Labour can flex its power when it buys union first Need some union-made shoes? What about a ride in an organized taxi cab? You can swing your clubs on a union golf course or eat your popcorn in a labour-friendly cinema. All of these this things are possible to do, along with many, many more options for discerning | workers who prefer to sup- | port their own union Brothers and Sisters in the working world. The latest issue of B.C. Unionized Products and Services has hit the street for 2003 - 2004. Produced by the B.C. Union Trades Label Council, it is an excellent guide for workers and their families searching to buy union good and patronize unionized services. Hundreds and hundreds of B.C. business are listed and broken down into categories — from accom- modations to zoos! Addresses of all B.C. Federation of Labour affiliates unions are also listed. David Tones, the IWA‘s national sec- retary-treasurer, encourages union members to get a hold of the direc- tory or visit www.union-label.com e.EMoNITED FROUTET A stINCES DIRECTORY NDP leader focuses message on growing market economy Labour’s traditional ally, appears to be turning the corner. B.C. NDP sq \eader Joy McPhail told a community '| conference on April 28 that the party '| Must put economic issues at the fore- front. She endorsed a “strong, vibrant Joy McPhail and growing market economy where ambition and risk are encouraged and rewarded...and where working people share the rewards.” McPhail also endorsed a working forest land base, a sustain- able environment, and strong public health care and education. WHY UNDERMINE A SYSTEM that was working, says IWA Canada president Dave Haggard, especially when it comes to training appren- tices in a modern economy that needs skilled workers? The B.C. Liberals are messing up the apprentice program by throwing away the ITAC (Industry Training and Apprenticeship Commission) which was only created in 1997, replacing it with a model that doesn’t make sense and will cost workers money and opportunities and indus- tries skilled workers, says Haggard. That new system, which was rammed through the spring sitting of the legislature, will see full trades appren- tice programs replaced by a “credential” system which can see apprentices get part of a trade — but not full status. “Why would any worker want to get part of a trade or get partly-certified where you could not take certified skills to work in other parts of the industry?” says Haggard. “That’s a scenario thatis dumb and dumber — it doesn’t make sense for the worker or sense in a modern economy. “It takes away your ability to work in other parts of the forest industry or other industries like mining or pulp and paper and vice-versa,” says Local 1-425 third V.P. Mitch VanDale, a millwright apprentice who has follow- ing the issue. “You would be stuck with skills that wouldn't be portable.” Under the former system, appren- tices signed contracts with employers and the ITAC. The employer would commit for four years and put work- ers through programs, covering wages losses and other costs. With the Liberals’ new modular system, the four-year commitment is gone. In any given year, the employer would have the option of stopping the apprenticeship process. That would PHOTO BY DAN KEETON = Those currently enrolled in apprenticeship programs could be among the last to receive full trades accreditation. Dumb and dumber B.C. Liberals perform hatchet job on apprenticeship system leave the worker(s) high and dry. Says Vandale: “You would complete the training only if the company gives you time. And you would foot more and more of the costs. Those currently enrolled in apprenticeship program may wind up being the last tradesper- sons to receive full trades accreditation.” “Once again the Liberals are doing a number on workers in the province of British Columbia,” says Haggard. “They have given control of appren- ticeship programs to employers and had a hearing process that was by invi- tation only. It’s another plan without proper consultation.” The IWA supported the B.C. Federation of Labour in its campaign to oppose the changes. By the end of March, the Liberals had closed anoth- er six ITAC offices, in addition to offices that were already closed in ten communities in the province. So much for the B.C. Heartland! Has tax cut mania now ended in Canada? HAS TAX CUT MANIA NOW ENDED? We can only hope that Premier Gary Doer's resounding win in Manitoba signals that it is. Doer won in spite of tempting offers of huge tax cuts dangled by his oppo- nents. While the governing New Democrats offered modest tax reductions in the recent provincial budget, ABOUT THE ECONOMY BY KIM POLLOCK the Conservatives promised to slash taxes by $200 million in one year, while the Liberals offered $500 million over five years. "Slasher" budgets were introduced earlier this year in British Columbia, Ontario and other provinces. Days after being elected in 2001, Gordon Campbell's B.C. Liberals cut taxes by over $2.4 billion, a windfall for corporations and the rich. Campbell added a real touch of economic voo-doo when he additionally promised to balance the budget, raise no taxes and cut no services. This was impossi- ble, but that didn't matter. Unfortunately, people in B.C. soon learned the hard way. In place of taxes, they have suffered massive cuts to health care, education, family-support services, forest-management and other programs. The government is also busy priva- tizing BC Rail, the Coquihalla Highway, BC Hydro and other key Crown assets. But B.C. still expects a deficit of $3.8 billion! Ironically, the much-maligned NDP government had balanced the books. Similarly in Ontario, a fiscally "conservative" Conservative government is on track for a deficit of perhaps $4 billion. Again, the root of the problem lies in huge tax cuts early in the Conservatives' mandate. Now they face an election, so they're trying to balance the budget by cutting services and dismantling Ontario Hydro and other assets. As in B.C., this won't work. Itnot only hurts families and communities, but by reducing consumer demand also rips a hole in the economy that tax cuts simply cannot fill. Particularly hard hit are resource-based communities. Worse yet, both governments have cynically replaced income-tax revenue with a plague of new taxes: user fees, service charges, licence fees, gas taxes... What you win on the tax-cut swings, you lose on the cuts-and-hikes roundabouts. Doer won, indeed, in spite of the huge current hype in the U.S. media about President George Bush's plan to cut taxes for wealthy Americans. Instead of promis- ing tax cuts as an economic fixall, Manitoba has adopted a simple watchword: "you can't spend it if you don't make it." The government recognizes it must create jobs and stimulate investment, creating revenue to invest in programs: education, training, health care, child care. Doer's ministers also understand that they must care- fully manage the tax dollars with which Manitobans entrust them. When it comes down to it, Manitobans see that with taxes, first, you get what you pay for and second, it's a pay now — taxes for schools, health care, daycare centres — or _ pay later proposition — taxes for jails, courts and It's not an either or proposition, as people in BJ Ontario and other tax-cut havens are finding out. Kim Pollock is the IWA’s Director of Public Policy and Environment 14 le THE ALLIED WORKER JUNE 2003