Answering common attacks on the union
OPSEU In Solidarity/CALM
Unions are too involved in social causes.
Unions exist to represent employees, but many of the issues that are important to unionized working people are also important to unorganized people and people who are not working at all. When the interests of union members are shared in the community, it is natural that alliances and common fronts will be created.
Over the years unions have been in the forefront of the struggle to get and maintain health care, employment standards, child care and may other programs that can be considered social causes.
Unions are confrontational
It may seem that unions are confrontational because of the coverage that labour unions receive. It is important to remember, however, that the vast majority of collective agreements are negotiated without strikes or other workplace action. On the rare occasion that there is a strike, it is because a strong majority of the local membership has felt that the employer's final offer is just not good enough, not because the union has a confrontational attitude.
Context can also influence labour relations. In Ontario there has been a decline in labour peace since the Tories came to power. This is because the new government almost immediately changed the labour laws to allow scabs-a move that was provocative and that has, unfortunately, led to more confrontations. When someone else throws the first punch, fighting back doesn't make you confrontational.
Partisan politics have no place in the union
In a democratic society it is not unusual for groups to contribute to or even affiliate with political parties that support their goals. Certainly chambers of commerce and large corporations donate generously to the campaigns of parties and individuals that represent their values and priorities. Sometimes unions do the same and identify candidates or one party that is on record as defending the interests of working people.
Individual union members can always support the candidate of their choice regardless of the union's preference, just as a bank teller does not have to support the parties financed by her bosses. The difference is that any decision made by a union to affiliate or support a political party is decided by the union members. That is not the case with corporate decisions.
Unions are corruptThe overwhelming majority of unions and union leaders are honest. There are a few crooks in the labour movement. They are part of society and not even the union can escape society's evils. Far more lawyers, accountants and businesspeople are convicted of crimes than are unionists.
There are over 60,000 unions across Canada and the United States, with hundreds of thousands of elected officials and more than 20 million members. Yet, you can probably count on one hand the number of union criminals you've heard about.
CEP Local 298