Alec Caldwell
Opinion: Could Bill C-377 expose the darker side of union activities?
Canadian Contractor Business canada Commercial Disclosure Financial risk ServiceBill C-377 would force unions to publicly disclose their spending, including their executives' salaries over $100,000. The bill has been called "undemocratic" Alec Caldwell, on behalf of renovation contractors at CARAHS, begs to differ.
Under proposed legislation in Ottawa (Bill C-377) unions would be forced to publicly disclose details of their spending. They’ve never had to go public with such information before.
Conservative MP Russ Hiebert’s private member’s bill, now before the Senate for second reading, would force unions to disclose their officials’ salaries (over $100,000) and any spending above $5,000. The information would be posted on a publicly-accessible website of the Canada Revenue Agency.
Stephen Harper’s government wants to see this “anti-union” legislation speed through the Senate.
Obviously the bill has big unions increasingly worried. The Canadian Labour Congress has mounted a full-bore campaign to block it.
I have to ask, why would they do this, if for no other reason than they are afraid of what this public transparency will disclose about their activities?
Labour codes in most provinces already require unions to disclose financial information to their members. The new bill argues that the public, as well as the rank and file, deserves access to the same information.
Labour Watch, an information service of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, says that “83% of working Canadians… 84% of currently (unionized) and 89% of formerly unionized… want financial disclosure laws” in spite of the “campaign by union leaders to keep their tax-free billions hidden.”
From the union side, UFCW (“Canada’s Private Sector Union” – formerly known as the United Food and Commercial Workers) says, “We must elect politicians and government who are dedicated to serving a FREE and democratic society.”
Well, I ask, how can we have a “free and democratic society” if politicians are only put there to serve unions’ interests? What about us non-union workers? Do we not have rights?
FREE according to my dictionary means: someone independent, someone who enjoys personal rights. I thought you lost all these things once you became part of the rank and file!
As self-employed and small-business home renovation contractors, let’s continue to be independent operators and exercise our personal rights!
Do you think Bill C-377 should come into law?
What do you say?
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I’m all for this bill, unions trying to block it tells us that we need this bill to pass more then ever, there are many unscrupulous activities going on in the union world that to this day never left.
I am guessing you would support Business in full disclosure too? Remember, unions rose up, (workers formed associations) because of the abuse of Business. Child labor, economic enslavement, working conditions that killed people, lock ins, murder, and consistent proposals to law to dissolve the rights of workers in a sociopathic obsession with the need to have more power to exchange goods and services than another human being. Sociopathic? YES. When the need to acquire huge sums of paper becomes more important than Human dignity, justice and security, moral responsibility becomes secondary, sometimes non existent.
Giving up trade secrets should be equal. If labor discloses, business should as well.
There is no other entity in Canada with tax free status which doesn’t have to have audited books!!!. Not even charities or churches. The reality is that if the union members were to see where the money goes (politics and payola) heads would roll just as they have in the USA. Unfortunately the trade unions have corrupted the democratic process, and in reality brought this on themselves. Union supporters often wonder how areas become “work to rule”…This is how!
So if you pay taxes you shouldn’t have to disclose? So can I buy the right to covert practices and be above scrutiny? Maybe you don’t understand unions are a collection of workers. Workers that paid tax on every dollar the made, plus paid into an organization to represent them in their struggles for a safe and equitable employment conditions.
Robert,
I can see by your statements you don’t understand unions at all, and somehow find it ok to allow banks and corporations to economically enslave us.
I gather from your opinion, that union contributions are bad and all others are ok. This is what you call a a non corrupt democratic process?
Well said Robert , maybe we will get to see just how much the unions back the provincial liberals !
Whereas I am in favour with the intent of Bill C-377, I am opposed to the government using her power to create an unfair or inequitable environment in which to conduct business. If transparency and accountability is sought, why not propose that the same financial reporting obligations as charities or not-for-profits? Why create more onerous financial reporting obligations against one group?
Well said Robert its a well known fact how much the teachers spent on the political campaigns for example according to an article in the National post in June its alleged between two teachers unions the spent over $ 1.4 million dollars to support their candidates. Given the fact these unions in particular are paid for by public monies I believe its about time the entire Country gets to see how much Political funding is provided by these Unions right across the Country.
