tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23948057.post2836584128126268314..comments2009-12-07T19:22:33.795-05:00Ben Burdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06372169478978720740ben@eagle.caBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23948057.post-83296059856765838052009-12-07T16:35:58.594-05:002009-12-07T16:35:58.594-05:00I do not claim to know the issues in this strike in great detail. However, my understanding is that these workers are fighting, in part, against a cut-back in benefits that could literally affect their lives. At the moment, if there is an occurrence of cancer, the worker is covered on the assumption that it is work related --a good assumption given the nature of the industry-- and covered long-term. The proposed cutback means that if the cancer does not surface within 2 years, no coverage will apply. Given the reality of cancer and how it often takes time to reveal itself, this is a life-or-death issue in this strike. All of us should be able to relate to this and to clearly see the callousness of this proposal from the employer.<br /> <br />If I am wrong in some aspect of my understanding, I would be happy to be corrected.once morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433743303662059155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23948057.post-63041279243528165512009-12-05T11:21:28.154-05:002009-12-05T11:21:28.154-05:00Most bargaining these days is not about getting a better deal, it&#39;s about not getting a worse deal. Workers who take consessions, because the employeer threatens to close up shop and move, are many times worse off. If a worker makes $30.00 hr and is put out of work because of a plant closing his/er benefits are based on the $30.00 but when they take a cut to say $20.00 those same benifits are based on $20.00 and the company does not care............ they are still gone!Doug Lloydnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23948057.post-43534955131646826442009-12-04T20:33:11.593-05:002009-12-04T20:33:11.593-05:00Why have the unions failed so miserably to be a positive symbol for society? But then again, aside from unionistas, who cares?Wally Keelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02370532557074561490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23948057.post-21832467122634288172009-12-04T15:06:59.941-05:002009-12-04T15:06:59.941-05:00I don&#39;t know if anyone else heard it or not but this past week Michael Holinka, the finance guy, was talking with Andy Barry on CBC about the CN engineers strike. Did I say &#39;talking&#39;? More like erotically fantasizing about what a wonderful world it would be if we could just get rid of all these unions holding us back from untold wealth and prosperity. I shouldn&#39;t have expected any better from the yappy little lap dog I guess. But the next day, because there was apparently such a large response to the broadcast, the CBC balanced Holinka&#39;s comments by bringing in CAW economist Jim Stanford who pretty much showed Holinka to be the left-over Harrisite he is. Holinka just about lost it a couple of times which was kinda fun. Other than that it just showed how vehement the anti-union tenor of our times really is. It&#39;s a race to the bottom out there, folks....Merklin Muffleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05850284624604652178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23948057.post-75975570607972705222009-12-04T12:45:02.606-05:002009-12-04T12:45:02.606-05:00Ben says: <i>A puzzling strike</i>.<br /><br />Puzzling because current rules governing such disputes do not support the right of the public to be informed.<br /><br />We need to change those rules by requiring disclosure of those factors (financial and other) that might reasonably be part of the puzzle.<br /><br />We give limited liability charters to companies with the expectation that their operations will, to some extent and in some way, be of public benefit.<br /><br />When strikes/lockouts interrupt the operations of such companies, threatening the communities in which they operate, the public needs to be informed.William Hayeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14237954496211789520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23948057.post-74468520812820904382009-12-04T09:53:40.856-05:002009-12-04T09:53:40.856-05:00I drew the conclusion that bargaining was going badly at Cameco again. That was because I saw a phalanx of security guards at the gates of the Northam Industrial Park and strikers videotaping their activity.<br /> <br />I hope we see this settled and soon.once morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433743303662059155noreply@blogger.com