Why am I not surprised that the province's seven largest unions are mounting a legal challenge against Bill 42?! Here's a question, did they launch a legal challenge when the NDP government tried to do the same thing when they were in power? Oh, wait...NO THEY DIDN'T...

Labour unions and their political puppet, the NDP, are nothing but a bunch of hypocrites. I can't wait until the BC Liberals are re-elected with a stronger majority!!

PS, Carole James is the epitome of lacklustre leadership.

Perhaps the unions did not, but someone obviously did because it was declared unconstitutional. Two questions come from that:

1. Where are the group who challenged the law under the NDP and why have they not challenged this one. Do they agree with the Liberal attack on free speech now their political friends are in power?

2. Why would Gordon Campbell and his cronies be so stupid as to enact legislation that has already been declared unconstitutional? Are they really so stupid that they think the court's decisions don't apply to them? Are they so cynical and contemptuous of the voters that they were hoping it would not be challenged until after the next election?

Fighting for free speech is not hypocrisy. It goes to the very heart of our democracy. I did not agree with the restrictions when the NDP tried it and I do not agree with it now the Liberals are up to the same thing. I believe the voters are quite aware enough to decide.

Who do you trust more, Gordon Campbell or union leaders?

If it wasn't for the historical activities of unions and the labour movement, we would be working 7 days a week for peanuts, and 8 year old children would be factory and mine workers.

I'm sure that would be Gordo's dream world!

"Are they really so stupid they that they think the courts decisions don't apply to them?"
Of course they do ammonra,this is the Campbell government after all!
And they are not just stupid...they are arrogant as well!

And now that the liberals are in power our mills are closing, our logs are being exported and they are getting everything set up for us to be working 7 days a week for peanuts and 8 yr old children will be factory and mine workers.

Don't forget the liberals are the ones that changed the laws regarding tying log harvesting and tree farm licences, to the logs being milled near where they were harvested.
That used to be the law, the liberals very quickly changed that, now look at whats happening.

Funny we don't hear private corporations crying about this.
Because the loss of the liberal / corporate greed machine doesn't sit well with them IMO.

"Who do you trust more, Gordon Campbell or union leaders?"

Uh, well, if those are my choices I'll go with Gordo.

"If it wasn't for the historical activities of unions and the labour movement, we would be working 7 days a week for peanuts, and 8 year old children would be factory and mine workers."

Bravo! Wonderful union rhetoric!

Lostfaith,

"Don't forget the liberals are the ones that changed the laws regarding tying log harvesting and tree farm licences, to the logs being milled near where they were harvested.
That used to be the law, the liberals very quickly changed that, now look at whats happening."

Realize that the Liberals didn't change these laws and regs on a whim. These were changed at the request of forest companies who donated large sums of money to the Liberals.

They thought if they could build one cost effective "supermill" to replace 3 smaller/older mills, they could bring in timber from further away.

Remember the election when the NDP was kicked out and the Liberals got a record popular vote (wasnt there like 2 NDP MLA left)? That was when the union membership forgot who keeps those outrageous salaries coming their way. You people (union members) sold out your own political party so you have no one to blame but yourself! The NDP is never going to get re-elected in BC and we are all way better off for it.

Look at all the non-union members "working 7 days a week for peanuts, and 8 year old children would be factory and mine workers." Oh wait, that isnt happening. Get a grip.

Unions didnt do anything that society wouldnt have done itself without unions.

Caniche: Get real! Child labourers working for dismal pay?? Last time I checked it was the 21st century and we here in Canada have moved away from that.

One thing that I'll grant you is that unions had their place in the world back in the day when working conditions were terrible and wages were poor. Now, there's too many safeguards in place for workers and I feel that unions have grown too powerful. Especially when it comes to protecting their workers.

I mean, look at the teachers union...why should some 55 year-old teacher who hates teaching and doesn't put in any effort have more rights than an energenic 25 year-old who actually WANTS to teach. As a recent graduate, I noticed this and I feel that unions only protect older, burnt-out employees who are only putting in their time until retirement. (And don't bother calling me a disrepectful youth, I have lots of respect for my elders, thanks.)

Unions are a thing of the past and jobs should be given out on a performance and skill basis, not just based on seniority.

Robin Hood wrote...

"Realize that the Liberals didn't change these laws and regs on a whim. These were changed at the request of forest companies who donated large sums of money to the Liberals.

They thought if they could build one cost effective "supermill" to replace 3 smaller/older mills, they could bring in timber from further away."


I think most people realize the laws were changed in the name of corporate greed.

NorthernBCer

If you really think the unions/people of this province will sit back and watch your vision of unions becoming a thing of the past becoming reality, then I suggest you go back to university and take a course in "Wake me up I'm dreaming".

When you learn what unions have done for the betterment of PEOPLE and their families in this province you can come back and talk with some authority.

You make me laugh when you say,
"Now, there's too many safeguards in place for workers and I feel that unions have grown too powerful. Especially when it comes to protecting their workers."

What do you think unions are here for?, protecting the companies perhaps.

There is an organization out there masquerading as a union that looks after companies and they are known as CLAC or... the christian labor association of Canada.

