![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Apparently I'm a total right winger
Jan. 1st, 2004 10:44 pmJason's grandfather told me I sounded like Jim Pattison today. Ouch! He also said that I would fit in well with Gordon Campbell. Double ouch!
Let me first say that I'm NOT anti union. I think unions are really important, and necessary in certain professions. I am however, against some of the unions in this province, and I think that the way the operate has crippled, and will continue to cripple the economy. I am against any union that creates an "us (the union workers) versus "them" (management) dichotomy in the work place. It stiffles efficiency, and creates hostility. It aggravates me that some unions seem to support workers that do the bare minimum not to get fired. It really aggravates me that senority is often a greater factor in upward mobility in the workplace than merit.
Having said all of this, I don't think that companies can be trusted to treat workers fairly and look out for their employee's best interests. Sure, there are companies out there that realize that their employees are their greatest resources, and treat them like gold, but I think many companies need some government prodding in the way of legislation and enforcement of regulations.
What is so horrible about saying that unions are no longer a viable option for a lot of companies, and moving on to develop workable solutions? As soon as people hear a single negative word about unions, and their impact on labour costs and workplace efficiency, they get totally defensive and refuse to work on a solution. The name calling starts. So just because I think that we need to focus on getting companies to recognize hard work, ambition, and talent I'm suddenly like Jim Pattison, a rutheless ultra-conservative multi-millionare business tycoon? I don't think so.
What frustrates me even more, is that these same people who want more wages, and more benefits, and more, more, more...aren't willing to pay a higher price for goods and services. I've been talking for five years about how I believe in voting with my dollars, and every time, I get a million reasons why they can't (more like won't) pay the extra tiny bit to support local businesses that treat their employees decently, provide superior products, and that desperately need a loyal customer base just to stay afloat. You can't have it both ways!
Let me first say that I'm NOT anti union. I think unions are really important, and necessary in certain professions. I am however, against some of the unions in this province, and I think that the way the operate has crippled, and will continue to cripple the economy. I am against any union that creates an "us (the union workers) versus "them" (management) dichotomy in the work place. It stiffles efficiency, and creates hostility. It aggravates me that some unions seem to support workers that do the bare minimum not to get fired. It really aggravates me that senority is often a greater factor in upward mobility in the workplace than merit.
Having said all of this, I don't think that companies can be trusted to treat workers fairly and look out for their employee's best interests. Sure, there are companies out there that realize that their employees are their greatest resources, and treat them like gold, but I think many companies need some government prodding in the way of legislation and enforcement of regulations.
What is so horrible about saying that unions are no longer a viable option for a lot of companies, and moving on to develop workable solutions? As soon as people hear a single negative word about unions, and their impact on labour costs and workplace efficiency, they get totally defensive and refuse to work on a solution. The name calling starts. So just because I think that we need to focus on getting companies to recognize hard work, ambition, and talent I'm suddenly like Jim Pattison, a rutheless ultra-conservative multi-millionare business tycoon? I don't think so.
What frustrates me even more, is that these same people who want more wages, and more benefits, and more, more, more...aren't willing to pay a higher price for goods and services. I've been talking for five years about how I believe in voting with my dollars, and every time, I get a million reasons why they can't (more like won't) pay the extra tiny bit to support local businesses that treat their employees decently, provide superior products, and that desperately need a loyal customer base just to stay afloat. You can't have it both ways!
