Daveberta Smears NDP

Daveberta the liberal blogger thinks he has found a scandal in the NDP calling for an end to corporate and union donations to political parties in Alberta. He reports in high dudgeon on his website that the NDP raised $100,000 from unions during the election campaign of 2004.

However the majority of funds raised during the campaign, as is usual with the NDP, came from individuals for a total of $180,529.35 slightly less than twice as much as raised from union contributions.

Something he fails to mention. Now why might that be?

Because unlike his former employer the Liberal Party of Alberta, the NDP gets the majority of its donations from individuals. And of course unlike the Liberals none from the big corporations in Alberta. So he has to pretend that union funding of the NDP is somehow scandalous.

Elections Alberta > Financial Disclosure > Parties > Alberta New Democrats

2005
POLITICAL PARTY
CAMPAIGN RETURN
ALBERTA NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY

SUMMARY OF CAMPAIGN PERIOD REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES
FOR THE PERIOD October 25, 2004 - January 24, 2005

CONTRIBUTIONS FROM CORPORATIONS

ALBERTA BUILDING TRADES COUNCIL INC.

EDMONTON

$7,000.00

Cash

CONTRIBUTIONS FROM TRADE UNIONS
ALBERTA & NWT REGIONAL COUNCIL OF CARPENTERS	EDMONTON	$1,000.00			Cash
ALBERTA & NWT REGIONAL COUNCIL OF CARPENTERS	EDMONTON	$2,400.00			Cash
		Subtotal:	$3,400.00
AREA CNCL PAC STEELWORKERS TORONTO	TORONTO - ONTARIO		$500.00		Cash
AREA COUNCIL C E P	EDMONTON		$1,000.00		Cash
C A W CANADA			$8,000.00		Cash
C E C U	EDMONTON		$1,000.00		Cash
C E P NATIONAL	EDMONTON	$4,000.00			Cash
C E P NATIONAL	EDMONTON	$7,000.00			Cash
		Subtotal:	$11,000.00
C L C	EDMONTON		$10,000.00		Cash
C M P L			$5,000.00		Cash
C S U	EDMONTON		$1,000.00		Cash
C U P E	EDMONTON		$5,000.00		Cash
CANADIAN COUNCIL A T U			$2,500.00		Cash
DISTRICT # 3 U S W A	BURNABY - B.C.		$500.00		Cash
EDMONTON FIRE FIGHTERS UNION	EDMONTON	$2,000.00			Cash
EDMONTON FIRE FIGHTERS UNION	EDMONTON	$2,000.00			Cash
		Subtotal:	$4,000.00
EDMONTON LABOUR COUNCIL	EDMONTON		$750.00		Cash
IRONWORKERS LOCAL 720	EDMONTON		$3,000.00		Cash
LOCAL 1118 U F C W	RED DEER		$500.00		Cash
LOCAL 183 U N A	EDMONTON		$1,000.00		Cash
LOCAL 1900 C E P	EDMONTON		$500.00		Cash
LOCAL 569 ATU	EDMONTON		$3,000.00		Cash
LOCAL 6034 U S W A	CALGARY		$500.00		Cash
LOCAL 855 C E P	HINTON		$2,000.00		Cash
U T U	EDMONTON		$1,500.00		Cash
UNITED ASSOC OF PLUMBERS & PIPEFITTERS - LOCAL 488	EDMONTON		$14,000.00		Cash
UNITED NURSES OF ALBERTA	EDMONTON		$500.00		Cash
UNITED STEELWORKERS OF AMERICA PAC	TORONTO - ONTARIO		$500.00		Cash
WORKERS UNION TELECOMMUNICATIONS	EDMONTON	$10,000.00			Cash
WORKERS UNION TELECOMMUNICATIONS	EDMONTON	$50.00			Cash
		Subtotal:	$10,050.00
YELLOWHEAD LABOUR COUNCIL	HINTON		$500.00		Cash
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIONS
MEDICINE HAT LABOUR COUNCIL	MEDICINE HAT		$1,500.00		Cash

But what daveberta does not he tell us is how much corporations donated to his former employer the Liberal Party of Alberta during the election campaign. Count all the oil companies. Which you will not find donating to the NDP. Which of course is the whole point ain't it Dave.And note the corporate donations to the Liberals far exceed the union donations to the NDP for the same election campaign.

Elections Alberta > Financial Disclosure > Parties > Alberta Liberal Party

2005
POLITICAL PARTY
CAMPAIGN RETURN
ALBERTA LIBERAL PARTY

SUMMARY OF CAMPAIGN PERIOD REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES
FOR THE PERIOD October 25, 2004 - January 24, 2005

