Carole James says she wants to bring “balance” to the Labour Code. But she won’t say what, exactly, she would change about the Labour Code. Why not? What’s the NDP’s real agenda?
Carole James’ shifting position on the Labour Code
April 2005: Q: “Were previous NDP governments balanced?” A: “No….I don’t think we’ve had a government that has represented the kind of balance we need. If we had, we wouldn’t see those kinds of polarized politics that we’ve seen in British Columbia.” – Carole James, CKNW and CBC, 21 April 2005
March 2005: “…we don't have a balance in the Labour Code…you’ve seen the pendulum swing too far the other way.” (Voice of BC, 30 Mar 2005)
March 2004: “I was proud of the fact New Democrats, in fact, did bring back balance to the Labour Code and…I look forward to those days again in May 2005.” (Q&A at Pulp, Paper & Woodworkers Annual Convention, 11 Mar 2004)
Nov. 03: “We’ll put balance back in the Labour Code. We’ll make sure we do those things immediately and then take a look at the economic performance of the province.” (NDP Leaders Debate, 12 Nov 2003)
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NDP pre-election promise |
NDP post-election action |
The results |
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“…to put one-sided and extreme labour laws behind us.” (1991 NDP Platform)
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Appointed Moe Sihota as Labour Minister.
Eliminated secret ballot vote on union certification.
Eliminated education as an essential service. (1992)
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254 strikes and lockouts between 1991 and 1995.
4 million student days of education lost to strikes and lockouts. |
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“A new Labour Relations Code [that] levels the playing field for B.C. workers.” (1996 NDP Platform) |
Appointed Moe Sihota as Labour Minister.
Imposed sectoral bargaining on the institutional, commercial sectors of the construction industry - only backed off after business protests.
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238 strikes and lockouts between 1996 and 2000. |
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“A balanced approach to labour-management relations…ensure BC’s successful Labour Code remains balanced…” (2001 NDP Platform)
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The BC Liberal Record
· In our 2001 New Era document, we clearly laid out the changes we would make to the Labour Code. This included returning the secret ballot on certifications, outlawing sectoral bargaining, and restoring workers’ rights to pensions even if they want to resume work in their previous field of employment.
· Since that time, we have seen unprecedented labour stability in the province. In 2003, we had the lowest number of strikes or lockouts in over 30 years. In 2003, there were 8 strikes or lockouts – in 2000 alone under the NDP, there were 80 strikes or lockouts.
· As well, we’ve negotiated 104 agreements with public sector unions under our wage mandate.
