Windsor Lake candidates address labour issues
D-J Composites focus of one question and candidate comments
Windsor Lake byelection Liberal candidate Paul Antle, New Democratic Party candidate Kerri Claire Neil and Progressive Conservative candidate Ches Crosbie were each given the opportunity to respond to questions on the minimum wage, the gender wage gap and labour relations during a Windsor Lake candidates’ forum Tuesday night.
The forum was held in an overflowing room at the Holiday Inn on Portugal Cove Road in St. John’s and was hosted by the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour.
A significant question came early in the forum, about the size of the public service, asking if it is too large or not and, if so, how candidates would respond.
Antle warned drastic job cuts in the public sector would damage the provincial economy. He advocated continuing the Liberals’ plan to use attrition.
“We have a reliable, economyfriendly attrition plan, fully supported by the bond markets,” he said.
“I do not think that our public sector is too large,” Neil said on the same issue, while also speaking against sudden, significant job cuts and austerity.
Crosbie said he does not believe in “big government,” and ongoing attrition makes sense, as long as it’s not sacrificing service quality.
“Doing it better, and doing it
faster. Those are my values,” he said.
Three takes on D-J Composites
In his introduction time and in response to a later question, Antle took a noticeably hard line against employer D-J Composites in the dispute that has left workers locked out since December 2016. Antle was critical of the company, citing provincial labour board findings regarding the dispute to date.
“Let’s talk about D-J Composites. If a Canadian company in the United States defied American labour laws, what do you think would happen? So here’s
my message to the CEO of that company: respect the picket line. And get off your arse and get back to the bargaining table,” he said, raising his voice to make the point.
The Telegram followed up with the Liberal government — specifically, the minister responsible for labour relations, Al Hawkins — about Antle’s comments.
In a statement of response credited to the minister, Hawkins reiterated his role in “balancing the rights of employees and employers.”
“It is my understanding that there is a willingness on the part of the union to get back to the
table and we continue to encourage both the employees and the employer to resume talks,” he stated. “If the union believes that the employer is continuing to engage in bad faith bargaining and are seeking binding arbitration on that matter, they have recourse with the Labour Relations Board to pursue that complaint which already has the authority under the legislation to impose binding arbitration.”
Two-way race?
Crosbie and Antle spoke across Neil at times during their responses to questions, criticizing Liberal and PC thinking, respectively, but neither of the two men said they were actually counting Neil out in the race.
Referring to an MQO poll released earlier the same day, suggesting a neck-and-neck race between the Liberal and PC candidates, Crosbie told The Telegram the poll suggests a “horse race” is on.
“(But) the NDP is certainly in the race as well. Certainly the NDP has their supporters,” he said.
Antle said he was happy to hear the perspectives of all candidates on the questions, particularly those written by audience members addressing — among other things — mental health, education and affordable living for seniors.
“We just don’t take anything for granted,” he said of a threeway race. “The voters will decide how things come out.”
Neil said her strategy during the forum was to directly answer the questions posed as much as possible.
As for not being the target of other candidates?
“It seems they just don’t have much to attack me on. I understand they’re trying to take each other down, but I think they’re underestimating me,” she said.
On Friday, Sept. 14, The Telegram will moderate a debate with the candidates, hosted by the St. John’s Board of Trade. The debate will be part of a board members’ luncheon at the Holiday Inn on Portugal Cove Road.