Errol Black publicly criticized the Doer Administration recently because the NDP must “do better to redress the damage done to worker and trade union rights”. Does Errol Black not believe that recent Labor Legislation that makes it illegal for employers to “get involved” during the establishment of a union in their workplace is a good thing? Does Errol Black not support that same legislation that mandates arbitration in the event that strikes last for a couple of months?

Errol Black made an argument for why people should want to belong to unions. He argued about higher wages, better benefits (including pension), and better democratic rights? These have always been benefits of unions. Some employees have respected (and followed the employers who offer) these benefits; some have not. But the real question is, “Precisely what law would Errol Black like to see passed by our provincial governments since he believes that clearly it would be desirable to have more workers in trade unions?” Errol Black indicates that governments have somehow “ignored” some fact that more people should belong to unions.

What Errol Black once again failed to illustrate is that workers, in all industries and with all employers, are already free to organize. They are free to elect others to negotiate on their behalf. They are free to belong to unions. There is nothing stopping them. There isn’t a bureaucracy in this land that can prevent their action. But instead of selling the Canadian worker the value of belonging to the union, Errol Black would prefer that legislation be introduced to legally compel them to do so.

What is democratic about that, Mr. Black?

D’Arcy Barker is a Chartered Financial Planner and Registered Employee Benefits Consultant- www.barkermoney.com

E-mail: ReduceYourTaxes@barkermoney.com