CONTRIBUTIONS FROM CORPORATIONS
ALBERTA VIEWS	CALGARY		$15,000.00		Cash
ALL WEATHER WINDOWS LTD	EDMONTON		$500.00		Cash
AMEC INC	OAKVILLE - ONTARIO		$2,500.00		Cash
ATCO GROUP	CALGARY		$5,000.00		Cash
BELL WEST	CALGARY		$3,000.00		Cash
BREWSTER TRANSPORTATION AND TOURS	BANFF		$500.00		Cash
CANADIAN NATIONAL	MONTREAL - QUEBEC		$3,000.00		Cash
CIBC	TORONTO - ONTARIO		$5,000.00		Cash
COHOS EVAMY	CALGARY		$1,000.00		Cash
DAVID B. ROSS PROF CORP	EDMONTON		$500.00		Cash
DAVIS & COMPANY	EDMONTON		$1,000.00		Cash
DON WHEATON LTD	EDMONTON		$5,000.00		Cash
DOW CHEMICAL CANADA INC	SARNIA - ONTARIO		$5,000.00		Cash
EDCO FINANCIAL HOLDINGS LTD	CALGARY		$2,500.00		Cash
ENBRIDGE PIPELINES INC	EDMONTON		$6,000.00		Cash
ENCANA CORPORATION	CALGARY		$5,000.00		Cash
ESPRIT EXPLORATION LTD	CALGARY		$1,000.00		Cash
FIELD MANAGEMENT SERVICES	EDMONTON		$2,500.00		Cash
HOLE'S GREENHOUSES AND GARDENS LTD	ST. ALBERT		$883.00		Valued
HUSKY OIL OPERATIONS LTD	CALGARY		$1,000.00		Cash
JAMES A. BUTLIN PROFESSIONAL CORP	CALGARY		$750.00		Cash
KATARINA O. STERLIND	VANCOUVER - B.C.		$1,000.00		Cash
LAFARGE CANADA INC.	CALGARY		$500.00		Cash
LOVINK MEDIA INC	CALGARY		$3,300.00		Valued
MADACALO INVESTMENTS LTD	CALGARY		$1,000.00		Cash
MANCAL PROPERTIES DEVELOPMENT INC	CALGARY		$2,500.00		Cash
MANCAL PROPERTY VENTURES INC	CALGARY		$2,500.00		Cash
MCDANIEL COMPANY INC.	CALGARY		$500.00		Cash
MCNALLY CUMING RAYMAKER	CALGARY		$2,000.00		Cash
NEXEN INC	CALGARY		$5,000.00		Cash
NOVA CHEMICALS CORPORATION	CALGARY		$3,000.00		Cash
OCTAGON CAPITAL CORPORATION	CALGARY		$2,500.00		Cash
P.J. PERRY	EDMONTON		$500.00		Valued
PETROVERA RESOURCES	CALGARY		$5,000.00		Cash
PHS HOLDINGS	EDMONTON		$500.00		Cash
PRECISION DRILLING CORPORATION	CALGARY		$2,500.00		Cash
PRICE WATERHOUSE COOPERS LTD	CALGARY		$1,000.00		Cash
RBC CAPITAL MARKETS	CALGARY	$5,000.00			Cash
RBC CAPITAL MARKETS	CALGARY	$5,000.00			Cash
		Subtotal:	$10,000.00
READ JONES CHRISTOFFERSEN LTD	CALGARY		$500.00		Cash
REIMER LAW OFFICE	CALGARY		$500.00		Cash
ROCKWELL SERVICING PARTNERSHIP	CALGARY		$2,500.00		Cash
SCOTIABANK	TORONTO - ONTARIO		$4,000.00		Cash
SUNCOR ENERGY INC	CALGARY		$3,000.00		Cash
TD SECURITIES INC	TORONTO - ONTARIO		$1,000.00		Cash
TORONTO DOMINION BANK	TORONTO - ONTARIO		$1,600.00		Cash
TRANSALTA UTILITIES CORPORATION	CALGARY		$2,000.00		Cash
TRANSCANADA PIPE LINES	CALGARY		$5,000.00		Cash
WESTERN FINANCIAL GROUP INC	HIGH RIVER		$1,000.00		Cash
WEYERHAEUSER COMPANY LIMITED	VANCOUVER - B.C.		$2,000.00		Cash
WILL CALL OILFIELD SERVICES LTD	SPRUCE GROVE		$500.00		Cash

Total: 99 Receipts

$206,496.74

Total Campaign Period Revenue $241,438.34

Corporate donations to the Liberals were twice as much as union donations to the NDP for the election campaign in 2004! Something dave forgot to mention.

During that campaign individual donations to the Alberta Liberals totaled $34,941.6 Ouch. Not even close to the individual donations the NDP raised, and this is the real reason for daveberta's faux outrage.

His party and former employer, relies heavily on corporate funding for their election campaigns. Unlike the NDP. And so his attempt to do a bit of political slight of hand, look over there NDP gets union donations. The reality is that if the NDP policy of no corporate or union donations was the law, it would hurt the Liberals more than the NDP. And it is a policy the NDP has adopted as provincial governments across Canada.

Daveberta was outraged that Ray Martin wrote a letter last fall soliciting funding from unions for this pending election campaign. However what he does not tell his readers is that the Liberals on an annual basis raise more funds from unions than the NDP does.

Here is the 2004 corporate donations the Liberals received, during their regular operational year. And lo and behold you will find unions donating to them. Including the Building Trades Council Inc. who donated more to the Liberals than they did to the NDP. And AUPE the provincial government union which did not donate at all to the NDP. And even personal donations from the Alberta Teachers Association president Frank Bruseker who was once a Liberal MLA.

