Up until two years ago, I was a lifelong supporter of the NDP at all levels of government. Being left-leaning in most of my political inclinations, I always felt well-represented by the New Democrats. But lately I find my affinity for them is fading. This is somewhat ironic since they’re currently enjoying a historic resurgence in the poles on the strength of their charismatic leader Jack Layton, whose riding I used to live in (#funfact). And for the first time since I can remember, the NDP now enjoy a healthy lead over the perennial runner's up, the Liberals.
But the one thing I can’t get over is the NDP’s unconditional backing of all unions, and in particular, the transit workers union. Last month the provincial government passed legislation that made the TTC an essential service, and effectively took away the union’s right to strike. The bill was passed decisively by a vote of 69-9, and garnered very little protest from the general public. Anyone who’s seen what transit strikes do to the city could easily understand why this move was necessary. Except the NDP.
True to form, they chimed in by calling the legislation “a full frontal attack” on working people. It’s clear that their formulaic ideology has not only left them with a crippled sense of pragmatism, but it’s also imbued them with a shameless penchant for hyperbole. For once I’d like someone in the public sphere to acknowledge that TTC workers are not destitute labourers scraping by on 30K a year. In actuality most of them make between 50k and 100k, and live in nice houses in the suburbs. On top of that, they enjoy nearly 100% job security and near impunity for actions that would cost any non-union worker their job.
In spite of this the NDP has never heard a union demand that it couldn’t get behind. I’m curious to know just where the threshold lies. How big of an across-the-board, non-merit-based raise would the union have to ask for before the NDP would finally say, “Come on guys. That’s a bit much.”?
What I find bizarre is that when you’re a public employee working in a government monopoly, you almost have no reason not to strike. Whenever the union doesn’t get what it wants in contract negations, it decides that it’s going to go on strike, thereby holding the TTC riders hostage until the government caves, or passes back-to-work legislation. Either way, the lesson is clear. Fuck with us, and we’ll screw over the whole city. Then when they go back to work, they get all or most of their demands met, and they invariably get their full salaries for the time they spent sitting on their asses. At least if you work for a private corporation, like the members of the autoworkers union, the only people being punished by your strike action are your employers. Also, auto workers run the risk of eventually getting downsized if their company loses too much market share due to the loss of productivity. But with TTC workers, there’s almost no downside.
I mean, where else can a group of workers decide one day that they’re not getting paid enough, and just not show up to work en masse. Then when they return, they get their raise, plus back-pay. When you serve the public and you don’t show up to work without your boss’ permission, you should get punished not rewarded. But on this issue, the NDP and I have a difference of opinion apparently.
I already can’t vote for the Liberals because, among other things, they support Israel’s illegal and murderous 44-year occupation. And the conservatives are out of the question since they’re just all-around nut jobs. So I guess, Green Party it is!
once you buy your first car and home, you'll be voting conservative and cursing streetcars to get off the damn road!
Go ahead - throw your vote away! Bwa ha ha ha!!!!
On a serious note, I like to think the realities of governing would moderate that unconditional backing the NDP usually reserves for unions. Bob Rae was roasted by the unions when he was premier of Ontario for introducing Rae Days, even though it made economic sense at the time. In opposition they can afford to be ideological; in power it's a different story.
At the very least, if the NDP forms the next government we'd likely see a more balanced approach to the Middle East conflict that what the Conservatives have shown, and restoration of funding to groups like Kairos that do important work in the developing world. More importantly, a greater respect for our democratic institutions and none of the secrecy and corruption that have tainted both the Conservatives and the LIberals is what I hope an NDP government would bring.