As the NDP filibustered Parliament in their childish attempt to stop the passage of legislative ‘back to work’ for the Postal Workers, it appears that the NDP leader has once again spoke out of both sides of his mouth.
Despite the initial support I had for the NDP claiming that at least ‘they listen’ to the people, I guess I saw something that was not really there – a true concern for the average Canadian citizen.
The BIG Postal union has created members who have developed a ‘right to everything’: job security, wages, holidays, sick benefits, medical benefits, maternity, bereavement and the list goes on.
These are benefits that the postal workers feel they have a RIGHT but do they realize that is not what the average Canadian can rely on. Many thousands of us depend on the mail for our livelihood. I have no union to neither bargain for me nor threaten my employer by refusing to work if I don’t get my way. This is much like a little child who holds their breath to frighten the parents into submission.
Are not the postal workers at least thankful they HAVE a job? Are they not thankful they are free to quit at any time and receive benefits until they find other means of employment? Are there not ENOUGH security of employment clauses in their initial contract that other postal workers in other countries would DIE for? Do they not get wages, considering their level of education, that are fair and allow them to be secure enough to raise a family?
The Mail Service is depended on by those who do not have near the working conditions that the Postal workers do, but when I do go for service in an official Postal Office, I see a ‘work to rule’ where even if there is a line up of customers, a clerk will leave for their ‘coffee break’ as per their right. I must wait for them.
I see no investment in the work ethics of Postal Workers until they, collectively, feel they need more ‘rights’ so they can do a better job.
Opposition Leader Jack Layton did a disservice to support a Union that has crippled the ‘lessor folk’ in this country. He should have been aware that they already have great jobs with excellent working conditions and very good pay. They receive benefits that are more than generous. However, that never seems to be enough for union members and perhaps it is time to restrict the Unions to a more sensible approach that limits or reduces ‘ridiculous’ demands that put the entire country into turmoil. And a Leader like Layton should be aware that the commoner Canadian is still very much trying to cope with the economic recovery. He failed his first leadership test.
Postal workers and their Union bosses are outdated. They have pushed the ‘need’ to have unions backwards in their cutthroat demands.
L. G. Anderson
Spruce Grove, AB
