ANTI-UNION SENTIMENT IS ESSENTIALLY MASOCHISTIC

Steve Kannon of the Woolwich Observer has written another thought provoking Editorial. This one on page 9 is titled "Anti-union sentiment sees us throwing out the baby with the bathwater". Steve readily admits that most of today's criticisms of unions are fundamentally true. They have become ".., corrupt, self-serving and out of touch with today's workplace". Steve however believes that a lot of the criticism is also simple jealousy. We don't approve of others making more money and benefits especially as we view unionized government employees as less deserving, lazier etc.. The big picture is all about globalization, free trade and other attacks upon the middle class. This is the politics of Reagan, Thatcher and Harper and it isn't for our good it's for the benefit of the already rich. The "...baby with the bathwater" that Steve is referring to are all the improvements to society as a direct result of union past battles such as five day workweeks, holidays, vacations, benefits, pensions (for some) and on the job safety measures (again for some not all). Public sector unions have lost none of these but private unions are faltering and the majority of the non-union are in freefall.