Corrupt, Big Money Unions Are Working People's Real Enemy

[Anonymous]

I know labour day has come and gone, but the issues around big labour misuse their wealth and power are still relevant. They are greedier, more selfish and more corrupt than the corporations they pretend to hate.

Labour Day used to tout work of unions, but they're less relevant now.



This weekend, in cities and towns across the country, thousands of Canadians will march in Labour Day parades while most of us simply enjoy the day off.



Those at the parades will hear from union leaders about all the wonderful things unions do for Canada's workers. Here's a question: Is that really true anymore?



Most Canadians work in non-union workplaces and for the most part that's by choice. Unions once represented a much larger share of the Canadian workforce but now, according to Statistics Canada, just 31.5% of Canadians belong to unions and most of those are government workers.



For Canadians working in the private sector union membership sits below 15% — for government workers, more than 70% are unionized.



It's not like anyone is stopping workers from organizing. Take a look at labour laws across the country — both federally and provincially, you'll see those laws favour unions.



So, why, despite the claims that a joining a union is the path to prosperity, do most Canadian workers say no?



Because unions aren't for the workers anymore, they're for the union bosses.



My father worked his whole life in a union and retired a proud union man.



The outfit he belonged to has faced some tough questions lately over outrageous salaries for the top executives, cushy jobs for family members and precious little for the membership. In fact, it sounds to me like they've become the people they were fighting against.



His union is not alone.



The Communication, Energy and Paperworkers Union, one of the unions I belonged to in the past, represents several thousand workers in Alberta's oil patch but that hasn't stopped CEP President Dave Coles from campaigning against projects that would support his members.



Coles has spoken out against several pipeline projects that would actually allow Alberta's oil to reach world markets. He once said he was against the Keystone XL Pipeline to transport oil from Alberta to Texas because the refining jobs would go to Americans, but he's since campaigned against and funded opposition to other projects that would send that same oil to Canadian refineries.



This weekend CEP will merge with Canada's largest private sector union, the Canadian Auto Workers, to form a new organization called Unifor.



A reading of their constitution shows this is not about just helping improve the workplace or get a better deal for workers.



"Our goal is transformative. To reassert common interest over private interest," article 2 of the union constitution reads. "Our goal is to change our workplaces and our world. Our vision is compelling. It is to fundamentally change the economy, with equality and social justice, restore and strengthen our democracy and achieve an environmentally sustainable future."



Essentially, if you are a member of this union you will be supporting socialist politics regardless of what your own views might be.



Earlier this year it was people like Coles and other union leaders who led a very expensive fight, using the money collected from union members, to fight a bill in Parliament that would have forced them to be open about how dues money is spent.



As labour leaders parade this weekend and pat themselves on the back, maybe they might want to consider why so many Canadians reject the idea of joining their ranks. It's because they've become the very people they claim to be fighting, soaking up money from the working masses to pad their own wallets and fund political campaigns that follow their own whims.

[Anonymous]

I am a member of a public union..



I don't know much about how transparent they are, but it is a wealthy and influential union..



I am satisfied with the representation they give me.

[Anonymous]

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[Odinson]

Hello evs.



aka vesna

aka the serb which shen li has been talking about.

[Anonymous]

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[Odinson]

I worked for the government. And that last pic is right. Coffee break after a coffee break.

[Anonymous]

I worked for the government. And that last pic is right. Coffee break after a coffee break.

Public sector unions should be illegal. Private sector unions while on the decline are incredibly corrupt and don't give a flying fuck about the interests of working people. In fact, they try to prevent jobs from being created. Just a bunch of sleazy fatcats out for themselves.

[Odinson]

I worked for the government. And that last pic is right. Coffee break after a coffee break.

Public sector unions should be illegal. Private sector unions while on the decline are incredibly corrupt and don't give a flying fuck about the interests of working people. In fact, they try to prevent jobs from being created. Just a bunch of sleazy fatcats out for themselves.

Our unions are not divided like that.



It´s a well known fact that american unions serve the mafia.

[Anonymous]

I worked for the government. And that last pic is right. Coffee break after a coffee break.

Public sector unions should be illegal. Private sector unions while on the decline are incredibly corrupt and don't give a flying fuck about the interests of working people. In fact, they try to prevent jobs from being created. Just a bunch of sleazy fatcats out for themselves.

Our unions are not divided like that.



It´s a well known fact that american unions serve the mafia.

