Labour leader sets wrong tone
Re: Federation elects first woman leader, Nov. 28; and B. C. Fed leader seeks union growth, Nov. 29
The Nov. 27th issue of BCTF News announced that Irene Lanzinger, a former BCTF president, had been elected to lead the B. C. Federation of Labour. As a teacher, I’m happy that one of ours has been honoured with this position, but I’m saddened with the tone of the celebrations as reported in the BCTF News report.
The article says delegates to the B. C. Fed Convention “were delighted by Irene’s win.” Dan Sapic, a Vancouver teacher, “looks forward to two years of positive and progressive leadership for the B. C. Fed.” He adds, “Irene has great leadership skills. She walks her talk. She walks picket lines — legal or illegal.”
Are we really celebrating “positive and progressive leadership” here? As a teacher, I am embarrassed that our leader is willing to “walk the picket lines — legal or illegal.”
What is “positive and progressive” about this kind of action? Where are we “leading” our students? Are we modelling for them respect for the rule of law? Are we demonstrating to them the need to treat people with different values from ours respectfully?
I want a labour representative who will speak up for the rights of workers, but I am tired of the kind of “speaking up” that typically characterizes our labour union negotiations.
Every communication I received as a teacher from my union during the strike negotiations was negative, derogatory against the government, and full of innuendo.
In contrast, every communication I received from the government during this same period was informative, worded in a reasonable tone, and expressed respect for teachers.
In hailing Lanzinger’s election, Jim Sinclair said, “Now we have to push back the provincial government and defeat the federal government.” What kind of “progressive” thinking is that? Since when has it been considered “progressive” to “push back” and “defeat” the people at the other end of the negotiation table?
Maybe we should try a different approach. What would be wrong with determining to work with whatever democratically elected government has been voted into power, either provincial or federal, instead of working against it? GINNY JAQUES North Van District TOC