Another thing NorthernBCer

Don't you find it odd that the union people of this province are the ones taking this government to task in the courts for their attempt at hushing their opposition?
Where are the nonunion people in this fight against censorship?

This is in rebutt to NorthernBCer's post.

You make some interesting comments about unions, but I don't think you have taken the opportunity to research unions (teacher union BCTF).

You make such a generalized statement towards teachers at 55! If teaching is a profession that you plan to pursue, and you actually make it in this profession. You will someday be 55 and will have hopefully accomplished as much as other teachers who have taught to that age. You will respect seniority, and having a union who will support you in your learning and decisions that you will make through-out your teaching profession.

Teachers are great contributers to society, many who create and implement programs to keep current in todays technology. This may be high school, college or university levels.

You are young and in time you will retract your statement. Before you make such assumptions, maybe you need to become a teacher and walk in their footsteps for awhile.

Lost Faith: I'm glad I could make you laugh.

I think you may have overlooked my initial comment stating that unions were, in fact, GOOD, when working conditions were awful. It's my opinion that they've since outgrown their usefulness and are now simply here to be a thorn in the side of governments that aren't willing to bend over to their every whim...

As for Bill 42, I'm not saying it's a good thing, I'm saying that it's funny that the unions weren't protesting this when the NDP proposed similar measures during their tenure in office. Isn't this a bit hypocritical?

And another thing, as someone who has been IN a union, I feel that they are only there to take my money and spend it on union executives. AND, when I was in the union, I was harassed for my political beliefs and told that it was expected of me to vote for the NDP candidate. Not only did I laugh in their faces, but I realized that my hard-earned pay cheque was going to a party that I didn't support, via the unions.

Maybe if the unions were not as partisan as they are, they'd have a little more respect. And until that day comes, I won't be supporting unions...

I should have also included elementary teachers in my above post!

With the changes that this Liberal government has shoved down our throats, one can feel the damages through experience.

This Liberal government has made changes to laws and policies through legislation. These changes that occurred, have taken away many rights to the workers of this Province.

With the seven unions standing up to this governments bill (42) and trying to take away our voice (freedom of speech), is going to show this government that the people (workers) and non, will stand up for their rights.

There are many differences between a union and a non-union job, and these differences can be throughly explained through Employment Law, Industrial labor Law, Human Rights etc.. When a worker wants to know exactly what their rights are in todays society, do some research and find out just what your rights really are and where you will get the most support.

NorthernBCer writes..."when I was in the union, I was harassed for my political beliefs and told that it was expected of me to vote for the NDP candidate."

Ya ok sure yup. I have been represented by many different unions in my life and never seen anything like what you write occurring anywhere anytime.

You wrote..."
I think you may have overlooked my initial comment stating that unions were, in fact, GOOD, when working conditions were awful. It's my opinion that they've since outgrown their usefulness and are now simply here to be a thorn in the side of governments that aren't willing to bend over to their every whim..."

Unions were good when conditions were awful. Yes very true.
How do you think conditions became good?
If you want to repeat those awful conditions then get rid of the unions.

Then we can all start over again fighting for fair wages and benefits and working conditions that most of us enjoy because of those union members that fought for and some died for.

If you think that the company will not revert to their historical tyranny when unions are gone, think again.
They are not in the money making business for their employees.

If unions have no valid function today why is it that arbitrators are booked up months and months ahead. When management deliberately breaks a collective agreement, like refusing to pay the overtime rate, for instance, it stimulates a complaint from the employee the management is trying to steal from and a union shop steward processes the complaint.

In some cases, sexual harassment, assault, libel, unjustified firing so a friend can be given a job, and so on often results in an expensive legal battle costing thousands of dollars. Management gets their money from profits if private, or the government if public, but the union gets the money from its members in union dues.

If you think this does not go on in today's workplace, then you are living with blinders on. It is so common that arbitrators may have to be booked a year ahead.

I know someone who was recently fired due to a misunderstanding in one of our newest local pet stores. She was not at a meeting where it was discussed that the puppies that may have come down with the Parvo virus were not to be talked about to anyone at any time. Someone said something about the virus to her and she asked someone else about it and was overheard by the manager, she was fired for it. Because this person was not employed for at least 3 months the employment standards branch is powerless to do a thing in the defence of this person.
If this pet store was a union shop, this innocent person would still be working in a job she loved.

If you get a good job in a nonunion shop and your supervisor doesn't like you for any reason or no reason at all they can fire you for nothing.

Thank God for Gordon C ......


No wonder BC is starving to death...lets all thank the Unions and NDP...It will take 10 more years to clean up the NDP's
carnage.

IMO
Unions are like a Hemroid..the more you scratch it, the more it irritates you!

Thats right getajob defend your position with mindless babble.

Come on that was funny lighten up.lol I do stand up at 7pm Fridays

oh

I think the discussion took a turn here...this is about the Government of the day (BC Liberals)enacting a law that limits our democratic rights. I don't care what political strip you belong to, that is just wrong. Freedom of speech be it mindless baffle gag or thought provoking insight it is fundamental to us all.