President’s Message
Shawn Haggerty
Nation-wide Right to Work a Grave Possibility for the U.S. In February, United States Congressional Republicans introduced a bill to make Right to Work federal law. Currently, 28 States have Right to Work legislation but even states whose voting citizens have rejected it time and time again will be forced to adopt the law if the bill passes. As we celebrate Labour Day, we must remember that Canadians cannot be complacent about the rights of workers in this country. Businesses and corporate lobby groups will fight hard in their own interests and we must do the same for the interests of workers. Economies are complex of course, but many studies show that States with Right to Work laws have lower wages for both union and non-union workers, and less chance of having health care and pensions. Workers’ Unions have been around for 145 years in Canada. They emerged from the ground up because working people became activists. Those activists fought for dignity: To be seen as human and not just a means to increase profit for the wealthy. Unions drove up middle class income, brought health and safety and protections like maximum work hours to those who were exploited under threat of job loss.
Clawbacks to wages, benefits, pensions and labour rights should be disturbing to all working people. Right to Work stands in complete opposition to what Unions fight for: Unity. Right to Work is divisive and breeds hostility among co-workers.
We make progress when we enhance the rights of people – not corporations. We make progress when we achieve equality for everyone – not just improve the world for some. And we make progress by refusing to take a step backward – not by allowing government and big business to dictate the lives of workers. In our Local Union, all 70,000 members pay dues. It’s the law. Ask yourself what happens if you were to pay dues while working next to someone who opts out? You get the same protection but only one of you pays for it. What does that do to your work relationships? Some argue that they could negotiate better wages or benefits on their own. For some, that’s true. But time and time again when our Organizers are out talking to working people, one of the most common non-monetary issues is favouritism, and lack of dignity and respect on the job.
And I would offer to those that hate Unions, that there are plenty of nonUnion jobs out there too. There must be something that keeps them in their Unionized jobs. In the world that Right to Work creates, Unions are weakened and dismantled – or dismembered really. As membership dwindles so do the services those Unions can offer. Workers’ rights should not be a political issue. They really shouldn’t. Workers’ rights are human rights and should be inherently protected. But corporate interests and political greed mean we have to make it political. The truth is, Unions wouldn’t exist if workers didn’t need an advocate. Yet here we remain, 145 years later, still fighting to maintain what we have achieved over the years. I urge you as a Union member, but more as a worker and a citizen, to stand up for laws that protect the many gains fought for and won over many years of struggle by those that came before us. Tell your elected MPs and MPPs that Right to Work has no place in our laws. In Solidarity, Shawn Haggerty president@ufcw175.com
September 2017
3
