MARK-ALAN WHITTLE
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MILITANT UNION TACTICS BACKFIRE

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Hamilton Spectator
Being a well-known letter-to-the-editor guy and advocate for children with disabilities, brings many satisfying rewards, and occasionally a negative side, especially when calling a militant union like CEP to account.
When I speak to the issue of militant unions (Communications, Energy and Paperworkers) I prepare myself for an onslaught of rhetorical abuse in the press. Obviously, the ivory tower union elite have no use for anyone who is not a willing participant in their closed shop democracy.
Most right-thinking Ontarians are unwilling to support the use of gun-boat diplomacy during labour negotiations, when they can buy the disputed products (gas) at any number of other suppliers free from their labour strife.
As a customer, it puts me off to be treated as collateral damage for such a disingenuous and unworthy cause. Tactics such as abusing those who don't agree end up doing more harm than good and should compel resignations from the union executive who have set back their members' position by rolling the dice. Nowhere in all the flaming rhetoric is there a discussion by the members, of their union's fatal negotiating tactics that have closed the door with Petro-Canada. Their actions have prolonged a timely and just end to an unnecessary strike.
As a hardworking taxpayer with a disabled son, I only wish I could foist my wants and needs on my employer so that Logan, Laurie and I could live like kings instead of just getting by.
In the real world, security and a good-paying job come from trying to be the best you can at work and respecting your employer for giving you a job that satisfies and puts food on the table. Beating them up by going on strike and asking for more is like biting the hand that feeds you.
When I get a raise, it is because I have earned it through hard work and a will for my company to succeed to our mutual benefit and not at the end of a rhetorical gun as the CEP and its members are doing on the picket line.
It is clear the union membership has been badly served by its executive, who have rolled the dice to fatten their members' pensions above all other Petro Canada employees. As usual for militant trade unions, it is snake eyes.