Union support of political causes is under the gun
The days may be numbered for union support of contentious political causes, something the Catholic Civil Rights League has been working towards for years.
While the league has been concerned about union support for same-sex marriage and other issues in opposition to Catholic teaching, the tipping point for political change may be the Public Service Alliance of Canada鱿鱼视频app (PSAC) recent support for separatist candidates in the Sept. 4 Quebec election.
Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre, parliamentary secretary to the transport minister, promised to urge his cabinet colleagues bring in legislation that would allow employees to opt out of paying union dues.
鈥淚 cannot imagine how it could possibly be in the interests of a Canadian public servant for the union to back a separatist party,鈥� Poilievre told the Globe and Mail. 鈥淎nd yet that is precisely what PSAC has done.鈥�
The rights league became involved in the union dues issue back in 2004 when it fought for the rights of Catholic PSAC member Susan Comstock to have part of her $800 yearly mandatory dues diverted to charity because the union campaigned for same-sex marriage, contrary to her religious beliefs.
鈥淲e鈥檝e always thought that, with good reason, union members should be able to put their request in writing so a portion of mandatory dues could be diverted to charity,鈥� said league executive director Joanne McGarry. 鈥淭he ability to opt out of the union is another possibility.鈥�
At issue is 鈥渢he ability of union members to have a say in how their money is spent so they don鈥檛 have to fund something they find morally repugnant,鈥� she said.
Industry Canada employee Dave MacDonald, a former PSAC local president who represented Comstock in her grievance process, said the changes Poilievre proposes are 鈥渋mportant because the PSAC, among others, have ceased to be an organization focused on improving workers鈥� rights and become a political organization.鈥�
鈥淎s a Catholic, I am offended that my union dues are used to fund court challenges on abortion and same-sex marriage, gay pride parades and similar causes which have no correlation to the workplace,鈥� he said. 鈥淢oreover, the Comstock case showed the extent to which the leadership in the PSAC was hostile to their own members who did not endorse their extreme political agenda.鈥�
The Ontario English Catholic Teachers鈥� Association (OECTA) built a war chest for Premier Dalton McGuinty, despite religious freedom concerns raised by the Ontario bishops and Catholic school trustees about the Ontario government鱿鱼视频app policies that would impose Gay-Straight Alliances on Catholic schools. McGarry said she encountered Catholic teachers who insisted OECTA did not represent their point of view.
鈥淚鈥檓 sorry, but they do,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat鱿鱼视频app your money; they do represent you.鈥�
Legislation is not the only way to make change, she said. She urged union members to become involved in the running of their unions so they have a say on policies. But McGarry stressed the importance of religious freedom and conscientious objection.
鈥淚f someone鱿鱼视频app in a position where union membership is a condition of employment, they should be able, for serious reasons, to divert their dues.鈥�
MacDonald, who has a private immigration law practice outside his work for government, is concerned Poilievre鱿鱼视频app proposals might end unions if everyone is able to opt out of paying dues altogether.
鈥淚 believe a good compromise, and one that I believe the Church agrees with, is to keep unions in line with the rights of charities (including churches) regarding political activities,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat is, they should be able to do some political activities providing they are related to the stated objectives of a labour union.鈥�
Lobbying government on job security, wages, health and safety would be okay, as would communicating messages on these issues to members, he said.
MacDonald said reform would be welcomed by the vast majority of members because it would make 鈥渁 union that was interested in protecting worker鱿鱼视频app rights rather than espousing political viewpoints that are not shared by the majority of its members.鈥�
Union leaders have reacted angrily against Poilievre鱿鱼视频app proposal, with Canadian Labour Congress Leader Ken Georgetti accusing the Conservative government of trying to silence its critics.
Meanwhile, Conservative MP Russ Hiebert鱿鱼视频app private member鱿鱼视频app bill C-377 that would bring more accountability to how union dues are spent passed second reading last March and is now before the House of Commons finance committee.