It’s a touchy subject, but one that raises valid arguments for both sides – whether unions in their current form are obsolete in today’s world.

Some former union members, who will not go on record, have said that they feel today’s unions are more concerned with politics than they are workers, and are not around to solve problems that existed when the first unions popped up across the country. 

Decades ago, unions existed for good reason. Unbearable working conditions and poor treatment of employees was common and workers needed the protection that unions provided. In today’s world, many argue that union leaders are in cahoots with politicians and that dues are spent to ensure the right politicians are put into place, or to line the pockets of high-earning union representatives. Some say that unions are not needed, that work conditions are satisfactory and minimum wage law ensures fair pay. Others – for example, CUPW union leaders (see www.cupw.ca) in their dispute with employer Canada Post – say that their workplace is unsafe and getting worse, and that workers have seen an 18 per cent wage reduction for new hires and the elimination of a sick leave plan that members have had for over 40 years. These workers, and others who have gone through similar situations, and supporters across the country, are saying that unions are still very much alive and well – and needed by employees who rely on them to protect their rights. They argue that while unions are not fighting the fights of 100 years ago, they have their place in ensuring good health care, fair and equitable pay, respectful treatment, short staffing, forced overtime and job and retirement security.

But who is right?

Continuing with the postal strike example, arguably, there are those like the person who wrote in to the Fitzhugh last week, who did not want a strike, but wanted to ensure that their many years of hard work were not reversed by Canada Posts’ alleged need to change its work concessions and policies due to lost revenue. Pretty sound argument.

Then there are those, namely many small businesses, who suffered losses to their own revenues because of the strike. There are those that were hoping to receive that important cheque in the mail to pay their rent that didn’t get it in time and had to make alternate arrangements, and there are those who are just regular every day Canadians who were angered at the union’s demands – many of which some Canadians thought were unreasonable. Maybe not as sound, but definitely legitimate concerns, right?

Unions did succeed in many ways over the years and perhaps it is because of that fact that they themselves are becoming obsolete. Ultimately, perhaps it is just time for unions to rejuvenate themselves. It has been reported that American union leaders are making six figure salaries and copious amounts of research prior to deadline revealed nothing concrete about the wages Canadian union reps take in. But if they are making in the neighbourhood of their American counterparts, perhaps they could take a pay cut to give to the “underpaid” workers they represent? Better yet, perhaps they could work even more closely with employees to better represent the workers they are fighting for. 

And the debate continues...