This is and has become a political hot potato and has sent shockwaves right across the Country. It has been called an anti union campaign, propaganda publicized by Unions. If they have nothing to hide what are they worried about. It is a fact a union members right and can request the financial information from their respective unions but how many people actually do. And those that do are ostracized for requesting it.
I believe as most do its about time people get an idea of the true scene, its their money that is being spent they deserve to know where and why. Believe you me from what I understand there is more than just Political campaign spending. I don’t believe the Unions are afraid to show their Political spending, it would be toted as doing their job to protect their interest’s. I believe they are afraid of the other misuses this bill will expose.
Public Monies? You mean the contributions from members? Like from their wages? How is union dues public monies?
Forgive me, please, for joining together with like minded individuals to promote my working and earning conditions. Forgive me for contributing to the election of Politicians that look out for my earning potential as a worker, and poor voting liberal, because that is what is best for my children and my family. Please don’t hate me for trying to support my family in the best way possible.
Forgive me for raging against the oligarchy and those who expect me to serve the economic machine with my lifetime of hours for whatever they deem is what they can pay once their profits are earned.
Yes that is right PUBLIC MONIES, you demand more and more and that comes out of Taxpayers POCKETS.
Do you feel that UNIONS (the only ones heard on Bill 119/Bill 183) that killed businesses were the only ones heard, and not the people Sole Proprietors/Independent Contractors were stifled, is that fair in your opinion?
Is it fair that they PUSHED THEIR AGENDA on LEGIT Small businesses sending them to bankruptcies, closures, employees laid off?
Do you think they should BUTT out of our Businesses that are now DEAD?
Do you think they should be calling in their Union thugs to impede on our jobsites, harassing daily in phone calls, and then in e-mails?
You union folk blame corporations (ya know the ones that you purport are the RICHEST every time you or your thug Union leaders speak) Yet they feel they have the right to shut us out on our livelihood?
I am exposing more and more each day small businesses in Construction.
As a long time union member I have ALWAYS had access to my Unions finance statements, I do not believe however that our competitors should have an inside track on how we do business which I am sure any self employed contractor would not like to give a competitor a leg up to compete against them. As for Non-Union associations don’t you think as a NOT FOR PROFIT organization THEY TOO should be covered under the legislation. Bill C-377 just TARGETS TRADE UNIONS not any other UNIONS.
REALLY? Then what gave all UNIONS the right to ram and scam bills in Ontari-OWE to KILL competition by LEGIT SMALL BUSINESSES? They have breached our Privacy, have Union thugs calling, e-mailing and now have passed our information to the higher up the food chain (MOB)
As for your comment on NOT FOR PROFIT and NON PROFIT too which ALL UNIONS ARE BTW in case you didn’t know that fact. Also Charities (Scams) also run as NOT FOR PROFIT AND NON PROFIT just so you know that fact also. One last fact, the Charities/NP/NFP has been looked at by the CRA in a 3 year investigation. I will push for the CRA to continue by reporting the Union interference in small businesses in Construction.
All great comments guys and your input and comments were all in tune.
I personally would like to see the Carpenters Union financial exposed to see if contribution went to the Liberals in the last election, in order to get themselves (Carpenters) in a position to squeeze our everyone in the business who use a wood saw and who don’t carry a ticket. This has to stop.
Did you purposely leave out LEGIT Small Businesses who are not doing renovations, but are in the construction industry?
We don’t purposely leave out anything. Can you expand on your comment?
The Bill C-377 should pass in my opinion, then wee will have the opportunity to see the union crooks running like rats, trying to find a hole to hide.
Apparently some unions turn them selves in corruptions agencies, nothing more.
While I am all in favor of disclosure (we have LM2 reports in the US) I don’t understand peoples perception of unions.
First, unions are a group of workers joined collectively to negotiate the terms of employment and usually democratic. Its officials and representatives are elected. The negotiated contracts are often voted on and ratified by the membership.
Anyone can choose to work under a collective bargaining agreement. Any two individuals can form a union.
