Politics

[StrawBoss]

Ivbinconned

I don’t have all the answers, but fully agree that a Triple E Senate is the way to go.
The provincial Premiers will have to start working together (and I think they have started to gel) to combat the federal government arrogance.

The premiers should promote the EEE Senate and it will have to start with our provincial and federal elections, by the people putting the pressure on our politicians to make it a campaign issue.
I know we will always have a problem with Quebec, but again they ride a horse of a different color, also Ontario may stay as a schoolyard bully. If we get 8 or 9 premiers on side would be nice, but we need at least a majority of the provinces on side before it’s put on the feds table.
I am sure the people in the western provinces would easily be comvinced that an EEE Senate would be beneficial.
Alberta made the mistake of going alone by electing a senator and going directly to the feds without having support from the other provinces.

I think there is a bigger problem with the labour unions with their outrageous demands and militant tactics, which are starting to look like they will destroy the country, before provincial/ federal grievances are settled.

There was a need for unions at one time when the employer took advantage of the employees, now the table has tipped and the unionized labour lost most of their commonsense and greed took over.
Did you see the news yesterday where the labour unions tried to destroy the province of Quebec? Union mentality in action at it’s best.

I didn’t have time to really attack the EEE senate proposal, but may add more comments later.

[cowman]

Why would you blame the unions for all the countries woes? Consider the west coast ferry strikes? The company/government wants wage concessions so they can buy a bunch more ships! They want wage concessions so their top people can make outrageous salaries and bonuses!
How would you like to work at some hole like Walmart for$6.50/hr.? Oh, but Walmart doesn't make any money right? How come Safeway used to pay their cashiers $15/ hr. but today they pay $7?
I think the time has come when we need more unions, because I hate to tell you workers are being abused big time when they are getting paid $7/hr.! We pay our pensioners more than that little single Mom is making at Walmart or Safeway! I would be ashamed to offer anyone $7 for a job!
The doctors, nurses, lawyers, accountants, and teachers all have super strong unions. They call them "associations" so they don't have to identify with the poor peasants! But do people complain about them...No they complain if the guy sweeping the floor wants a starvation wage! We need some social justice in this country instead of the American crap we have adopted! Dog eat dog is a wonderful concept if you are the dog doing the eating!

[StrawBoss]

And a good morning to you—Cowman ! What side of the bed did you get out of this morning?
I wasn’t referring to the little moms working in stores and babysitting forming unions to get a livable wage.
I am talking about essential services like politicians, teachers, nurses, doctors, firemen, police and a few other that are receiving a very good wage, but want more and work less and I don’t care if they call them unions or associations.
I remember when the west coast grain handlers--- floor sweepers were getting $22.00 per hour and wanted more and I was getting $3.00 a bushel for my wheat. That’s the kind of crap I am referring to.

[cakadu]

Cowman, I agree with you that it is shameful that people are earning such low wages - especially in this province. I don't know that having unions for them will get them any better wages in their pockets by the time you take off union dues etc.

Never having been in a union, but knowing lots of people who are, for the most part the unions have outlived their usefulness. When you see union leaders out there telling people to strike, it's not the leaders that will be taking a reduction in their oftentimes 6 figure salaries (think Buzz Hargrove (sp) of the auto workers union or the other powerful union leaders) while the real workers are out on the picket lines.

Sometimes I think it's the unions exploiting the workers in this day and age. Union dues go up and the services and bargaining that the union is supposed to be doing on your behalf isn't getting done.

Sadly, politics raises it's ugly head everywhere.

(As an aside, I've never understood striking solely for more pay - even with an increase you'll never make back the money that was lost while you were out on the picket line.)

[cowman]

The grain workers always seem to get a bad rap from farmers. I think it is frustration because farmers are powerless in the system, mostly due to their own inability to get "mobbed up" or in other words form an effective union. Why maybe if farmers had a real union they could get $100/bu. for their wheat! Of course they would have to control what came into this country and forget all about the export market. So I guess we could turn the prairies back into a buffalo pasture and grow the little bit of grain we need in Ontario. Maybe we could convince the Indians to go back to their traditional way of life hunting buffalo instead of running casinos?
Just about every group that is succesful has a "union" if you will. The power elite that runs this country has a "union". No outsiders allowed! You try to crash the "union" you find out real fast who really runs this country!
I would be more concerned with the billions companies like Bombardier and Power Corp. get from you and me, than if some working Joe got a few extra bucks from the marketplace.