Revolutionary Moderation

Whaddya mean, no concessions?



(Note: this entry posted by Bear)



When a Union says 'No Concessions' during bargaining, you know you're in for a tough haul. However, when the employer won't even consider concessions from the Union, it just gets ugly. Since passing Bill 29 just over two years ago, the BC Liberals have sent thousands of front-line health care workers packing. Last spring, the Hospital Employees Union realized they were in a fight they weren't going to win, and ran up the white flag.



The response from the Liberals, through their newly created Regional Health Authorities, to date has been to tear up the white flag, set the shreds on fire, and flush the ashes. The Vancouver Island Health Authourity turned down $21 million in HEU concessions last fall. HEU offered even more in concessions to the Vancouver Coastal Health Authourity, and they were flat out rejected as of this week.



It also doesn't help that Locals of the Industrial, Wood, and Allied Workers Union have 'partnered' with Regional Health Authourities and have been offering 'yellow-dog' contracts to the new food services and housekeeping contractors. While the IWA National is on record not supporting the actions of the affected Locals, they haven't gone out of their way to condemn them either. In fact, IWA delegates walked out of last fall's BC Federation of Labour Convention when the issue was raised.



This is the same IWA who supported the Kelowna Accord, cutting the Solidarity BC movement off at the knees in 1983. It's the same IWA whose President supported back-to-work legislation in the coastal forest strike in a photo op with Gordon Campbell.



This is also the same IWA who's affiliated with the NDP, and sent a substantial delegation to the last B.C. leadership convention.



Seriously, what's wrong with this picture?