As union members, we vote to contribute to support politicians and make contributions. Of course this is democratic, so the majority decides, or they democratically elect a representative to make these decisions.
One should not be jealous of the contract terms, nor must one work for an employer with a collective bargaining agreement. If you want the benefit of collective bargaining, professional negotiators and representatives to assist you in the best employment package, join a union. If you want to bargain on your own, based on your personal persuasion skills and merit, feel free.
However, if you choose not to join a union, do not complain that I joined a union, elected a rep and did well on my wage negotiations. I also voted on how much they get paid, what we budget for political actions and what actions we will take.
If you are an employer, please, pay your employee enough to live, eat and have healthcare in the jurisdiction of your business. Almost no business operates without labor. Even wholesalers need manufacturers, transportation, marketing, sales, and maintenance. All labor. Labor that creates profits for corporations. Labor that purchases your goods and services. Without labor, business is simply an idea, and a pile of paper.
If you as a laborer, dedicate a major portion of your life to generate profits for a business, and do not earn enough to afford yourself housing, food and healthcare (without government subsidizing this responsibility of business) I suggest gathering up some other workers and for your own union, or join one that is already established.
Again, I am not opposed to disclosure, and if it is good for labor organizations, shouldn’t business disclose as well?
Alec,
Did you disclose? Will you disclose here, in public? Or will you erase all these comments and create a simple one sided propaganda piece?
You are a sociopath, determined to profit from the sweat of labor. You are right, unions don’t want to tell you how they fight against you, and since they fight for me, I do not want you to know their plan.
William: Alec Caldwell runs an association of renovation contractors. If you believe that such an activity equates to “profits from the sweat of labor?” I think you’ve been reading a little too much Marx and Engels in the small hours of the morning. Thanks for your comment, however, and keep reading our propaganda rag on behalf of the huge multinational corporations.
William, if you are a union member and one day your union reps wouldn’t represent you in critical cases, then you will see what and who they really represent. Hope never happen to you like a lot of people I know, what they went through.
You mention unions are in democratic rule, yes I agree with you, but some of them behind the veal of democracy, corruption a favoritism seems what they stand for, and the members are just paws to pay the dues.
You may not know the dark side of some unions, hope yours is really a democratic one, or your comment its just a propaganda.
Hi Alec
Just a thought . We live in a province that has a government that will do what they wish at any moment . As much as I am not one for unions , I do feel that there is a point and time when we need to fight fire with fire . That being said it maybe in our best interest for the home renovators and home builder to start a union of our own . The reason I feel that this something that is nessasary is do to the fact the us as renovators will have no other options when the ocot and carpenters unions get their way ( witch is a reality ) . When these 2 organizations get their way there will be a monopoly on the residential ands commerical aspects of the industry . Is this something everyone wants ? In my opinion hell no . I would really like you opinion on this and anyone else with some insight of their own
Hi William, Thanks for you union pro stance and I say bring it on, vent your union views and share your closed mind with us. Unfortunately you don’t show your full name and its always brilliant to spout like a tea pot, hiding behind anonymity.
Now I’ve got your attention, if you read some of past blogs and articles, it clearly shows I have complimented unions, like how they helped my fathers and other workers in heavy industry when unions were first formed. Along the way they delivered what we now call the “weekend” A 5 day work week for us blue collared workers. Amazing.
Now today’s problem, have some unions strayed from their roots and now use tactics that could be seen as underhand! Unions I thought were about democracy and one man (woman) one vote.
Yesterday in the Canadian Contractor was posted my latest union article called “Did unions put Lorne’s Electric out of business?”
Lets simplify my article for William. If I gather 40 employees to vote for unionization and ask for a show of hands. The question asked of them is: Those wanting a union, please raise their hand. Up goes the hands, a count is made and 21 employees vote YES for unionization. Carried by 1 person, the company is now unionized. This is called democracy and one man (women) one vote. No argument the majority carried it.
NOW the same 40 employees and this time only 2 people voted YES and HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS, its still unionization WHAT!!!!! What about the others in the company, did they not get a change to vote? Where’s the democracy?
Well this is exactly what happened in the case of Lorne’s Electric. TWO vote YES and the unions in.
