18 ms·

at the very least i believe a public sector union in a democracy shouldn't have the right to strike and keep their jobs. You can't hold the rest of the country

at the very least i believe a public sector union in a democracy shouldn't have the right to strike and keep their jobs. You can't hold the rest of the country hostage like that. The government belongs to the people and the people's right to have a functioning government supersedes your right to strike.

arcticbull 5y ago
Ok, but who's going to look out for the employment rights of the individuals? Wouldn't you argue that's even more important the larger the employer gets? The way it tends to work in Canada is that if certain essential workers strike and it harms the public, they can be ordered back to work. Seems like a reasonable place to draw the line.
- salawat 5y ago
  Not really. If you can just order someone back to work without sitting down at the negotiating table... You're kinda hosed from the Union/labor front. Like it or not, even the Government is liable to pay a fair wage. If the Public is so darn stingy they won't even vote in people to seriously fund the execution of crucial services, that's their problem.
  - arcticbull 5y ago
    For sure, it's a balance, which is why back to work legislation is used sparingly. It also has been given a very high bar by recent Supreme Court rulings.
- s1artibartfast 5y ago
  Seems like a hollow threat because you can't actually force anyone to work. I think all collective bargaining should rely on the power of the workers to stop working and the cost to employers to hire replacements. Any laws that deviate from this and prevent parties from doing so are a morally bankrupt.
  - arcticbull 5y ago
    You can certainly fine them until they do, which is generally how this works.
    - s1artibartfast 5y ago
      I haven't seen that and to be honest, am a little skeptical. If someone quits their job, they can be fined? For how long?
      - arcticbull 5y ago
        This is how most return-to-work legislation in Canada has historically been structured, and it has worked.
      - changoplatanero 5y ago
        i believe you still can quit your job but the thing you can't do is refuse to work while also preventing the government from hiring someone else to do your job, aka striking
- rpmisms 5y ago
  The idea is that private sector pressure will keep Government employees roughly at par with private salaries. I don't mean direct pressure, simply that people won't work there.
kelseyfrog 5y ago
The individual right to not be exploited supersedes the collective right to functioning government. This is a natural right that cannot be taken away by anyone including a government. We have a right to not be exploited. We don't have a right to functioning government.

arcticbull 5y ago

Ok, but who's going to look out for the employment rights of the individuals? Wouldn't you argue that's even more important the larger the employer gets? The way it tends to work in Canada is that if certain essential workers strike and it harms the public, they can be ordered back to work. Seems like a reasonable place to draw the line.

salawat 5y ago
Not really. If you can just order someone back to work without sitting down at the negotiating table... You're kinda hosed from the Union/labor front. Like it or not, even the Government is liable to pay a fair wage. If the Public is so darn stingy they won't even vote in people to seriously fund the execution of crucial services, that's their problem.
- arcticbull 5y ago
  For sure, it's a balance, which is why back to work legislation is used sparingly. It also has been given a very high bar by recent Supreme Court rulings.
s1artibartfast 5y ago
Seems like a hollow threat because you can't actually force anyone to work. I think all collective bargaining should rely on the power of the workers to stop working and the cost to employers to hire replacements. Any laws that deviate from this and prevent parties from doing so are a morally bankrupt.
- arcticbull 5y ago
  You can certainly fine them until they do, which is generally how this works.
  - s1artibartfast 5y ago
    I haven't seen that and to be honest, am a little skeptical. If someone quits their job, they can be fined? For how long?
    - arcticbull 5y ago
      This is how most return-to-work legislation in Canada has historically been structured, and it has worked.
    - changoplatanero 5y ago
      i believe you still can quit your job but the thing you can't do is refuse to work while also preventing the government from hiring someone else to do your job, aka striking
rpmisms 5y ago
The idea is that private sector pressure will keep Government employees roughly at par with private salaries. I don't mean direct pressure, simply that people won't work there.

kelseyfrog 5y ago

The individual right to not be exploited supersedes the collective right to functioning government. This is a natural right that cannot be taken away by anyone including a government. We have a right to not be exploited. We don't have a right to functioning government.