BRUSEKER, FRANK	AIRDRIE	$500.00			Cash
BRUSEKER, FRANK	AIRDRIE	$100.00			Cash
BRUSEKER, FRANK	AIRDRIE	$20.00			Cash
		Subtotal:	$620.00

Total donations from unions to the Liberals for the operating year 2004 was $47,675, while total union donations to the NDP was $14,000. So sorry no the NDP are not being hypocrites, they are calling for legislation that daveberta and his Liberal pals fear because it would limit their corporate fund raising including from their pals in the union movement. If any party benefits from union donations more than the NDP it's the Liberals. Because they lack the NDP's financial support which is based on individual contributions.

Mind you the NDP benefits from more unions donating to it, while the Liberals rely on their pals in the Building Trades, ATA, and AUPE to support them. These are unions and associations aligned politically to the Liberals as their donations show.

Elections Alberta > Financial Disclosure > Parties > Alberta Liberal Party

2004
POLITICAL PARTY
ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT
ALBERTA LIBERAL PARTY

CONTRIBUTIONS FROM CORPORATIONS
AINSWORTH LUMBER CO LTD	GRANDE PRAIRIE		$3,000.00		Cash
ALBERTA BLUE CROSS	EDMONTON		$550.00		Cash
ALBERTA BUILDING TRADES COUNCIL INC.	EDMONTON	$2,200.00			Cash
ALBERTA BUILDING TRADES COUNCIL INC.	EDMONTON	$12,000.00			Cash
		Subtotal:	$14,200.00
ALBERTA FOREST PRODUCTS ASSOC INC	EDMONTON		$550.00		Cash
ALBERTA MOTOR ASSOCIATION	EDMONTON		$550.00		Cash
ALBERTA ROADBUILDERS & HEAVY CONST.	EDMONTON		$550.00		Cash
ALBERTA VIEWS	CALGARY		$15,000.00		Cash
ALLIANCE PIPELINE LIMITED	CALGARY		$875.00		Cash
ALTAGAS SERVICES INC	CALGARY		$525.00		Cash
AON REED STENHOUSE INC	EDMONTON		$550.00		Cash
APEGGA	EDMONTON		$550.00		Cash
ARTTEC ADVERTISING INC	EDMONTON		$550.00		Cash
ASSOCIATED ENGINEERING ALBERTA LTD	EDMONTON		$500.00		Cash
BOMBAY PALACE RESTAURANT	EDMONTON		$500.00		Cash
BREWSTER TRANSPORTATION AND TOURS	BANFF		$500.00		Cash
BURLINGTON RESOURCES CANADA LTD	CALGARY		$1,200.00		Cash
CANACCORD CAPITAL CORPORATION	VANCOUVER - B.C.		$1,750.00		Cash
CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF OILWELL DRI	CALGARY		$1,100.00		Cash
CANADIAN ENERGY PIPELINE ASSOCIATION	CALGARY		$875.00		Cash
CANADIAN NATURAL RESOURCES LTD	CALGARY		$1,100.00		Cash
CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY	CALGARY		$550.00		Cash
CANADIAN SALT COMPANY LIMITED	POINTE CLAIRE - QUEBEC		$1,000.00		Cash
CAPITAL PACKERS INC	EDMONTON	$500.00			Cash
CAPITAL PACKERS INC	EDMONTON	$100.00			Cash
		Subtotal:	$600.00
CARLYLE & ASSOCIATES	EDMONTON		$550.00		Cash
CARMA DEVELOPERS LTD.	EDMONTON	$550.00			Cash
CARMA DEVELOPERS LTD.	CALGARY	$200.00			Cash
		Subtotal:	$750.00
COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS & SURGEONS	EDMONTON	$275.00			Cash
COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS & SURGEONS	EDMONTON	$525.00			Cash
		Subtotal:	$800.00
CORIL HOLDINGS LTD	CALGARY		$2,000.00		Cash
DOUGLAS A. LYNASS PROF CORP	EDMONTON	$550.00			Cash
DOUGLAS A. LYNASS PROF CORP	EDMONTON	$350.00			Cash
		Subtotal:	$900.00
DRAGICH DESIGN	EDMONTON		$850.00		Valued
DYNACARE KASPER MEDICAL LABORATORIES	EDMONTON		$1,000.00		Cash
ENBRIDGE PIPELINES INC	EDMONTON	$2,200.00			Cash
ENBRIDGE PIPELINES INC	EDMONTON	$1,000.00			Cash
		Subtotal:	$3,200.00
ENER-WEST PROJECTS LTD	CALGARY		$550.00		Cash
FIELD ATKINSON PERRATON MANAGEMENT	EDMONTON		$2,200.00		Cash
FIRSTENERGY CAPITAL CORP	CALGARY		$1,000.00		Cash
FWD STEP RESOURCES	CALGARY	$500.00			Cash
FWD STEP RESOURCES	CALGARY	$25.00			Cash
		Subtotal:	$525.00
GENERAL ELECTRIC CANADA INC	MISSISSAUGA - ONTARIO		$1,000.00		Cash
GRAHAM GROUP LTD	CALGARY		$1,000.00		Cash
HAMILTON HALL SOYES/RAY & BERNDTSON INC	CALGARY		$1,000.00		Cash
HEMISPHERE ENGINEERING INC.	EDMONTON		$550.00		Cash
HOLE'S GREENHOUSES AND GARDENS LTD	ST. ALBERT	$836.74			Cash
HOLE'S GREENHOUSES AND GARDENS LTD	ST. ALBERT	$50.00			Cash
		Subtotal:	$886.74
HUSKY OIL OPERATIONS LTD	CALGARY		$2,000.00		Cash
IMPERIAL OIL LIMITED	CALGARY		$3,500.00		Cash
IMPERIAL OIL RESOURCES LTD	CALGARY		$3,500.00		Cash
INLAND LEHIGH CEMENT LIMITED	EDMONTON	$2,200.00			Cash
INLAND LEHIGH CEMENT LIMITED	EDMONTON	$1,000.00			Cash
INLAND LEHIGH CEMENT LIMITED	EDMONTON	$500.00			Cash
		Subtotal:	$3,700.00
