The Power Of Labour

Labour unions, that is. And they are powerful indeed. Society is indebted to them, for the salubrious effect their strident determination to uphold the rights of the working class man and woman has had on most Western societies, ensuring that men and women made a fair working wage. And that their diligence in applying themselves to their jobs resulted in an appreciation for their hard work, expressed in union contracts that benefited workers in every conceivable way.

Not merely stopping at a decent working wage, but ensuring that sick days, vacation time, retirement benefits, and reasonable working hours would be guaranteed. Helping to haul a major proportion of the working class out of working penury and workplace misery. But isn't it typical of human nature that whatever strides are made, once become accustomed to, never seem enough, and more demands are always there, in the future, with ongoing demands.

For even greater assurances, better benefits, dependable annual wage increases. Unions as moral arbiters of society and business, laying it on for the working man and woman. Plenty of reason to be grateful that health and safety in the workplace would be assured. And from there to bargain successfully for health insurance, sick-day credits, and a completely comfortable and assured work environment.

Of course it took more than compelling business to observe certain ethical requirements in dealing with their workers. There was always the cudgel of work stoppages, walk-outs, strikes, paralyzing business and impairing the bottom line. And unions became relentless at that kind of threat issuance. The more unrelenting their demands from the employer to enhance working conditions and wages for the employed, the more powerful the union.

And there's a thin line now that separates need from greed. Years of collective bargaining have ensured that employers, particularly public-sector employers, have agreed over time to very hefty worker benefits. Benefits, assurances and pay-schedules that far outweigh such workplace attributes that the majority of workers are able to take advantage of, particularly in the private sector.

And when a recessionary environment raises its troublesome head, as has now occurred just about everywhere in the world, one might think that well-waged and -benefited employees whose union has dealt so well for them in the past, might think twice about new demands. Only 30% of Canada's working population is represented by union might. That greater majority does not enjoy the perks of unionized workers.

Their jobs are less secure, particularly in the present downturn. Yet this has not stopped municipal workers, school board workers, hospital workers, transit workers, even federal government union workers from demanding increased benefits and wage increases. Somewhat like the excessively remunerated auto industry workers represented by the Big-3 with their retirement benefits they themselves paid not one dime into.

And which the Government of Canada has come to the rescue for, through taxpayer funded rescue funding. It's past time for unions to step back, they've over-reached themselves. The workers they represent may require representation, but they are too entitled at the present time. Time for a change, for a reasonable discourse, for an evening out of the employment situation to benefit the entire working population. Reasonably.