Chronicl WHO'S that North Shore prude throwing cold water on the NDP’s passionate labour love-in? None other than that old North Shore Association tor the Mentally Handicapped (NSAMH) stick-in-the mud. how uptight can t, NSAMPDP Can't a govern: ment have a little fun? Can't it pay off its election debts to labour in peace "Fraid nor, fellow amorists. The honevmoon’s over. A good thing too. And good on the NSAMFI for heaving that water on this sordid aifir. The NDP has been panting after its Big Labour benefactor since it took power in 1991, Some of its courting gifts along the way include 1992’s Bill 84, which laid the ground- work for the unionization of B.C. by, among other things, removing secret ballot voting in union certification drives. More recent gifts include multi-million-doliar_ contract settlements in the health and education sectors, instituting, the requirement that work on all major government capital projects such as the Island Highway and the Lions Gate Bridge upgrade be union-only and ensuring that the Labour Relations Board is skewed in favour of labour. The NDP has long. since abandoned any discretion in how it conducts its labour love affair. It has become as brazen as any hussy. But the NSAMH’s com- plaint represents mere than what some might consider to be self-righteous and politically driven whining. It represents the litde guy hit hard in the wallet by the socialists’ tawdry political passion play. And chat little guy is mad as hell and not going to take it any more. As reported in the July 9 News, the association has filed a complaint with the Labour Relations Board that accuses Victoria of cocrcing communi- ty social service workers to o. a DUE ready low prices in-stock Slide In Ranges + Side by Se om Clesa;- if, oF. qrestrod 63 Brives #5, unionize. How so? By the govern- ment’s refusing to pay oon- union workers the same w: and benefits as itp. ized workers who perform the same work under the same con- ditions in the same gow ment-bankrolled community care field. Like all 3,300 community social service age! across B.C., the NSAMH_ is entirely dependent upon the provincial government for its funding and what it can pay its workers. Its 300 employees are non- union. Happy to be so unfet- tered. But they are being pushed into donning that union yoke by a government that compensates community social service workers who join unions and has ensured that their non-union counterparts have no way tu negotiate wage increases, Labour fans will recall, for example, the contract scttle- ment reached with — the Community Social Services Employers’ Association (CSSEA) back in May. It pro- vided what head labour lover boy and public spending expert Premier Glen Clark conceded were “very large” wage increas- a ore cab RS over 20% \ he premier the — government ¢ by stating that workers MMMUNITY social ser- pr... are people whe cen historically under- But the NDP’s regard for the plight of those “historically underpaid” people applies to these in unions. Non-union types, who are also paid by the government, don’t count. As the NSAMH?’s complaint points our, its residential care workers” hourly rate of $14.07 has not changed since 1996; the hourly rate for unionized community social service sector workers, however, has increased every year since 1995, and under the CSSEA settlement is $16.83 by Oct. 1, 2002. The NSAMH sought a clar- ification carly last month from the CSSEA on the issue of union/non-union pay equity but it has yet to receive a reply — this, even though the CSSEA has passed resolutions supporting that equity. For the two ministers involved — (now former) Finance Minister Joy McPhail and Minister for Children and Sforeo System ; topcenn des Sunday, July 18, 1999 — Families Lois Boone the explanation has been a popular tennis ball lobbed back and torth beeween minist Vhe award for the best spin applied to tac ball thus far goes to Boone. In explaining the wage difference benveen union and non-union community social service workers iast July in the Jegislature, Boone said increases could not be extend- ed to non-union workers because “there is no group to bargain with.” Nice return, Ms. Boone. But che honest answer is that the wage difference is part of the NDP"s courtship dowry. The government is, in effect, paying workers to be in unions, thereby increasing union mem- bership and investing more tax- payer dollars in’ union bank accounts. The party of the working man and woman stands for nothing of the sort. It stands for itself, first and foremost. Its job is to get re-elected, to cultivate its cro ters at all costs. Even if that means establishing a two-tiered system of working people: one with union cards ard party affiliation on the government payroll; one without. The NSAMH employces have indicated repeatedly that a al Al seréces “epprwes?" includes up to S rth Shore News - 7 flair they are not interesied in being part of a union. Yer that i good enough for the NDP labour-iovers. “Their lust for pewer and money knows no bounds and abides by no prin- ciples. And full unionization of the community social services sec- tor represents more than a little power and money for the UNION SUITOrs. According to the NSAMH complaint, ifall of B.C.’s 8,160 non-union full time equivalent positions were unionized, unions would enjoy a dues windfall of close to $4 million per vear. The NDP is fond of charg- | ing thar big corporations and big business are driving the opposition Liberal bus, but big labour is itself big business and it is driving the NDP bus. The NSAMH’s complaint secks what any right-thinking employee would reasonably expect to get from any reason- able emplover: fair weatment for services rendered. “That unfortunately is not the way this lovelorn govern- ment operates. —trenshaw@direct.ca Discount tee times Call 5 pm Daily ON, Lube & Fitter 21 pt. Safety check, 15 minutes - FAST! litres of 1Ow30 Quakerstate 1362 Marine Drive 980-9115 Mon-Sat 8:00armn-5:00pm, Sun. 9:00am-5:00em Expires July 28/99 | 2S ee ae an oe al i 9, MA, DED French & liaiian alse spexee. Nffice hears: 7230am - 42370 Mon-Fri Velcoming new patients and referrals, Ste. 380: 1425 Marine Drive, West Vancouver 972-1420 ST Wy ‘i Bese ES Kitchon j | 2s Gadgets: yr Bathing Suits out Tow prices on Wa hurt s yott whcioe 8 vin, roles Con, LAURSEN & SON & blinds ttd. Ss. draperies Sterling Silver Reurd Wir Poridut Earrings « Ig MM... Ro: Starting Stlvar 16° Chain with Peridot Pendant «a P RS! 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