More than enough work to go around
Editorial appeared in Fort McMurray Today June 9, 2006
Canada is still a free country, isn't it?
No law was passed while we were sleeping that forces oilsands plants -- or any other employer -- to hire union workers?
No.
There are laws that allows groups of employees to vote to join a union, and for the employers to honour that decision.
In Fort McMurray, Suncor Energy has been unionized for years. The McMurray Independent Oil Workers (now the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Local 707) have represented many of the workers at the plant with great distinction. There was a bitter 23-week strike in 1986 that divided the town, but there's been nothing but harmony between employer and employees at Suncor in recent years -- as far as outsiders know.
Up the road at Syncrude Canada, CEP has repeatedly attempted to organize the company's workers. No one knows why they've failed. It's clear the oilsands giant's employees are happy with the status quo, however.
Two plants. One unionized, the other not. Everyone's happy, right?
The United Association Local 488, a union that represents thousands of plumbers and pipefitters in northern Alberta, is ticked off.
The organization took out an ad in the Edmonton Sun aimed at the shareholders of Canadian Natural Resources, an oilsands company that may or may not be (the company isn't talking so far) disinclined to hire union workers.
Rumours have swirled around the importation of so-called foreign workers. CNRL has been at the centre of the vortex.
The ongoing debate has verged at times onto xenophobic ground. While some people may well be afraid of foreigners, the ugly face of discrimination seems to be lurking behind a curtain.
Except for Aboriginal Canadians, we're all immigrants.
The next debate turns to the shortage of Canadians to do the job. It's a rallying cry for unions.
But the term must be qualified. Are there enough Canadian workers at the right price?
If CNRL chooses to bring in foreign workers because union members cost too much, should they be prevented from doing so? Should unions be given a veto over the situation? Should this country be a place where freedom is replaced by dictators?
Plumbers and pipefitters have the freedom to join a union. They have the freedom to charge whatever they want for their services. Shouldn't CNRL and other employers have the freedom to hire whomever they want?
Traditional trade unions don't only have a beef with foreign workers. Another union -- the Christian Labour Association of Canada, with many of its members working at oilsands plants -- has come under fire from groups like the United Association Local 488. In Fort McMurray, the group's office was the focus of a march.
This dispute, to the average outsider, is like Burger King and McDonalds ganging up on A&W.
To the average outsider, these unions need to get a grip on reality. They have every right to push for work for their members. Targeting the shareholders of a company because they couldn't come to an agreement -- likely on money -- is unwise and unfair.
Shareholders want company officials to get work done safely, at a low price.
The union effort will only backfire.
There's lots of high-paid work in Wood Buffalo. More than enough for everyone.
Why can't unhappy unions see this?
© Copyright 2006, Fort McMurray Today.
Canada is still a free country, isn't it?
No law was passed while we were sleeping that forces oilsands plants -- or any other employer -- to hire union workers?
No.
There are laws that allows groups of employees to vote to join a union, and for the employers to honour that decision.
In Fort McMurray, Suncor Energy has been unionized for years. The McMurray Independent Oil Workers (now the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Local 707) have represented many of the workers at the plant with great distinction. There was a bitter 23-week strike in 1986 that divided the town, but there's been nothing but harmony between employer and employees at Suncor in recent years -- as far as outsiders know.
Up the road at Syncrude Canada, CEP has repeatedly attempted to organize the company's workers. No one knows why they've failed. It's clear the oilsands giant's employees are happy with the status quo, however.
Two plants. One unionized, the other not. Everyone's happy, right?
The United Association Local 488, a union that represents thousands of plumbers and pipefitters in northern Alberta, is ticked off.
The organization took out an ad in the Edmonton Sun aimed at the shareholders of Canadian Natural Resources, an oilsands company that may or may not be (the company isn't talking so far) disinclined to hire union workers.
Rumours have swirled around the importation of so-called foreign workers. CNRL has been at the centre of the vortex.
The ongoing debate has verged at times onto xenophobic ground. While some people may well be afraid of foreigners, the ugly face of discrimination seems to be lurking behind a curtain.
Except for Aboriginal Canadians, we're all immigrants.
The next debate turns to the shortage of Canadians to do the job. It's a rallying cry for unions.
But the term must be qualified. Are there enough Canadian workers at the right price?
If CNRL chooses to bring in foreign workers because union members cost too much, should they be prevented from doing so? Should unions be given a veto over the situation? Should this country be a place where freedom is replaced by dictators?
Plumbers and pipefitters have the freedom to join a union. They have the freedom to charge whatever they want for their services. Shouldn't CNRL and other employers have the freedom to hire whomever they want?
Traditional trade unions don't only have a beef with foreign workers. Another union -- the Christian Labour Association of Canada, with many of its members working at oilsands plants -- has come under fire from groups like the United Association Local 488. In Fort McMurray, the group's office was the focus of a march.
This dispute, to the average outsider, is like Burger King and McDonalds ganging up on A&W.
To the average outsider, these unions need to get a grip on reality. They have every right to push for work for their members. Targeting the shareholders of a company because they couldn't come to an agreement -- likely on money -- is unwise and unfair.
Shareholders want company officials to get work done safely, at a low price.
The union effort will only backfire.
There's lots of high-paid work in Wood Buffalo. More than enough for everyone.
Why can't unhappy unions see this?
© Copyright 2006, Fort McMurray Today.
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