Link to Lorne’s Electric article:
https://www.canadiancontractor.ca/uncategorized/did-unions-put-lornes-electric-out-of-business
Some including NO NAME William will still say this is so fair and the laws allows it, it’s all legal and……… more gripe!
Yet how can it be above board I personally say:
The said union faxes their legal papers to the companies office while the business is closed for the holidays (close to New Years eve)
At the time of faxing, only 3 electricians were working to rush and finish a rush job. Two of these workers vote YES to unionization and the other guy says NO. Motion carried 2 to 1 …….UNION IN. WHAT!!!!!
Is this fair? How can this happen? Well it seem it did and people like NO NAME William will always make excuses as to why and WE have it all wrong.
I say one man (woman) one vote and if that does not occur in our world, it’s called DICTATORSHIP.
What do others here have to say about this and this includes William, as we run a democracy in Canada…..right?
Thank you
Hi Shane, I like your union idea or maybe everyone should join CARAHS, as we are a non profit organization, covering the backs of self employed home renovation contractors. Mmmmmmmmmm
PS CARAHS is non governmental and not affiliated with any unions.
Unions are private entities and should not be required to disclose their finances. Be very careful here, this is a slipperly slope!
I have worked in the electrical sector for over 25 years, the first 14 were for a non-union employer and the past 11 years have been for a union employer, only because it was a condition of employment.
For the first 14 years, I swore up and down that I would NEVER work in a union environment. My employer treated us very fairly, we were compensated well, had good benefits and vacation pay. I did not feel it was fair to vote in a union to an employer who treated us well and had spent thousands in court fighting union take over, successfully. My father also owned a general contracting business and was dead set against unions, likely a big part of why I disliked them so much.
For the past 11 years I have worked for a much larger employer (10+ times the size of the first) that has been unionized for many decades. In this environment I have come to appreciate the work unions do for their members. We pay a fee (dues) for this service which I feel is very fair for what we receive in return. I believe in a large employer environment it would be much more challenging to have your single voice heard as opposed to a collective voice.
I’m seeing a lot of both Pro and Negative union comments here.
How about this…. there is room for both unionized and non-unionized companies, take your pick and be happy with your choice. Yes there are unions that use some poor tactics when attempting to unionize a company and some unions have bargained for unblieveablely crazy benefits which I also disagree with. At the same time there are non-union employers out there that treat their workers like crap and threaten job security (or lack of it) to get them to work in poor conditions for poor wages. The world just isn’t fair, but the government forcing a private entity to make their financial statements public is down right scarey. Whats next, all companies will have to post their finances publicly? How much big brother do you want in your lives? I’d like to see those of you in favour of it to post your personal finances for all of us to see!
I am a life long Conservative supporter (until this past Provincial election, couldn’t support Hudak) and if Bill C-377 goes through, that will be the end of my support.
Bill C-377 is a very scarey proposition. Be careful what you wish (or vote) for, you could be next.
Alec could you do a little research? Maybe the labour watch site? I heard the following but I wouldn’t want to post it unless I knew it was true. Is Canada the only G8 country allowing unions to have tax free status without audited books? I have also heard that they are the ONLY entity with this status. Charities and churches and synagogues and Mosques etc all have to have audited public books as a consequence of tax free status.
We are discussing Bill C 377?
I have been apart of 4 different union identities and it has always been a membership. There are no reasons to why the financial statements become public knowledge. This is our freedom of rights. The members always have access to the financial statements, which we the members have the right to know since it is our money.
I have been on the management side of side things, and really do not care how the unions spend their own money. Not my business.
There is a collective agreement that management and the union establish, that is that works for both parties. Not financial statements.
We can argue all day long about pro union or pro non-union. There are reasons why unions have come about. If all were treated fairly then unions would not exist.
I personally believe the government mandate is to relinquish unionization, just as our neighbours in the USA.
The bigger picture here, is how people within our province miss use tax payers funds and when, if at all get taught, they retire with a enormous buy out. More tax payers dollars. So what I am saying there are bigger concerns then worry about what unions do with their funds. How is it possible so someone to delete files that should be locked once established.
As most people indicated, what will be next or who will be next?
Are we continuously losing our Freedom? hmmmm