Mr. Speaker, I wish the hon. member had listened to my remarks. I said that the legislation was completely undemocratic, that it violated democratic principles.
A union can operate very democratically. I am glad to hear the member has had experience in a union that does. If a union is not democratically chosen, what democratic legitimacy does it have in the first place, no matter how it operates after the fact?
The member talked about unreasonable demands being made by employers. Unreasonableness is not the sole purview of employers and management. It is unfortunate but true that unreasonableness sometimes rests in the bargaining unit, in unions. What will protect workers in a balanced way from being pulled apart by these two competing interests? Only balanced legislation.
I see why the hon. member wants to ensure that his union bosses and the unions that pay most of the money to keep his party going have full and free flight in whatever they want to do. I understand why he is flying the flag of the unions and his union bosses. I can perfectly understand that, but who cares about the workers?
Who cares to ensure that workers who want to keep their jobs and good relations with the people offering them economic opportunity also have some reasonable freedoms and some cards on the table when it comes to the bargaining process?
The bargaining unit must be free and fair and able to stick up for the needs of workers. The other side that wants to provide long term employment and economic opportunities must have some cards to bargain with. We are asking for balance that protects workers and serves their interests and not just those of the union bosses of the NDP.