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Canadian labour unions take membership dues ($$$) to fund anti-Afghanistan agenda

Zell_Dietrich

Zell_Dietrich

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I was just walking home from returning a movie and I saw a poster for www.nowar.ca advertising a protest on Oct 28 in front of the US consulate here in Toronto.  I recognised the "labour donated USW 8300" at the bottom.  Also I noticed that they used several NDP catch phrases.  I didn't think much of it until I saw that the Canadian Islamic congress( www.canadianislamiccongress.com ) has joined up with the grass roots NDP.

Now I can understand why the CIC would be there, I disagree with many of their fundamental presumptions but I can understand where they are coming from.  But what I don't understand is why the United Steel Workers Union is paying for the flyer's, posters and who knows what else?  ( http://www.pance.ca/stratsteel ) 

I know on the grass roots level,  it is the same group of people,  but I find it odd that Steel Worker's union dues are going towards non union specific items.  I know they have a large warchest.  If I was in that union I'd be annoyed at having money forced from me so that views I may or may not agree with are promoted. I think I remember a legal challenge in Alberta that stopped a union from doing this exact same thing :-S
 
Zell, it's kinda scary just what most unions will dip into.
 
I suspect the average steelworker would be pissed at supporting the Islamic Congress.
 
I don't think its that uncommon for unions to support these "causes".  CUPE, OPSEU, CAW and few other have all done it, and no I don't think its right.  Just another reason why unions have lost any "useful" purpose.  I am just glad the City of Toronto considers me exempt staff.  I really wouldn't like the idea of being a member of CUPE.
 
I wonder if anyone here knows anyone in that union who can challenge this. I know one,  but she is as feverishly anti-Afghanistan it is ... unsettling  (I'm sure union bylaws are in place to stop misappropriation of funds) 
 
Hatchet Man said:
I don't think its that uncommon for unions to support these "causes".  CUPE, OPSEU, CAW and few other have all done it, and no I don't think its right. 

You just reminded me to grill our local president about "Corporate" OPSEU's endorsement plan......

I can say that 100% of my local supports not only our soldiers, but our mission in Afghan as well. I am no so sure about the motivations of the higher levels of our Union. Then again, they were drawing full pay while I and my collegues were on the strikeline. Well worth looking into.


SB
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Opposition to the mission in Afghanistan fits nicely into official Union ideology.  It involves spending money outside of Canada (Bad), it is militaristic and reflects "right wing" values (Bad), and acceptacne of the mission requires a honest understanding of how the world really works (Plus Bad). 
Once in a while we actually have to go to war, especially when hostile nations support those who attack us.  The Union heads, however, prefer to view the world less accurately.
Oh yeah,and our involvement in Afghanistan helps the Americans.  (Double Plus Bad).
I would be disappointed at seeing Union support on this kind of site, but not surprised.
 
exsemjingo, your grasp of Union terminology is incorrect.

Spending money outside Oceana is ungood

Understanding the world outside Oceana is plus ungood

Helping "Not Oceana" is double plus ungood

George Orwell's "1984" is an excellent primer on the correct use of Union, Socialist and other left wing terminology. Double plus good and well worth the read!
 
:rofl:

Well amusing swipes aside,  I still find it annoying that unions are using their member's funds for purposes other than for which they were collected.  Kind of like when the Pakistan student association held a fundraising drive for the earthquake victims.  And they gave the money to an organisation that then gave part of that money to the Taliban  >:(  There should be laws.
 
My neighbour is a Union Ironworker.

I forwarded him a few links (including this thread) he's not the type to let it pass at the next union meeting.
 
Hatchet Man said:
I don't think its that uncommon for unions to support these "causes".  CUPE, OPSEU, CAW and few other have all done it, and no I don't think its right.  Just another reason why unions have lost any "useful" purpose.  I am just glad the City of Toronto considers me exempt staff.  I really wouldn't like the idea of being a member of CUPE.
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One of the reasons I quit working for York Region after three months-CUPE. That and nothing to do.
 
GO!!! said:
My neighbour is a Union Ironworker.

I forwarded him a few links (including this thread) he's not the type to let it pass at the next union meeting.
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    You rock GO,  I don't know if the local union in Edmonton (I'm assuming that's where your neighbour is) is supporting the NDP's "support the troops" campain.  I think even from inside Edmonton your friend could do stuff to help.  For example he could take it to the local leaders and pressure them to push for union wide rules about outside political group funding.  *shrug* 

    I see on http://www.pance.ca/stratsteel/ they are having a local meeting.  I wonder if in one day I can muster an anti-anti war protest.  (I wont,  it would be counter productive) But I liked the idea. :warstory:
 
Keep in mind that this is a union unit at some business called "Strategic Communications", not Stelco.    You'd pobably be underwhelmed if you found out how many brothers and sisters in the union are pushing this project.  Most union members are far too busy having lives to spend their time doing "union activist" stuff ;)
 
Most union members are far too busy having lives to spend their time doing "union activist" stuff .
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True, but where do their (millions upon millions) of dollars in dues go...?  :-\ 

It's time for the grassroots membership of activist unions to begin asking some hard questions rather than shrugging every time one of their lunatic left "leaders" goes off the deep end.
 
Unions offer job security and higher pay. The higher pay they take for union dues and as long as your doing nothing you have a job. Is this how the unions work nowadays because I would like to see the original union founders come back from the grave to see this. I wonder what would happen?
 
Teddy Ruxpin said:
True, but where do their (millions upon millions) of dollars in dues go...?   :-\ 

It's time for the membership of activists unions to begin asking some hard questions rather than shrugging every time one of their lunatic left "leaders" goes off the deep end.
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Like CUPE Ontario Bossman Sid Ryan?  ;)
 
I don't think its so much "shrugging" as having a clear understanding that the leaders can say whatever they like and nothing much comes of it when the members don't follow.  In theory Sid should be a shoo-in to be elected every time he runs for office in a "union town", in reality he loses every time.  In any case there's a known quantity to Sid, he's a clown, but who knows what the alternative would look like
 
I recently received a union news letter from an employer and I found it quite disturbing.  I don't know if I should post this but I'll let the directing staff decide.  I will put some excerpts from the article, and If you want more info I will give it.  Its more of the west coast diatribe so hold on.

2. Today harper and his general Hillier yap on about building schools, humanitarian aid, etc. False.  The U.N. has just announced there are 100,000 refugees fleeing the Kandahar area Canadian troops are "securing".  Some security.  To say nothing of the uncounted thousands of dead and wounded civilians vitims of on ongoing mass bombings and the use of depleted uranium bombs!

3.  The Canadian armed forces have been steadily integrated into the military forces of the U.S. Empire.  NATO, Norad, integrated command are being used to turn Canada into a military offensive force for the very corporations that are dramatically annexing the entire economy of Canada, including the wood industry.

Unfortuantely the article gets even worse.  I have strong feelings about this and plan on making a written complaint.  Anyone who would like to give input I will note.  This article for those that live on the west coast was in preparation for a so called day of action in Vancouver.  I'll let you know how the letter I'm writing in response goes. 



 
On the grass roots level,  the Unions and the NDP and the Afghanistan protesters are the same.  If you look into it,  you'll likely find that some of your Union dues have been given to an anti-war group.

http://forums.army.ca/forums/threads/51699.0.html

If you want you can check your local union Constitution and look into what you can do ;-)  Most of the time they have no idea that it is inappropriate for them to use their position as union leader for their own personall beliefs/goals.  I'm sure you can find people who support the mission, or who don't like their money going to outside political groups to help you out.
 
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