IRONWORKERS EMBRACE CLARK’S VISION FOR B.C.
While Federation of Labour releases attack ads, local union backs premier
The day in politics began with multiple airings on social media of an attack ad against Premier Christy Clark, the first instalment in a $70,000 effort by the B.C. Federation of Labour.
The 30-second spot, riffing on the format of a 1980s video game, depicts the photoop hogging premier as a character in a hard hat — pink, yet — who collects points for staging shiny media events while closing schools, seniors homes and the like.
All in all it was a reminder that when crafted with sufficient wit, ridicule is a more effective line of attack in the political arena than outrage.
“I’m glad I was in a hard hat,” joked Clark, making the best of it.
“At least that’s one thing they got right.”
She made the comment during a mid-day campaign event staged by the B.C. Liberal party — well timed given the B.C. Federation of Labour campaign — where the 1,800-member Local 97 of the Ironworkers Union endorsed Clark for re-election.
“We strongly believe that the Liberals have the best jobs plan and we’re going to support them and that’s what we’re going to stand up for,” business manager Doug Parton told reporters gathered at a construction site in downtown Victoria.
“I’ve been elected to do a duty as much as she has, to support these guys,” he continued, referring to the con- struction workers flanking him and the hard hat-wearing premier (of course). “When they are not working they are looking to me, and when I’m not working I’m looking to her. So we all have people to answer to.”
Not content with endorsing the governing party, he also blasted the New Democrats.
“How do I go to my members and say I need you to support the NDP when they are against everything the ironworker stands for?” Parton continued, citing NDP opposition to construction of the hydroelectric dam at Site C on the Peace River and other projects.
“For years they’ve been thought of as the labour party, but what’s happened in the past has made my members very concerned. When they come out against the George Massey bridge, that’s a direct attack against the ironworkers and I can’t take it any other way. That’s our bridge.”
He also took a shot at the B.C. Federation of Labour (the ironworkers are a member) for the social media campaign against the premier.
“We’re the people who make a living with our hands,” Parton said. “I don’t think the B.C. Fed should really be treading into those types of waters.”
With the union leader having gone all in on the endorsement, Clark didn’t need to add much. But she did get in a reminder of how the previous premier Clark — meaning New Democrat Glen — had been an organizer for the ironworkers’ union before entering politics.
Then it was off to the legislature, where Clark kicked off the afternoon session by introducing Parton and his fellow union official, Darrell LaBoucan, sitting in the public gallery.
“Today it’s my pleasure to introduce two men who represent some of the hardestworking British Columbians of all: the Ironworkers. If you drive across a bridge, you can thank an Ironworker. You drop your kids off to a safe school, and you can thank an Ironworker. You take your mom or dad to a hospital, and you can thank an Ironworker. You turn on your electricity, and much of it was produced by the legacy of dams in our province. You can thank an Ironworker.”
There followed a businesslike question period, where the New Democrats focused on social issues, including the latest tragedy involving the troubled Ministry of Children and Family Development. It was all in keeping with the Opposition decision, since the pre-election session of the legislature began, to keep the focus on programs underfunded and programs gone wrong. But Wednesday the New Democrats seemed determined to leave no opening for Clark to shift discussion back to the jobs and the ironworkers.
She seized the moment anyway by answering the final question of the day — about seniors care homes on the Sunshine Coast — with a segue to a long list of infrastructure projects backed by the B.C. Liberals and (in her characterization) opposed by the New Democrats.
“I know that the ironworkers who are here today will appreciate this — making sure we are putting British Columbians to work — when they build them,” Clark closed question period.
After that performance, it fell to Horgan to meet with reporters and try to steer the conversation to the MCFD tragedy, before making light of the endorsement from the 1,800-member union local.
“Rather than worrying about what’s happening today with the premier finding two members to stand with her from the labour movement,” he said, “I’m going to continue to work with people across B.C. to talk about their issues.”
As for Clark’s reference to the earlier premier Clark having been an organizer for the ironworkers, Horgan replied: “Not the same local.”
On the jobs front, Horgan repeated earlier rationalizations for decisions to withhold support for Site C and the Massey replacement project.
But he promised the coming NDP election platform — “it will be done when it is done” — will have a jobs plan to match the one promoted by the B.C. Liberals and Clark. He also reminded reporters that with almost 10 weeks still to go before election day, a lot can happen to shape the campaign. Indeed, on any given day, a lot does.
When they (B.C. NDP) come out against the George Massey bridge, that’s a direct attack against the ironworkers and I can’t take it any other way. That’s our bridge. DOUG PART ON, Local 97 of the Iron workers Union