At least Fox News believes that is true. H/t Media Matters Recommend this Post
Continue readingTag: anti-unionism
Politics and its Discontents: A Timely Reminder From Linda McQuaig
Fanned by a corporate-dominated media, it is hardly a surprise that anti-union sentiment seems to be rampant today. Everywhere we look, there are articles decrying the ‘unchecked power’ of union ‘bosses’ and strident rallying for more ‘workplace democracy’ and ‘right-to-work legislation,’ thinly veiled euphemisms for the ultimate dismantling of unions,
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Some Star Readers Respond To Anti-Unionism
I have to confess that my last few blog posts have felt singularly uninspired. I therefore yield to one of my favourite sources for perceptive analysis, the readers of The Toronto Star, who offer a panoply of thoughts on the dangerous anti-unionism trend evident in Canada at both the federal
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: With Some Ambivalence
In light of the unspeakable tragedy in Connecticut yesterday, in some ways it seems manifestly disrespectful to write a regular blog post today. Yet, to become paralyzed with despair over the evil in the world is not the answer either. Far better it is, in my mind, to try to
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Workers of the World Unite- You Have Nothing to Lose But Your Union Shackles!
That perhaps might have been the call in Michigan yesterday, as it joined 23 other states in enacting so called ‘right-to-work-legislation’ that ‘liberates’ workers from mandatory union membership and union dues. Passed by a Republican-dominated House of Representatives, the new law was proudly proclaimed by Republican House Speaker Jase Bolger
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Unions Under Attack: A Star Reader Writes
In two recent posts, I discussed Bill C-377, a Harper-driven anti-union measure disguised as a private member’s bill. Introduced by Conservative MPP Russ Hiebert, it is designed to require full disclosure of all union expenditures, including monies a…
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Rand Formula Under Attack
The other day I wrote a post about Bill C-377, ostensibly a private member’s bill put forward by Conservative MP Russ Hiebert that would subject unions to unprecedented scrutiny. It is, in fact, a bill being guided by the Prime Minister’s Office. In …
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: How The Right Deforms Our Attitudes
I have long believed it is not so much the ‘genius’ of the extreme right as it is their financial backing that makes them powerful propagandists. Their domination of the media and their captivation of politicians’ ears give them advantages very difficult to surmount. Read letters to the editor throughout
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: How Much Is The Lowest Price Guarantee Worth?
Despite years of repeated denials, I think there are few who doubt that Walmart is anti-union. Stories abound of the pressure the giant corporation applies anytime someone within the employee ranks tries to start a move toward union certification, including termination of the troublesome individuals and even store closures. Because
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Is This Really Negotiating?
While I have sometimes been critical of my former union, The Ontario Secondary Teachers Federation, both in this blog and my other one, I have always been a supporter and advocate of unions. I was particularly surprised and pleased that yesterday, in contrast to the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Source of Young Tim Hudak’s Inspiration
I recently wrote a brief post on young Mr. Hudak’s simple-minded and dysfunctional ‘vision’ for returning Ontario to its former industrial glory: gut the unions, a policy which, if ever enacted, would be disastrous for the men and women who currently enjoy workplace benefits, decent wages, and protection from arbitrary
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: On Harper Ideology and Young Hudak’s ‘Vision’
Two reading recommendations for Monday morning: The Star has a good editorial suggesting that the Harper government’s efforts to find a buyer for the Experimental Lakes Area in Kenora is just a sham, an empty public relations exercise. As the editorial points out, the reseach facility has been making key
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: My Name Is Tim – Hear Me Roar
To what I suspect is the surprise of few, young Tim Hudak, to whom I have made the occasional reference in this blog, continues to underwhelm as the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party. His latest ‘policy’, perhaps hatched at the supper table with wife Deborah, to make Ontario more
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: What "Flexibility" Really Means
Reading the print version of the story I posted a link to yesterday regarding young Tim Hudak’s latest attempt at formulating policy (a.k.a. union busting) got me thinking once more about how politicians misuse and debase language. In what I guess in his world passes for bold and innovative thinking,
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Ontario’s Impending Austerity Budget
Reading my morning Star, I learned that there is wide-spread support among the public for austerity measures to reduce Ontario’s deficit. I suspect that there will be a particular appetite for the following: Hundreds of thousands of teachers, nurses and all other public employees face higher pension contributions or reduced
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