J.E. (BUD) MILLER CONSULTING LTD	KITSCOTY		$500.00		Cash
JAMES A. BUTLIN PROFESSIONAL CORP	CALGARY	$275.00			Cash
JAMES A. BUTLIN PROFESSIONAL CORP	CALGARY	$500.00			Cash
		Subtotal:	$775.00
K P ACCOUNTING & TAX SERVICES	EDMONTON		$1,000.00		Cash
K P M G	EDMONTON		$550.00		Cash
LOCAL #8 SHEETMETAL BENEVOLENT FUN	EDMONTON		$750.00		Cash
LUSCAR LTD	EDMONTON		$3,000.00		Cash
LUTHRA LAW OFFICE	EDMONTON		$500.00		Cash
MANSELL PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSULTING SE	EDMONTON		$500.00		Cash
MCDANIEL & ASSOCIATES CONSULTANTS LTD	CALGARY		$500.00		Cash
MCNALLY VALUATIONS INC	EDMONTON	$550.00			Cash
MCNALLY VALUATIONS INC	EDMONTON	$350.00			Cash
		Subtotal:	$900.00
NEXEN INC	CALGARY	$550.00			Cash
NEXEN INC	CALGARY	$2,200.00			Cash
NEXEN INC	CALGARY	$12,000.00			Cash
		Subtotal:	$14,750.00
NICHOLAS PERELES PROF CORP	CALGARY	$1,000.00			Cash
NICHOLAS PERELES PROF CORP	CALGARY	$350.00			Cash
		Subtotal:	$1,350.00
NORTHLANDS PARK	EDMONTON		$550.00		Cash
PARKER FORD & MACKAY SPECIALTY OPT	EDMONTON		$550.00		Cash
PAUL ZIFF & CO NATURAL GAS CONSULT	CALGARY	$275.00			Cash
PAUL ZIFF & CO NATURAL GAS CONSULT	CALGARY	$250.00			Cash
PAUL ZIFF & CO NATURAL GAS CONSULT	CALGARY	$250.00			Cash
PAUL ZIFF & CO NATURAL GAS CONSULT	CALGARY	$500.00			Cash
		Subtotal:	$1,275.00
PCL CONSTRUCTION GROUP INC	EDMONTON		$5,000.00		Cash
PETERS & CO. LIMITED	CALGARY		$1,000.00		Cash
PHARMACISTS ASSOCIATION OF ALBERTA	EDMONTON		$550.00		Cash
PIPELLA AND COMPANY BARRISTERS AND SOLICITORS	CALGARY	$550.00			Cash
PIPELLA AND COMPANY BARRISTERS AND SOLICITORS	CALGARY	$350.00			Cash
		Subtotal:	$900.00
QUALICO DEVELOPMENTS WEST LTD	EDMONTON		$550.00		Cash
ROYAL BANK OF CANADA	EDMONTON	$1,100.00			Cash
ROYAL BANK OF CANADA	EDMONTON	$2,000.00			Cash
		Subtotal:	$3,100.00
SCHUMACHER & ASSOCIATES	WETASKIWIN		$825.00		Cash
SCOTIABANK	TORONTO - ONTARIO		$2,000.00		Cash
SECURITY LIFE AND INVESTMENT	CALGARY		$400.00		Cash
SHAW COMMUNICATIONS INC	CALGARY		$550.00		Cash
SHELLY'S ENTERPRISE LTD	EDMONTON		$1,000.00		Cash
SUNCOR ENERGY INC	CALGARY		$6,500.00		Cash
T. BOWEN & A. ROBERTS PROF CORP	CALGARY	$275.00			Cash
T. BOWEN & A. ROBERTS PROF CORP	CALGARY	$175.00			Cash
		Subtotal:	$450.00
TALISMAN ENERGY INC	CALGARY	$550.00			Cash
TALISMAN ENERGY INC	CALGARY	$5,000.00			Cash
TALISMAN ENERGY INC	CALGARY	$1,000.00			Cash
		Subtotal:	$6,550.00
TAURUS INVESTMENTS LTD	EDMONTON	$825.00			Cash
TAURUS INVESTMENTS LTD	EDMONTON	$1,000.00			Cash
		Subtotal:	$1,825.00
TECHNA-WEST ENGINEERING LTD	EDMONTON		$550.00		Cash
TELUS	EDMONTON	$2,200.00			Cash
TELUS	EDMONTON	$2,200.00			Cash
TELUS	EDMONTON	$700.00			Cash
		Subtotal:	$5,100.00
TERASEN PIPELINES INC	CALGARY		$1,225.00		Cash
THE COHOS EVAMY	CALGARY	$275.00			Cash
THE COHOS EVAMY	CALGARY	$275.00			Cash
		Subtotal:	$550.00
THE TORONTO DOMINION BANK	EDMONTON		$2,200.00		Cash
THURBER ENGINEERING LTD	EDMONTON		$550.00		Cash
TRARION RESOURCES LTD	STONY PLAIN		$500.00		Cash
VINTERRA PROPERTIES INC	EDMONTON	$1,100.00			Cash
VINTERRA PROPERTIES INC	EDMONTON	$50.00			Cash
VINTERRA PROPERTIES INC	EDMONTON	$750.00			Cash
		Subtotal:	$1,900.00
WEYERHAEUSER COMPANY LTD	EDMONTON		$550.00		Cash
WILL CALL OILFIELD SERVICES LTD	SPRUCE GROVE		$550.00		Cash
WILLIAM E. SEVICK PROFESSIONAL CORP	EDMONTON	$550.00			Cash
WILLIAM E. SEVICK PROFESSIONAL CORP	EDMONTON	$500.00			Cash
		Subtotal:	$1,050.00
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM TRADE UNIONS
ALBERT & NWT REGIONAL COUNCIL OF CARPENTERS AND ALLIED WORKERS	EDMONTON	$1,000.00			Cash
ALBERT & NWT REGIONAL COUNCIL OF CARPENTERS AND ALLIED WORKERS	EDMONTON	$275.00			Cash
ALBERT & NWT REGIONAL COUNCIL OF CARPENTERS AND ALLIED WORKERS	EDMONTON	$1,000.00			Cash
		Subtotal:	$2,275.00
AUPE LOCAL 50	EDMONTON		$2,000.00		Cash
AUPE LOCAL 9	EDMONTON	$500.00			Cash
AUPE LOCAL 9	EDMONTON	$200.00			Cash
AUPE LOCAL 9	EDMONTON	$10,500.00			Cash
		Subtotal:	$11,200.00
INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF BOILERMAKERS IRON SHIP BUILERS	EDMONTON		$15,000.00		Cash
INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMST	CALGARY		$500.00		Cash
INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING EN	EDMONTON	$3,000.00			Cash
INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING EN	EDMONTON	$750.00			Cash
		Subtotal:	$3,750.00

