Hudak: No Right to Work for Less?!?

Provincial Conservative [PC] Party Leader Tim Hudak claims he is renouncing Right 2 Work 4 Less [R2W4L]. It apparently is no longer a part of his economic platform. He has claimed he was going to remove the Rand formula, but no more ..... 

Hudak: Ya! Sure! I've seen the light! No Right 2 Work 4 Less! You bet ......

Listen! The man is a snake in the grass. He got his butt kicked by the unions on the R2W4L issue during the recent February 13 provincial by elections, when it became obvious it was a very unpopular issue. Still, he has his eyes on a likely spring provincial election. He will doubtlessly form a neo con cabinet if he wins. His MPP caucus and party movers + shakers are predominantly neo con. Don't doubt all deals will be off if he can fool enough people to get elected and form the next government. You can read the latest from Hudak @ No R2W4L?

I hope the OFL [Ontario Federation of Labour] keeps mobilizing Ontario's unions and creating public awareness that we are still ready to fight the R2W4L battle. We must not be lulled into complacency! The OFL is highly commended for the great job that was done in making R2W4L a BIG issue in the Feb 13 by elections. Rather than react, Ontario unionists have taken the pro active initiative to create a properly balanced and knowledgeable public mindset for when it comes to discussing this contentious and quite treacherous labour issue. 

The neo con name of the so called "Right to Work" policy is very false and misleading. It has nothing to do with us being able to get jobs. Rather it gives big business a free hand to roll back wages, undermine working conditions, strip contracts and go after your health care benefits and pension. "Right to Work" sounds like a motherhood issue! Who could possibly be against it?!? As a result a false anti union perception is created in the public mind. That is how the issue is being fought by the neo con interests, both here in Canada and in the United States. 

Ontario's unions have succeeded in reframing + exposing the supposed "Right to Work" as the "Right to Work for Less" con game that it really is. By renaming it as such, it can be effectively defanged. This is no small achievement! Larger union movements in other jurisdictions [Michigan, Wisconsin etc. etc. etc.] have suffered when that was not the case. A new "doable" standard and template has been set! Bravo!

By removing the Rand formula in Ontario, Hudak knows he can effectively stop unions from collecting fees and being able to represent the interests of the members. By making it hard to unionize, and negotiate on behalf of our Ontario workers + professionals Hudak could do as he pleases to roll labour conditions back into the 1800's. 

Do not doubt that still is foremost in PC Party Leader Hudak's mind! It is an integral part of his neo con strategy and agenda regardless of whatever he is saying now!

Beware!

In Solidarity!

David C

Some Backgrounders:

You can read about the troubled history of Hudak and his Right to Work con game going back to last summer, matter of fact right back to the Harris Years @ The Story So Far ...

My by-election coverage also included many useful links to help trace the story as it has recently unfolded @ Feb 13 By Election coverage!

The OFL has been planning to host a further meeting to discuss union strategy for stopping Tim Hudak + his neo con agenda. It's scheduled for Feb 27. All of Ontario's unions and local units are invited. Let's hope they don't change their plans! We are not out of the woods yet! Details are @ Here!

PC Hudak's US style "Right to Work" policy, if pursued, would encounter some very serious legal problems here in Ontario due to the Rand formula. Tim was planning to try using it as a wedge issue in the next provincial election. However he has had to keep details about the "new law" that he would also need to pass once he gets elected as vague as possible. Now it has become quite clear that voters don't want all the hassles + labour strife this would create. Still, one would be wise to consider this previous news story in light of his recent apparent "change of heart" + proceed with caution @ Rand

Here is Doorey's Law of Work blog. It provides a useful, insightful legal perspective on Right to Work issue in Ontario @ RTW4L?

Here is why we need a unionized workforce @ Reasons?

The News Reports

Doorey's Law of Work blog looks at the language in Hudaks statement + warns nothing might have changed at all @ Disingenuous!

Martin Regg Cohn critiques Hudak's Right to Work for Less policy noting it would've allowed workers to either negotiate their contracts by themselves or through the union with their employer. It obviously wasn't very well thought out and could've easily been picked apart in an election. It wouldn't work politically, economically or legally. He questions Hudak's judgement. Hudak still believes in Right 2 Work. He even said as much at the same time as he "renounced" his "policy" after doggedly hanging onto it for 2 years @ Toronto Star

Unifor warns Hudak's intentions are still quite unclear @ More PC BS?

The OFL [Ontario Federation of Labour] makes it quite clear they will not be stepping down from their campaign. Hudak is not to be trusted or believed. He is only trying to further hiding his agenda from voters in anticipation of the election campaign ahead. Sid Ryan's statement + more @ OFL Speaks!

The OFL will be continuing it's Rights at Work campaign with meetings across the province in the weeks ahead. A schedule along with more info, documentation, handouts and other download able materials are available @ Rights at Work!

Press Progress reminds us that R2W4L was only one of the neo con planks in his election platform @ More!

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