Organized crime, foreign billionaires corrupt political parties. Whomever and whatever will make them rich and not hold them up to them as accountable as a corporation. They are no longer needed in Canada and Canadian workers know it too.

[Romero]

http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1359800/original.jpg">

[Asian Pride]

Berieve it or not!  I wok with two a Asian powera-playa Teamsters!  They a adore the benefrits, and the sucurity!

[Odinson]

Public sector unions should be illegal. Private sector unions while on the decline are incredibly corrupt and don't give a flying fuck about the interests of working people. In fact, they try to prevent jobs from being created. Just a bunch of sleazy fatcats out for themselves.

Our unions are not divided like that.



It´s a well known fact that american unions serve the mafia.

Organized crime, foreign billionaires corrupt political parties. Whomever and whatever will make them rich and not hold them up to them as accountable as a corporation. They are no longer needed in Canada and Canadian workers know it too.

Our unions are far more organized. They report to the central union. If there is some weirdness going on, a g-man wearing a suit will come and investigate. The G-man cannot be bargained with, believe that.



A big union leader got toppled from the throne a year ago for being too pompous. The workers started rebelling against him.

[Anonymous]

Berieve it or not!  I wok with two a Asian powera-playa Teamsters!  They a adore the benefrits, and the sucurity!

No, nobody believes you because you are yet another immature white leftist VF troll.





[size=200]FUCK OFF!![/size]

 :x  :x  :x

[Anonymous]

I laughed at Romero ridiculous attempt at drawing a connection between higher wages and unionization. If you want higher wages you have to have the right skills if you cut meat on a unionized assembly line at Cargill, High River or in a non unionized environment you are going to receive low wages as you should. Besides, who the fuck would want to do most private sector grunt labour union jobs anyway?



Most of the highest paying jobs in Canada are not unionized. The ones that are unionized are in our bloated public sector.



Aerospace engineer – $75,000



In this role you will use a range of computer systems and high tech equipment to make sure that the design and components of aircraft or spacecraft are all functioning properly. To land this job, you'll need an engineering degree. See Aerospace engineer opportunities on Workopolis.



Chemical engineer – $78,000



You'll need to have a bachelor of applied science or a chemical engineer degree for this job, but the good news is that right out of school, chemical engineering is one of the highest paying degrees for entry-level jobs. New grads can earn a starting salary of $50,000-60,000$. See chemical engineering jobs.



Senior government manager – $96,000



High-level bureaucrats earn close to the six-figure mark, but this takes working your way up through the ranks of the civil service. (And surviving the winds of political change.) However, to get started all you need is generally a relevant university degree and (especially for federal government jobs) bilingualism.



See jobs in government relations on Workopolis, or visit the Canadian public service's hiring site.



Real estate & financial manager – $80,000



There is such a demand for workers that many financial institutions are actively hiring people from unrelated backgrounds and offering them in-house training programs. However, to be successful, you'll need an in-depth grasp of financial systems. Sales experience and/or a business or finance degree are recommended. See jobs on real estate or finance jobs.



Lawyer – $80,000



To become a lawyer you need to complete the LSAT (Law School Admission Test) and a three to four year degree. Candidates also have to "article" (working under the supervision of an experienced lawyer for 10 months) and successfully complete the Bar Admission Course. See lawyer jobs.



School principal & administrator – $90,000



To become a principal, you need to have an undergraduate degree, your teaching certificate, and experience teaching. Many regions also require advanced degrees and the completion of a principal training program. See school principal and / or administrator jobs.



Electrical & telecommunications contractor – $73,000



Contractors are in demand across the country, and generally work for themselves as independent companies. To achieve this status, you start by becoming a certified electrician.  This requires a four-year apprenticeship that combines studying with actual on-the-job training. See electrical contracting jobs.



Petroleum engineer – $93,500



Canada's booming oil and gas sector has made workers in this sector a hot commodity. You'll need an engineering degree to start. Then think about what kind of job you want in the field. Drilling engineers decide how to extract oil and gas, production engineers care for the operation of wells, and reservoir engineers gauge how much oil and gas is left underground. Alternate career paths can focus on workplace safety or environmental issues. See petroleum engineering jobs.



Head nurse & health-care manager – $75,000



Becoming the head nurse is an important career step that allows you to earn more money, tackle bigger challenges and take control over more aspects of the environment you're working in. To land this role, you'll first need a four-year nursing degree, followed by on-the-job experience. Some nurses then earn a master of science in nursing as part of an MBA or a master of health care administration. Either of these can boost your chances of climbing up in the ranks. See nursing jobs.