Elections Alberta > Financial Disclosure > Parties > Alberta New Democrats

2004
POLITICAL PARTY
ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT
ALBERTA NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY

CONTRIBUTIONS FROM CORPORATIONS
629075 ALBERTA LTD	EDMONTON		$400.00		Cash
ALBERTA BUILDING TRADES COUNCIL INC.	EDMONTON		$4,000.00		Cash
ALL WRIGHT INFOTECH	EDMONTON		$600.00		Valued
LYLE S R KANEE PROF CORP	EDMONTON		$420.00		Cash
P GILL CNC INDUSTRIES LTD	EDMONTON		$500.00		Cash
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM TRADE UNIONS
AREA COUNCIL C E P	EDMONTON		$4,000.00		Cash
C E P NATIONAL	EDMONTON	$1,000.00			Cash
C E P NATIONAL	EDMONTON	$5,000.00			Cash
C E P NATIONAL	EDMONTON	$4,000.00			Cash
		Subtotal:	$10,000.00

So nice try dave, guess all those blogging awards and the ensuing publicity you get now as a political blogger have gone to your head. Next time you try a drive by smear full of righteous indignation get your facts straight. And before making allegations about union influence over political parties look in your own back yard.



SEE:

Diotte Endorses Mason and NDP


tags
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election,PC, Edmonton, politics, Conservatives,media, politics, Kevin Taft,
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Nova Scota Imitates Alberta

Alberta has the most regressive labour laws in Canada. It long ago banned hospital workers, including nurses, right to strike. That of course did not stop those workers from going on strike. The right to strike is an essential workers right and is defended by the International Labour Organization as such. It is as essential as the right to unionize.

If governments banned the right to unionize it would be seen as the actions of an authoritarian state. The same goes for banning the right to strike. Ironically unions were banned in the 19th Century as 'criminal conspiracies' to limit trade. It was several years after Canada became a nation that Britain changed its laws and Canada followed suit. That did not stop workers from organizing unions, as secret societies; like the Knights of Labor. It meant workers on the job organized, and went on strike because that is their right as workers. All we have to sell is our labour or our time, our presence on the job.

In Alberta hospital workers were declared an essential service that still did not prevent AUPE or the Nurses union from going out on 'illegal' strikes. And win wage and benefit gains.

In Nova Scotia the hospital employers are running TV ads, I have satellite so I get to see them when I watch the CFL or NHL on CBC Halifax, claiming it hurt patients and is in everyones 'best' interest to end the right to strike. They claim other provinces do it and it has brought labour peace. Actually they meant to say appeasement. However that being said these employers are just another arm of government. They are government appointees or hirelings. So while one arm of the government, the legislature, brings in anti-worker anti-union anti-strike laws the other arm of the government, its employer association running the public hospitals, does the PR for the law.

