Mayday for May Day?
Hug a union member. May 1st is International
Workers' Day, commonly known as May Day, so it’s a fine time to do so, if not to
show solidarity, at least to show appreciation. It may no longer be fashionable
to admit it, but organized labour has contributed greatly to the quality of
life in Canada and many other countries. Furthermore, given the way the
government has been treating the labour movement, I’m sure a hug would likely
be welcome.
I am baffled by the antipathy shown toward unions by regular
working people. It makes sense that business owners and management would be
against organized labour; unions give power and money to workers. What I don’t
understand is how rank-and-file workers side with management against those who
would want to improve the lot of workers. From the 40-hour week to minimum
wages, to pensions and benefits, organized labour has been at the forefront in
pursuing those goals. Workplace safety, training standards, child-labour laws,
and workplace equality are further causes where the influence has been brought
to bear. Today we all enjoy many of the benefits that were won by the union
movement, often with their blood. In fact, the accomplishments of organized
labour are often acknowledged by critics in comments such as this:
Unions and striking were needed before there were governments standards controlling work hours, pay and most importantly, safety. Now unions are about taking advantage of the power of collective bargaining and fighting management, employees that strike these days are not hard done by, they ALL are earning wages above the average income. Posties, Air Canada, OC Transpo, teachers, etc..
Get back to work and be happy you have jobs that pay well, are safe and have benefits at all. If you don't like it, try being your own boss.
In the first breath, there is the acknowledgement of what
unions have done, then the idea that there is no further need because
everything has been done and it’s over. This poster, Barry, is making a big
leap, assuming that we can count on governments to look after us now.
Governments were often in strong, sometimes violent opposition to organized
labour. Recent anti-union intervention in labour disputes characterize
Harper’s Conservative government, including siding with management at Canada
Post in ordering workers to return to their duties after the corporation’s
management locked out the workers! Harper’s government also gave Air Canada a
hand on several ocassions, going so far as to say that if there were to be a
strike, it would force workers back. Governments from all parties, both
provincial and federal, have had run-ins with labour. It seems naïve to think that government
should be left to safeguard the rights of workers on its own.
What the Barrys of the world forget is entropy. Everything
is disintegrating and falling apart. It is only through continued effort that
what we value in society is maintained. We see this in vicious labour
disputes where management does not want a fair settlement, but rather to
destroy the union or, worse, destroy the company, gutting it and sucking the
marrow from the bones, leaving nothing for those whose sweat built it. Just as
no man is an island, no company exists outside of society. We must hold them to
account, just as we hold individuals to account. Whatever its flaws, the labour
movement has done, and continues to do, that.
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