Freedom Flyer March 1996 Cover

Freedom Flyer 29

the official newsletter of the
Freedom Party of Ontario

March 1996



Article electronically reproduced from:

id Magazine

January 11-24, 1996


Another Great Union "Success"

by Robert Metz

The December 11 London labour protest was all the proof we needed that Ontario's unions no longer have anything concrete to offer their members. Their days are numbered, and they know it.

That's why unions don't act like unions any more. Rather than focus on the issues of their individual members as they relate to their specific place of employment, unions have evolved into political lobby groups that just happen to do a little collective bargaining on the side.

Unfortunately, the Ontario Federation Of Labour and its coalition of unions have an advantage that most lobby groups do not have - a forced membership which has no right to prevent its forced dues from being spent on political activities. That's how union leadership is able to advance a self-destructive ideology at the expense of its own members, regardless of whether those members agree with them or not.

Originally, we were told by union representatives that the December 11 walkout was going to be a protest against the repeal of certain government labour laws by the Harris Government. Why then, was there not even a single mention of any of these labour issues. (i.e., Bill 7, Bill 40) In the handout distributed by the "London Committee for December 11" which organized their protest in London?

According to the handout, union protestors were now apparently lobbying against government spending cuts to hospitals, schools, women's shelters, child protection services, and other "essential" services. They hit every issue under the sun, from "single mothers" to "low-income housing" to college and university tuition.

This was a LABOUR protest?

"There is no other avenue to express our differences," said OFL president Gord Wilson to the editorial board of the London Free Press. "We're going to use an old tactic..."

Well, at least he got that right. Intimidation and disruption ARE old tactics. But while an honest admission that he didn't have any new ideas or approaches to offer was refreshing, it cannot compensate for the injury and insult he directed at Londoners by targetting them for his "old tactics."

The harm done to the labour movement itself by its frustrated and misguided leadership is incalculable. The harm done to society and the community at large verges on criminal.

Many have suggested that we should "just ignore" the OFL's targetted walkouts and it will all blow over. I disagree. Ignoring or compromising with labour leaders who foolishly pursue illegal strike actions today will only encourage them to become a louder, more intimidating, and dangerously confrontational the next time around.

If, as OFL president Wilson has stated, the objective of his tactic was simply to "shut down the community", then he and his coalition of unions weren't entirely successful. Buses weren't running, many unionized plants were shut down for the day, municipal services were cut, and Londoners in general were inconvenienced at most.

Another great union "success."

Robert Metz is president and a founding member of the Freedom Party of Ontario.




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