The fact is that if the employer, who is the government, would fund hospitals and medical services properly then workers would be assured of proper wage and benefit increases, and proper hours of work. Instead the employer, which is the government, wants to cut wages, benefits and contract out work, split shifts, end seniority etc. etc.

A group that does not face these draconian attacks is of course the Doctors who are a business monopoly. There are few doctors strikes in Canada, and if they do occur they are short lived because governments assure doctors their services are paid for. Then they turn around and cut services in hospitals and cut other workers wages and benefits and tell them to hold the line.

The reality is that mediation only works between equals. In this case the government and its hospital administration view doctors as indispensable, and other workers as dispensable. If they didn't they would fund hospitals fully so all workers got the pay, benefits and hours of work they deserve. If that was the case there would be no need to strike.

Mediation does not work. Nor does denying workers the right to strike. They will, as history has shown, strike when they get cheated and screwed whether it is against the law or not.

What is interesting is that this balanced and pro-union article is from a Business Journal.

Union Dues: Anti-strike bill 'political posturing'
BY BRIAN FLINN, TRANSCONTINENTAL MEDIA
The Nova Scotia Business Journal

Health workers, the NDP and the Liberals are lined up against the government's highest-profile bill as the Nova Scotia legislature ends a seven-month summer break. Premier Rodney MacDonald said he's pushing ahead with the doomed anti-strike legislation because Nova Scotians deserve to hear it debated and find out how their MLAs vote. But he's not putting his minority government's survival on the line.

"There won't be any confidence votes this fall," MacDonald told reporters.

The government has been working on a bill to replace health strikes with arbitration since a brief IWK walkout earlier this year. Health- and community-care workers don't want to lose collective bargaining rights, and plan to rally outside Province House today while Lt.-Gov. Mayann Francis reads the speech from the throne.

"We're pleased the opposition will defeat this bill," said Joan Jessome, president of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union. "But it can come back again and again. We need to make our point strong and clear enough to put this to rest."

The premier said he does plan to revive the bill later. "I'm a patient person," he said.

Both the Liberals and the NDP plan to defeat the bill at the first opportunity, when it goes to a second reading vote. MacDonald said the Liberals are "stuck in the past," while the NDP is standing up for special interests.

"They receive a lot of funding from the unions. They generally tend to be the biggest contributor to the NDP and most of their candidates," he said. "It's unfortunate; you don't put that ahead of health and safety."

NDP Leader Darrell Dexter said MacDonald is trying to distract attention from bigger problems in health care, such as emergency-room closings and the shortage of nursing-home beds. He said it's unfortunate the government is wasting some of the few days it allows the legislature to sit, on a doomed bill. "This bill is purely a product of political posturing," Dexter said.

Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil said he doesn't hear Nova Scotians pleading for anti-strike legislation. He said his party wants to co-operate with health workers, not take away their rights. "Where's the crisis?" McNeil asked. "I have yet to understand why the premier and the government are hanging their hats on this issue."

The House has to sit for only two days to avoid the label of the laziest legislature in Canada for a fourth year in a row. Prince Edward Island's House sat just 24 days this year, one more than Nova Scotia. – The Daily News

EXTRA: Strike threats useful warning system
By Brian Flinn, Transcontinental Media

Taking the right to strike away from health workers would damage an important safety mechanism and jeopardize the care of Nova Scotians, according to a new study by the Centre for Policy Alternatives.

Saint Mary's University professors Judy and Larry Haiven wrote that health workers know when the system is being pushed beyond tolerable limits and can signal it by threatening to strike. They said it's similar to the "red cord" used to stop assembly lines when something goes wrong in a factory.

"Health-care workers must have a way of indicating that the conditions under which they work do not overstress them or the quality of health-care delivery," the Haivens wrote. "Thus, in the health-care system, the red cord can be said to be the power of health-care workers to threaten to, and if necessary, withhold their labour."

Labour Minister Mark Parent has argued a modern health-care system cannot tolerate work stoppages. The report says "management by stress" now predominates in health care, and an outlet is more important than ever. "If politicians and health-care administrators insist on running a system so close to the bone, then the ability of workers to strike, to pull the red cord, as it were, is an essential system mechanism to ensure patient safety in the long run." – The Daily News

And this is from the Dominion Blog

November 23, 2007

NS Government Faces Heat Over Anti-Strike Bill

In one of the more polite demonstrations I've attended, a union coalition lead by the Nova Scotia General Employees Union staged a sidewalk rally of about 500 in front of the province's legislature on Thursday. While members of the crowd, which included a strong contingent of nurses and healthcare workers, heckled Premier Rodney Macdonald's minority government (top pic), the military guard-laden arrival of Nova Scotia's Lt.-Gov Mayann Francis, due to read her first speech from the throne, on the other side of the building was met with no interruption (bottom pic). After Macdonald's assertion that the unions were being "disrespectful" for holding a demonstration during the ceremonial speech from the throne, the union leadership responded by urging demonstrators to remain quiet outside of the legislature while Francis made her speech.

