HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1967-09-21, Page 2MONEY! MONEY! MONEY!
Is it possible that organized labour in Ontario has
TAX-FREE annual revenue of $36,894,000°0
or more?
Is it not time for a public disclosure of
Union Revenues?
Are These Funds Used To Finance a Political Party? We Think It Is Time The Public Knew!
The Following was Submitted to The Rand Commission
Income for 1965
Dues, initiation fees, charter
fees, etc. $47,988,408.15
Rent, property sale and
other investment 7,787,949.53
The recent Rand Commission investigation
into Ontario labour legislation and union/
management relationships has revealed
some startling facts. They should be of in-
terest fo every citizen who values his right
to work when, where, and for how much,
he wishes, and of equal importance to every
consumer interested in retaining his ability
to buy goods and services competitively in
a free market.
Total Receipts $55,776,357.68
(Source: UAW Solidarity—April, 1966)
weak. Whatever basis in fact there may
have been for the old-time picture of the
trade union as a weak and idealistic organ-
ization of the "down-trodden workers"
which needed to be protected against the
power of "oppressive employers", it has
little relation to the realities of the situation
today. Our labour relations legislation, as
well as its administration, has taken no
account of the changed status of trade
unions. It has not recognized that trade
unions have flourished under the legisla-
tion to the point where they are now
exceedingly powerful organizations with
large numbers and great financial
resources, and with the capacity to cripple
the economy at will by company-wide and
even industry-wide strikes.
could put a small independent employer out
of business entirely.
Furthermore, the threat of a strike in such
circumstances might well induce a settle-
ment which could be equally disastrous. It
is to be noted that most of the large employ-
ers are now organized and the avowed
objective of unions is the organization of
those smaller employers who remain un-
organized. Strike Fund
International strike fund as
at November 30, 1966 $53,246,681.00
(Source: UAW Solidarity—January, 1967)
UNION FINANCIAL POWER
Resources and Liabilities
Cash, investment securities,
accounts receivable, inven-
tories, fixed assets, prop-
erty, etc. $68,553,142.11
Current liabilities 362,788.22
IDEAL LABOUR LEGISLATION
Labour relations legislation should define
and protect the basic legitimate rights of
labour and management, employees and
unions, in their relations as they affect each
other and the economy of the country. It
should define and protect the basic legiti-
mate rights of the public and safeguard it
against any acts of labour or management
which might adversely affect public inter-
est. It should provide an orderly system for
the voluntary settlement of disputes
between parties so that the stability of the
economy is not disrupted. In brief, the law
should be so designed as to maintain a
balance of power between organized labour
on the one hand, and management on the
other.
In 1943 when the Collective Bargaining
Act of Ontario was enacted, federal labour
department statistics showed that there
were 1,184 trade unions in Ontario, with a
reported membership of 211,970. At the
beginning of 1965 there were 2,811 trade
union locals in Ontario, and 2,576 of them
reported a membership of 614,900 — an
increase of almost 300%. This increase in
membership c r eat e d a corresponding
increase in the financial strength of trade
unions, Today trade unions own banks,
insurance companies, buildings and securi-
ties which are valued in hundreds of
millions of dollars. Many trade unions are
larger in terms of finances than probably
most of the companies with which they
bargain collectively, To illustrate union
wealth, here are financial statistics pub-
lished by the UAW.
PRESENT LEGISLATION
CREATES IMBALANCE
Examination of existing Ontario legislation,
and the protection it affords to each party
makes it increasingly apparent that a
proper balance between the parties is not
being maintained.
The present legislation was designed to
help and protect trade unions in the days
when they were small and relatively
THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF POWER
The increasing affluence of unions is not
necessarily to be criticized. However, the
very existence of such huge funds and
economic power make it imperative that
the power be exercised wisely. Events of
recent years indicate that on many occa-
sions this has not been the case. In our
complex society, judicious exercise of
power by both parties can only be ensured
by the imposition and enforcement of an
appropriate legal responsibility.
The fact is that trade unionism is a busi-
ness, and organized labour is a power
group. Even in their relations with larger
employers, the major unions possess power
to shut down a whole company or even a
whole industry, a power which unions are
exercising to an increasing extent, Is it not
ironic that many unions which complain
about alleged business monopolies, today
possess more formidable monopolistic
power over whole industries than exist
anywhere in the business world.
Is it not apparent that the law and the
administration of the law must be changed
in order to conform with the new power
of organized labour?
Net Worth $68,190,353.89
(Source: UAW Solidarity—April, 1966)
While separate financial statements are
usually not published for unions in Canada,
the above figures indicate the enormous
resources behind many Canadian trade
unions. The Canadian division of the United
Steelworkers of America for example, with
a 1965 membership of 110,000 and monthly
dues of $5.00 per member, realizes an
estimate annual tax-free revenue of approxi-
mately $6,600,000. How many employers
under contract with this union enjoy tax-
free revenue of this nature? Not many!
With such technical and financial resources
of the whole international supporting each
union local, a large international union
IF THESE FACTS ARE TRUE IS IT IN THE PUBLIC'S
INTEREST TO HAVE A CONCENTRATION OF POWER OF SUCH MAGNITUDE?
Presented in the Public Interest by
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