I was going to borrow this from a workplace to scan it, but now I found it already online. A CUPE publishing suggests that the SaskParty will cripple the province.
I’m not impressed with the CUPE brass, who figure it’s their business to not only tell members which party they expect members to vote for, but which party they think will not deal fairly with unions. Wouldn’t it be a better idea to foster positive relationships with all parties so that labour issues can be dealt with no matter the government in power?
@hotmail.com
![[EFC Blue Ribbon - Free Speech Online]](http://www.efc.ca/images/efcfreet.gif)
Jan Johnstone | 17-Oct-07 at 9:06 pm | Permalink
You mean like the working family coalition in Ontario who operated as an extended wing of the liberal party? You mean like that?
Like when Buzz said vote liberal and that liberals are more left than the NDP? Do you mean that you want Sask CUPE to act like that?
Why do you find this a problem?
Let me answer for you. It does not support the liberals or Sask party and makes no bones that this union supports the party that represents working people. No mushy middle here.
lance | 17-Oct-07 at 9:23 pm | Permalink
except that “supporting working people” doesn’t actually mean anything.
Saskboy | 17-Oct-07 at 10:02 pm | Permalink
“Let me answer for you. It does not support the liberals or Sask party and makes no bones that this union supports the party that represents working people.”
The NDP hasn’t been about “working people” for quite a while Jan. There is a distinct anti-farmer attitude in the NDP, and you probably can’t find harder workers in this province.
CUPE and any union that hitches their wagon to the NDP are short sighted. The NDP won’t always win elections, and CUPE should be non-partisan enough to be able to work with parties and communicate the needs of union members. CUPE is wasting union dues on pamphlets like this one, because the NDP are quite able to spread the fear and smear campaign on their own dime, and don’t need mine doing it for them.
leftdog | 17-Oct-07 at 10:15 pm | Permalink
“I’m not impressed with the CUPE brass, who figure it’s their business to not only tell members which party they expect members to vote for”
HUH?!
… I missed that part - are they telling their members to vote Green or Liberal … I don’t see where members were told ‘which party they expect members to vote for’ …..
(And),
“but which party they think will not deal fairly with unions.”
HUH?!
Brad Wall said “… going to ‘war’ with the unions …” but CUPE should have to ‘foster positive relationships with all parties’ .. !
I applaud CUPE for informing their members!
Saskboy | 17-Oct-07 at 10:19 pm | Permalink
Leftdog, to put it bluntly, they’re doing a shitty job of informing their members. Where’s the mention of 0-1-1%? Also, I haven’t seen any CUPE information on what the other parties besides NDP and SaskParty are going to do. You know, those other parties that could end up in charge, and union members have to decide on through CUPE education because the media can’t be trusted. :-\
Saskboy | 17-Oct-07 at 10:29 pm | Permalink
I received the following email from a commenter who wants to remain anonymous. Apparently unions are threatening if you speak out in favour of parties that are not the NDP?
(I’ve modified the spelling and genders to further conceal this person’s identity):
====
Was going to leave a comment on your blog but decided against it in case some of my union Brothers and Sisters read your site. My union is paying a fellow employee’s wage while they take time off to campaign for the NDP. when i inquired jokingly to another co-worker whether or not she thought the union would pay my wage if i campaigned for the saskparty she said no way. I understand that it’s the union’s right to endorse whoever they want, but I think they should at least hold a vote among the membership to determine whether or not our union dues go to pay someone’s wage while campaigning.
====
Eugene Plawiuk | 18-Oct-07 at 1:19 am | Permalink
You missed Canadian History 101…For unions the NDP is not just another political party it was created by the merger of the CCF with the CLC in 1960. Thus it is the party of the unions. However you still have the individual choice to run for any party you like as a union member. And you can ask for your locals support just don’t expect to get it. As for the comment that union dues should not got to supporting a local member running as a candidate methinks this person missed the monthly general meeting where this was done.
hank | 19-Oct-07 at 10:32 am | Permalink
Where is the threat you allude to in the anonymus e-mail?
I would think the e-mailers local DID hold a vote, but the e-mailer probably doesn’t go to meetings. Sounds like unsubstansiated whinging, from you and the e-mailer.
Saskboy | 19-Oct-07 at 11:16 am | Permalink
It’s interesting to note that even if the union did properly approve paying for this person’s wages/candidacy, that wouldn’t show up as an NDP campaign donation in the party’s books, would it?