The rally was called in response to a bill due to be introduced by the minority tories banning the right to strike for the 32,000 healthcare workers in Nova Scotia. Macdonald had promised to introduce the bill in May following a one-day strike at a children's hospital in Halifax. The bill seems to be on the verge of being junked as a result of the union campaign, as both the Liberals and NDP have pledged to vote against it, were it to be introduced by the minority government. As a result, Macdonald has admitted he is unwilling to see his government fall as a result of the proposed anti-strike legislation.

Regardless of this apparent defeat, the throne speech outlined the Tory government's plans to establish more publicly funded, private health facilities in the province.

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health care, medicare, Canada, Conservatives, hospital workers, health, Rodney MacDonald, right to strike, unions, Nova Scotia

Labour Rally Today

AUPE and other unions are calling for changes to the labour laws in Alberta in favour of workers.

October 26, 2007
There will be a rally on Friday October 26 at the Alberta Labour Board at 3PM (10808 99 ave) AUPE along with many other concerned Albertans will be presenting the Albertan Government with thousands of letters asking the government to change Alberta's antiquated Laws. Please help spread the word and most certainly bring family and friends
www.albertasolidarity.com

Abolishing the Labour Relations Board would be one solution.

"The employing class and the working class have nothing in common."
Preamble to the IWW Constitution

See:

Alberta's Padrone Culture

Temp Workers For Timmies

Labour Shortage = Union Busting

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temp-workers, foreign-workers, labour, labor, labour-shortage, Canada, Alberta, Edmonton,
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How Do You Spell Sell Out?

B U Z Z.

CAW shelves right to strike

In Alberta workers are fighting to change our regressive labour laws to allow the right to strike which was recognized this summer by the Supreme Court. In Ontario workers are being sold out by once progressive talking union leader Buzz Hargrove. All so he can increase his declining membership and assure his pork choppers their salaries. It is sending a chill through out the Canadian labour movement.

Hey maybe Buzz would like to move to Alberta, since the bosses here would love this kind of agreement. In fact thats why CLAC is so popular with employers out here. So what's the difference between CAW and the employee management consultants from CLAC....nothing.

If workers vote in favour of the CAW and the contract at their plant, any subsequent collective bargaining disputes would be resolved through binding arbitration rather than a walkout by the union or a lockout by the company.

The fundamental right to withdraw labour is a provision that unions have protected vigorously for decades as its only ultimate power against management.

But the CAW's decision to give up the right to strike triggered criticism from other labour leaders.

"It's a pretty drastic measure and ultimately is not good for workers because they no longer have the right to withdraw their labour," said Wayne Samuelson, president of the Ontario Federation of Labour.

"It's pretty fundamental to the labour movement and collective bargaining. This is not good, especially if it's exchanged for voluntary recognition of the union. It certainly sets a precedent that working people need to be concerned about."

"Hargrove is creating CAW-employer associations," added Wayne Fraser, Ontario-Atlantic director of the United Steelworkers. "What's to stop other employers, especially Magna competitors, from rightfully asking the CAW for the same no-strike right."

Hargrove said it wouldn't be possible for other auto-parts companies with a union to demand the same provision. However, a non-union employer could get a similar arrangement, he said. "Invite us in."

Hargrove recognizes the need for his business union to adapt to modern business practices, mergers and acquisitions to expand the base of capital (union dues). This began when CAW raided SEIU for its members, claiming it was doing it in the name of democratic social unionism. Which got CAW temporarily removed from the CLC. AUPE in Alberta followed CAW's lead and left the AFL and CLC declaring itself an indepedent union, with support from Buzz.

Neither of these moves were not about democracy or workers rights, since both unions have hired staff and their own management structures. Rather it was about money. In the CAW's case busting a rival union and gaining its members, in AUPE's case retaining affiliation fees they could use themselves.

Now Buzz has gone even further with the potential of 20,000 dues paying workers with a forced dues check off, the Rand Formula, and no right to strike, he will be able to use those funds to balance the books as more attrition hits the auto sector and more of his members retire.

It's a cynical and shallow motive but one that should be expected by business unions that no longer see their purpose as overthrowing capitalism but as getting their members the best deal they can under capitalism.

Once upon a time unions like CAW and others called themselves Social Unions
somehow different from their American International business union counterparts. They were about fighting globalization and neo-liberalism. Buzz has repeatedly claimed he is left wing. Yep the left wing of capitalism.

Today the CAW as I predicted, is all about adapting to globalization and neo-liberalism in order to give Canadian corporations a fighting chance in the world market.

Oct 19, 2007	Sam Gindin	The CAW and Magna: Disorganizing the Working Class
Through the 1980s and 1990s, as the attacks on past working class gains intensified, the Canadian Auto Workers Union (CAW) was widely recognized – not just in North America but abroad – as standing at the forefront of working class resistance. With the Magna-CAW Agreement signed on October 15, 2007, the CAW now seems at the forefront of working class desperation and defeat...

This is not unlike the recent mergers of the International Transportation and Steel unions and other international unions that are facing declining memberships and lack of bargaining power.

Once again the unions show they are merely an extension of capitalism not an alternative to it.

