someones money, why do you suppose there are different entities taking care of business for these groups? If the laws were so good there would be one for all. That however you will never see. Why? Because the day will never come when there aren't some companies out there willing to do whatever it takes to shaft those that create their wealth for them.

Interceptor, when you and He spoke learn what unions are all about come back and post your thoughts here. As it is now both your comments show a true misunderstanding about unions and what they have done for every working person on this planet, why they were created and by who.

He spoke in case you didn't realize it I will point out a little fact for you.

You said " the union will stand up for you if it is beneficial to the union"

Just so happens that "the union" are the people. Why wouldn't they stand up for one another?
Just like the Liberals do for the corporations.

The workers ARE the union.
Hoefully,they will pick responsible leaders.
I have never ageed with everything unons do,but I was a union man most of my life, and I have nothing to bitch about now that I am retired.
There were many times in my working life that I was damn glad I belonged to union!
The outcome of some disputes would not have been pleasant!
Good luck to them all!

First off, I work in a union company except I am thankfully not in the union. The waste of money I talk about is YOUR money - the money you pay the union to do nothing except strike for several months to get you a percentage point that you wont earn back in ten years.
I know all about unions dont worry bud - but dont worry, Ive argued with lots of you lifers and in no way expect to change your mind. Just remember you are a dying breed.

Interceptor, sounds like you are living directly off the backs of the unionized workers in your workplace. If you think the benefits you recieve from the unionized company that you work for are for your outstanding contribution you make as an employee, you are on glue. You should be thanking the unionized workers you work along side so as you may reap the benefits.

I think were forgetting what this story is about!
It's about Workers at Endako Mines having the courage to come together and join a Union so that they have a voice in the workplace.
The wages and benefits are great at the Mine it's about Safety, Respect and Dignity. The right to be treated fairly and go home safely!
Hopefully that can be accomplished under a big Union!!

Much of what non-union workers have in the workplace is because of what union workers were able to achieve.
In an attempt to keep unions out of their workplace,non-union companies gave the same things to their workers.
Like unions or not,do we really believe things like pensions,medical,dental,or even overtime and vacation pay, would have been given if nobody fought for those things at some point?
Like unions or not,they are owed a debt of gratitude for what they accomplshed over the years.
Nothing was handed to workers...somebody had to fight for it.
And keep in mind,if we are not careful,many companies would take everything back.
And self-serving governments like we have in B.C. would help them do just that.
In actual fact,we need unions more than ever in today's workplace.

Nice to see there are a lot of union people posing on this site to defend the unions that we have and since I no longer work we still get together once in awhile for lunch and an annual banquet. Those of us who were union people understand the meaning of brothers and sisters.

One last comment and our unions today are so fortunate that they have an intelligent well meaning lead like Jim Sinclair.
The best to you all.
Cheers

ay, there in lies the rub - if I dont do my job then there is nothing for the unionized workers to do... so it could be argued that they make thier living off of my back... but I digress...

You sound a little confused interceptor.
Must be a non-union brain malfunction. Oh, btw, seems odd that if unions are a "dying breed" these guys should be joining a union.

Heres a little tidbit for you - The largest privately owned John Deere dealer in the world is non union everywhere EXCEPT in BC. Another FACT - the non union branch employees are all paid higher than the union boys in BC. hmmmm....
Anyway, I dont know anything about unions apparantly so dont listen to me.

So, interceptor, you work for brandt tractor. "the non union branch employees are all paid higher than the union boys in BC. hmmmm....". Wow, even the receptionist, secretary etc?? You must be well placed in order to be privy to all these "FACT"s. Are you the manager perhaps?

I'm sure the "union boys" in BC are making a decent wage. They're just not greedy. If
you are management you should be happy. Your labor costs would be lower in a UNION environment. Maybe you just have a psychological problem with unions??

Thanks, but I don't work for brandt - lol

Thanks, but I don't work for brandt - lol

Wow what a heated conversation,as it always is. I wonder if the employees at Endako will get the big bonuses they used to get. My guess is those days are gone!

Hopefully union will make Endako a safer place. They are not under WCB jurisdiction like other industries. Safety is job one or it should be. Staff are exposed to unsafe conditions everyday. We will see if union helps. The American owner was responsible for the big bonuses not the current ones.