🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <311EA952.5480@bcu.ubc.ca>, Michael Kyba  <kyba@bcu.ubc.ca> wrote:
>the jen thing wrote:
[...]
>> Clearly the Rand decision and the recent RTW report completed
>> in Alberta state that people derive benefits from being
>> covered under a collective agreement and if benefit is received,
>> individuals are required to contribute to the maintenance of the
>> agreement and its administration.
>
>This makes a mockery of freedom of association.  I can't believe
>that I hear Canadians defending it.  This is the very same
>argument that the Nazis used to force members of professions to
>become party members.  It was wrong then, not because the N.S.
>party was a bad one to belong to, but because of the inherent
>human right to freedom of association.

The Rand decision doesn't force employees to join unions.  The principle 
is that there are tangible benefits from belonging to a collective 
bargaining unit and it is reasonable to have employees pay for them.

Naturally, the question of how much of one's dues relate directly to the
results of colective bargaining arises.  However, it may be impossible to
quantify only those expenses involved in negotiations with one's 
employer - or undesirable.  Unions would have us believe that the money 
they spend lobbying, supporting various groups and causes, etc, relates 
to the benefit of the represented workers.  

>> If they don't like the union's policies, they are always free to
>> run for elected office and change the union policies.
>
>If you are not free to 'not join' then you are not free.

You are free not to join.  You are not free not to pay.

>In B.C. many workers, including me, are not free.

You are much more free than shareholders.  I've always wondered why union 
dues are unfair to workers, but corporate monies spent outside the 
company are not unfair to shareholders.  After all what's good for the 
goose...Of course you are free not to buy the stock, but that's kind of 
analogous to not working in a union shop.
-- 
Brian McAllister	|	"There's Lies...
mcallis@uwindsor.ca	|		Damn Lies...
Windsor, Ontario	|			and Separatists."