The Citizen, 1992-04-08, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1992.
The Other Side
g Keith R (ston————————
Letters
Sure we need
to co-operate,
but...
While business complains about
the proposed new labour legislation
of Ontario's NDP, Premier Bob Rae
declares it's part of a new program
to bring more co-operation between
business and labour.
The premier feels giving more
power to labour isn't really a threat
to business at all, but the first step
in forging a new partnership
between business, labour and gov
ernment. To have a partnership, he
points out, the partners must have
some sense of equality. Today,
NDP supporters say, business has
too much power compared to
labour.
Supporters of more power for
unions point to Europe where there
is a more co-operative nature
between business, labour and gov
ernment than the confrontational
situation here. If our unions have
more strength, the theory goes, they
won't have to be so confrontational.
Business, on the other hand, sees a
long history of union militancy in
Canada and figures attitudes won't
change if union leaders get more
power: they'll just be able to exert
more pressure on business. They
can point to Europe too — to Italy
which is one of the few countries
with a worse strike history than
Canada.
Both the government and busi
ness has a point in the discussion.
We must forge a more co-operative
situation between government,
labour and business in Canada if
we're going to compete in a world
market but there must be some evi
dence the co-operation is going to
happen before turning over too
much more power to unions. The
past history shows that unions are
in a role of only looking after their
members, not the overall good of
the country or community. Ontario
public service unions, for instance,
in some areas have continued to
demand five per cent pay increases
when inflation is two per cent and
governments are trying to cut costs.
Big business, on the other hand,
hasn't helped the situation by bend
ing the rules wherever possible to
save money. The exodus of manu
facturers to Mexico where they can
pay peasants $1 an hour hardly
shows a basic sense of fairness.
If unions want to improve their
image, however, they could start
doing things that aren't of such a
confrontational nature but would
still help their members. If day care
is a problem for workers, for
instance, why can't unions help
organize day care centres. This
would be a huge benefit for female
employees in particular.
In this day and age when training
and retraining is being spoken of as
the way of the future, why can't
unions get involved in retraining
workers to help them qualify for
better jobs, even within the compa
nies they already work for.
Just because unions were started
to protect workers from avaricious
bosses doesn't mean they must
remain forever one-dimensional.
We hear a lot these days of how
companies must adapt to the chang
ing times but very little about how
unions must adapt. If union leaders
persist in seeing their jobs as only
us versus-them in contract negotia
tions then they are not doing their
workers or the country much of a
service. We need unions that seek
compromise and co-operation.
The problem is unions have such
a negative image that nobody wants
to trust them with more power. If
unions can show they can be a
more positive force, that they do
more than strike, then maybe there
would be a better sense of trust
from business.
The Premier's hope to build more
co-operation between business and
labour is a good one, but just taking
labour's side in the issue isn't going
to get what he wants. Labour is
going to have to show some good
faith through good actions, if busi
ness is to believe it is ready to be
more co-operative. In simply say
ing he's ready to push the legisla
tion through despite business
protests, the Premier isn't sending
very good signals. Business, after
all has the right to strike too:
instead of just withholding service,
however, it can take it to Buffalo,
Tennessee or Mexico and then we
all lose.
School plans
40th anniverary
reunion
THE EDITOR,
Please inform your readers of the
Fortieth Anniversary/Reunion to be
held at my school, Norwich District
High School on May 29, 30 and 31.
It is a time for barbecues, dances
and conversations.
For further information or a
brochure please contact my school.
The telephone number is 519-468-
2014. The deadline is May 1, 1992.
Grade 11 Student
Norwich District High School.
Through
the Years
Continued from page 4
from a rash of break-ins to cars
parked in the Brussels area.
Toni Richmond of Blyth was the
winner in the Kindergarten to
Grade 2 division of the annual
Huron County Farm and Home
Safety Association poster contest.
The Sunday School at the Church
of God, McConnell Street, Blyth
received the Sunday School
Growth Award from the national
offices of the Church of God in
Indiana.
To help you fill out
your income tax return
Extended hours
From February 24 to April 30, we offer an “after hours” phone
service from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
You can also call T.I.P.S. Info-Tax, our automated phone service,
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for recorded information on selected topics.
-calculation returns
To make things easier, we’ve designed two simpler tax returns
that don’t have any calculations.
These optional returns are great for people with straightforward
tax situations. If you’re under 65, you can use the “Short.”
If you’re 65 or over, the “65 Plus” is for you. Whatever return
you use, you should fill out only one.
Make sure your return is not delayed
We Ye making it easier.
■ ■ Revenue Canada Revenu Canada
■ Taxation Impot
O Lots of people fill out their tax return with great care, only to
miss details that can make all the difference. For example, if
hL your address is incomplete or incorrect, your refund could be
delayed or sent to the wrong place.
I If you will be moving, write the new address on your return,
* or if you don’t know it yet, please call us to let us know as
soon as you can so we can update your file.
Another important detail is attaching all the slips and
receipts that support your claims for credits and
deductions. If any are missing, your return may
get held up while we contact you for the information.
Canada