Oil & gas drilling supervisor - $75,000



Supervisors in this field supervise a team of workers drilling for oil or gas, operating rigs, or providing oil and gas well services. They work for drilling and well service contractors and by petroleum producing companies. While a college diploma in petroleum engineering technology or Petroleum Industry Training Service (PITS) courses may be required, successful on-the-job experience is generally considered more important than formal education for reaching the position of supervisor.



[size=150]BTW, some of these average salaries are ridiculously low.[/size]

[Anonymous]

I laughed at Romero ridiculous attempt at drawing a connection between higher wages and unionization. If you want higher wages you have to have the right skills if you cut meat on a unionized assembly line at Cargill, High River or in a non unionized environment you are going to receive low wages as you should. Besides, who the fuck would want to do most private sector grunt labour union jobs anyway?



Most of the highest paying jobs in Canada are not unionized. The ones that are unionized are in our bloated public sector.



Aerospace engineer – $75,000



In this role you will use a range of computer systems and high tech equipment to make sure that the design and components of aircraft or spacecraft are all functioning properly. To land this job, you'll need an engineering degree. See Aerospace engineer opportunities on Workopolis.



Chemical engineer – $78,000



You'll need to have a bachelor of applied science or a chemical engineer degree for this job, but the good news is that right out of school, chemical engineering is one of the highest paying degrees for entry-level jobs. New grads can earn a starting salary of $50,000-60,000$. See chemical engineering jobs.



Senior government manager – $96,000



High-level bureaucrats earn close to the six-figure mark, but this takes working your way up through the ranks of the civil service. (And surviving the winds of political change.) However, to get started all you need is generally a relevant university degree and (especially for federal government jobs) bilingualism.



See jobs in government relations on Workopolis, or visit the Canadian public service's hiring site.



Real estate & financial manager – $80,000



There is such a demand for workers that many financial institutions are actively hiring people from unrelated backgrounds and offering them in-house training programs. However, to be successful, you'll need an in-depth grasp of financial systems. Sales experience and/or a business or finance degree are recommended. See jobs on real estate or finance jobs.



Lawyer – $80,000



To become a lawyer you need to complete the LSAT (Law School Admission Test) and a three to four year degree. Candidates also have to "article" (working under the supervision of an experienced lawyer for 10 months) and successfully complete the Bar Admission Course. See lawyer jobs.



School principal & administrator – $90,000



To become a principal, you need to have an undergraduate degree, your teaching certificate, and experience teaching. Many regions also require advanced degrees and the completion of a principal training program. See school principal and / or administrator jobs.



Electrical & telecommunications contractor – $73,000



Contractors are in demand across the country, and generally work for themselves as independent companies. To achieve this status, you start by becoming a certified electrician.  This requires a four-year apprenticeship that combines studying with actual on-the-job training. See electrical contracting jobs.



Petroleum engineer – $93,500



Canada's booming oil and gas sector has made workers in this sector a hot commodity. You'll need an engineering degree to start. Then think about what kind of job you want in the field. Drilling engineers decide how to extract oil and gas, production engineers care for the operation of wells, and reservoir engineers gauge how much oil and gas is left underground. Alternate career paths can focus on workplace safety or environmental issues. See petroleum engineering jobs.



Head nurse & health-care manager – $75,000



Becoming the head nurse is an important career step that allows you to earn more money, tackle bigger challenges and take control over more aspects of the environment you're working in. To land this role, you'll first need a four-year nursing degree, followed by on-the-job experience. Some nurses then earn a master of science in nursing as part of an MBA or a master of health care administration. Either of these can boost your chances of climbing up in the ranks. See nursing jobs.



Oil & gas drilling supervisor - $75,000



Supervisors in this field supervise a team of workers drilling for oil or gas, operating rigs, or providing oil and gas well services. They work for drilling and well service contractors and by petroleum producing companies. While a college diploma in petroleum engineering technology or Petroleum Industry Training Service (PITS) courses may be required, successful on-the-job experience is generally considered more important than formal education for reaching the position of supervisor.



[size=150]BTW, some of these average salaries are ridiculously low.[/size]

I thought lawyers and head nurses received higher salaries than those you posted..



Doctors and dentists were not on the list which is surprising.