That alternative exists and it is Revolutionary Syndicalism that was birthed with the IWW over a hundred years ago.

The employing class and the working class have nothing in common."
Preamble to the IWW Constitution

"When the working class unites, there will be a lot of jobless labor leaders."
Eugene Debs, 1905 speech to the IWW Convention

See:

Unions the State and Capital

Global Labour in the Age of Empire

WHITHER SOCIAL DEMOCRACY?
THE CRISIS OF CAPITALISM, LABOUR AND THE NDP
A SOCIALIST PERSPECTIVE

Will Canadian Labour Accept Free Trade?

Business Unions Sell-out B.C. General Strike

Nationalism Will Not Stop North American Union

This is Class War

CAW To Leave CLC?

Sniveling NDP

Labour Abandons the NDP

Unite the Left

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Buzz Hargrove,
Liberals, unionization,
CAW, Canada, auto, automobile, Frank Stronach, Magna, business unions, auto parts

We Get Complaints

Remember the cartoon with the bottomless box labeled 'complaints'.

Foreign workers get complaints office

Of course it's kind of hard to complain when you are dead.



SEE:

Alberta's Padrone Culture

AUPE Calls General Strike Over Safety

Day of Mourning

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AUPE Calls General Strike Over Safety

The difference between business unionism and industrial unionism. Business unions are in the business of keeping business operating, industrial/social unionism says wobble the job for health and safety.

The head of Alberta Building Trades Council is calling for calm over the deaths of two foreign workers at a Fort McMurray-area oilpatch worksite.

Executive director Ron Harry called on workers and the public to wait until all investigations into the tragedy are complete before making any decisions.

"There are processes and policies on each site," said Harry.

"In the end a worker is a worker, no matter if he's union or non-union, an immigrant or non-immigrant. It's unfortunate but you must find out what caused the situation first."

He was responding to reports Doug Knight of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees called on workers to walk off the job immediately if they fear the jobsite is not safe.

If there is immediate danger at the workplace you must remove yourself and your co-workers from it," said Harry, "then work with the employers and owners on site about the problem, don't just walk off the job."

The ABTC represents 50,000 unionized workers, 16 affiliate trade unions and 23 locals in Alberta. The two workers killed were not union members.

Harry said that the last thing he wants to see are massive groups of workers walking off the job sites without first going through the workplace safety steps.

The two men died while working at the Canadian Natural Resources Ltd site in the Fort MacKay area, near Fort McMurray. Witnesses said that a massive tank collapsed and killed the two temporary Chinese workers and injured four more.

Fiona Wiseman, spokesman for Occupation Health and Safety, said that four investigators from Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry are already at the site.

A government translator who speaks Mandarin, the same language the two dead men spoke, is also on the scene. Wiseman said that no details will be released until the investigation is completed. In 2006, 124 people died on the job in Alberta. The death toll reached 27 in the first two months of 2007.

See:

Day of Mourning

Labour Shortage = Union Busting

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workers, injuries, assault, crime, work, labour, labor, government, public sector workers, service workers, Canada, job, dangers on the job, assault, crime, unions, working alone, CLAC, unions, labour shortage, Monte Solberg, Canada, Alberta, tarsands, oilsands, labour, labor, work, jobs, IBEW, Merit Contractors, non-union, rat unions, yellow dog union, temporary workers

Gomperism

The essence of Sam Gompers politics, the President of the American Federation of Labour, was reward your friends and punish your enemies.

In Alberta the politically backward trades unions, those business unions who are chartered by the American AFL, have revived this dictum for the upcoming Tory leadership race. Traditionally the building trades membership, craft unions, have supported the Liberals in Alberta politics. Several sitting Liberal MLA's are members of the Building Trades unions.

Today they have moved to support aTory right winger who has fought the unionized public sector in this province.

Union Oberg backers buying Conservative memberships

Tactics anger Dinning leadership campaign, labour federation

The Alberta Building Trades Council, an umbrella group that includes 22 local unions, apparently plans to buy as many as 10,000 Tory memberships from the Oberg campaign to give away to its members, allowing each of them to vote for the party's new leader.

A separate union, the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, is giving away Tory memberships to its members as well as their families and friends. The only condition is that they support Oberg.

Typical of craft unions whose only interest is self interest, I got mine Jack. In this case as a former infrastructure minister Oberg is promising lots of construction jobs. The fact that he attacks public sector unions shows there is not solidarity in the house of labour in Alberta. Its each for their own. As AUPE proved successfully under former President Dan McLellan. He would approve this move.

The teachers union the ATA is also encouraging its members to flood the Tories with memberships.

Frank Bruseker, head of the Alberta Teachers Association
and a former Liberal MLA, has a PC membership card
and is urging his 33,000 members to buy one, too.

All aboard the gravy train. The reality is that of course this is the real election in Alberta since in a one party state the leadership race is the only time we get to choose our new leader. So shell out your five bucks and vote for our next Glorious Leader. But don't think that will save you from being screwed by the notorious anti-union government of Alberta.


See:

This is Class War

Unions

Alberta Democracy Tory Style

Alberta Lowers Voting Age

Alberta

One Party State

Klein

Democratic Deficit

Mormonism Cult of the Political Right

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