Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Labour peace at what cost?

Stephen Harper’s name will be praised in many Canadian homes over the March break thanks to his intervention in the Air Canada labour dispute. And no wonder. With 1.4 million people eager to fly on that airline over the next two weeks, the news that there will be no lockout of pilots or strike by mechanics and baggage handlers means relief and joy as countless vacations, as well as important business trips, are a go.

But if the government’s intrusion into this disagreement wins cheers, it also deserves closer examination because it is worrying, both on its own and as part of a pattern.

Air Canada is a private company that was involved in delicate labour negotiations with a private sector union. Under Canadian law, both of these parties have a right to go through the collective bargaining process unhindered by politicians. The government should suspend this right only under the most dire of circumstances. But the government has yet to fully or convincingly explain why it had to act as it did. Saying that a work stoppage would create massive inconvenience is no justification.

Nor is it good enough for Labour Minister Lisa Raitt to suggest an Air Canada strike or lockout would hurt our still fragile economy. She needs to prove her case, but she hasn’t. Just as questionable is Raitt’s decision to ask the Canadian Industrial Safety Relations Board to determine how a work stoppage would affect the health and safety of Canadians. It is this action that put the pending strike and lockout on hold. Perhaps some northern communities rely on Air Canada for medical supplies or services. But Raitt has failed to show how the grounding of Air Canada’s fleet might hurt the health of people in Elmira or threaten the safety of people in Cambridge.

It’s true that in the short term and for most Canadians, the Conservatives’ meddling will be popular. But in the long term, it could sacrifice the viability of this airline. The dispute is now likely headed to binding arbitration. And there is a distinct possibility that such an imposed settlement could make it harder for Air Canada to make the changes it needs to be a profitable, thriving business. That would serve no one’s interest.

This is strange behaviour for a political party that advocates less government interference. But perhaps it is to be expected, given that the Conservatives intervened to end Air Canada labour disputes twice last year. It’s time for this government to clarify the rules on when it will step in and get involved in private sector labour contract talks. Is Air Canada an essential service? The Conservatives are right to ask the question now. But many fair minded people will wonder if they should have known the answer before acting in an extraordinary and seemingly arbitrary way.

Original Article
Source: the record
Author: editorial

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