CKNW Editorial
for April 5, 2000

There has been much talk about a deal whereby the government would pay $500,000 towards the expenses of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, CUPE, prior to the recent and as yet unresolved strike.

The first part of this agreement deals with pay equity to "redress systemic, gender based wage discrimination experienced by female employees" … and sets out a schedule for meeting targets. This, of course, is not covered by the 0-0-2% promised by the NDP government as the wage ceiling and the skeptical might well conclude that this was a way to circumvent that government proclaimed limitation.

Under Clause 3, Job Security, in wording that would make a medieval lawyer blush with pride at the obfuscation, the parties agree to take steps to shut out volunteers from the schools.

Now before we go further, let us remember that we the taxpayers are the employer here in that our taxes pay the entire wage bill. Therefore the Government of BC is our negotiator. Well, this is what we the employers agreed to in Clause 4

"To assist in covering the costs of the development of new models for regional and provincial negotiations, which all the parties agree is in the public interest *** note those pretty words *** the government will partially reimburse CUPE’s actual costs up to a maximum of $500,000 and BC Public School Employers costs up to a maximum amount to be negotiated before the end of the fiscal year." It’s interesting and I say important to note here that while the employer is technically the BCPSEA, the School Boards, the paymaster is me and thee.

What we’re talking about, when all the medieval language as sugar-coated by socialist newspeak is removed, is the promise by the taxpayer of half a million bucks for CUPE to set up its own bargaining units, the better to get their hands on taxpayers’ money.

The Minister of Finance, Mr Ramsay, points to clause 5 which says that the agreement is subject to a return to work. Since on the 24^th of January and up until a week ago CUPE employees were at work, this clause surely doesn’t mean anything. That’s certainly the view taken by CUPE who expect to be paid.

Let’s take a look at the private sector. Does MacMillan Bloedel pay the IWA half a million dollars in order to get its negotiating tackle in order? Quite apart from that, consider this. There are many corporations that do business with the government or its crown corporations like BC Hydro. Are we the people going to fund, let us say, an offshore business’ negotiating apparatus for buying power from BC Hydro? It’s a fair analogy for if there is a principle out of this – and surely the NDP would never concede that they are unprincipled – it’s that not only will the taxpayer pay to set up his own bargaining unit, that could be understood, but that he will pay the union’s costs as well. In short, the NDP has contracted to pay big bucks to the union that’s trying to pry more money out of your pocket.

Why not everyone who deals with the government? Why just CUPE?

Here it comes, folks. Here is where you all act surprised. It’s because this is a very big union upon whom the NDP heavily relies to get votes in general elections and for money to run those elections. Is this public money in exchange for political support … that, I suppose, depends on the attitude of the parties. If the NDP and the Minister responsible honestly believed that it was in the public interest that a union with which the people were bargaining should be promised half a million dollars of the public’s money to help them bargain, I suppose not. But in all matters political, you voters make the judgment as to the honourable intentions or otherwise of the parties.

Now the Minister of Education at this time was none other than Gordon Wilson. Is it merely coincidence that a few days before this deal was inked CUPE supported his bid for leadership of the party? And that CUPE did indeed support Mr Wilson at the Convention?

You the voter will be the judge of that … if you remember.