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NDP labour code plans lambasted by B.C. Liberals

B.C. Liberal Donna Barnett and NDP candidate Charlie Wyse square off on labour code plans

The B.C. Liberal government and some advocates for worker's rights are voicing strong concerns after British Columbia NDP labour critic Shane Simpson recently mentioned potential changes to B.C.'s labour code on CKNW radio.

Cariboo-Chilcotin NDP candidate Charlie Wyse confirms the NDP's labour plans include considering elimination of the worker's ability for a secret vote on unionization.

He says its part of a package of many changes his party is considering.

"Shane [Simpson] has mentioned that one possibility is to go back to that aspect of changing the procedure of how people unionize. But, when decisions are made, it will be clearly outlined."

However, Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett says union members should be able to place their vote anonymously to ensure there is no pressure applied to them from anyone on their freedom of choice.

"Why would anyone take that away unless it's called 'control'? I think it is very undemocratic."

In the 1990s, the NDP introduced Bill 84 to replace the secret ballot with a system of automatic union certification if 55 per cent of employees in a workplace signed a membership card.

Philip Hochstein, Independent Contractors and Businesses Association of B.C. president, says getting rid of the secret ballot removes a fundamental right from workers and strips away the advantages the current system offers.

A vote offers absolute clarity the workers want to be part of the union, he adds, while forcing them to declare their positions openly by signing cards leaves room for public and peer pressure.

Wyse explains there is no finalization yet on what exactly the NDP platform will contain, and it won't be until it is released early next year, prior to the May 2013 election.

However, it will contain a number measures to protect the rights of workers and improve their safety and protection, he adds, particularly lower-paid employees who have "the least amount of power" and "don't have protection from unions."

He notes these measures are separate from the aspect mentioned by Simpson, but part of the NDP labour package under development.

"Workplaces being made safer and reducing workshop injuries and deaths is another priority for us."

That entails tougher enforcement to employment standards, the local candidate explains.

Once his party has decided the details, Wyse says it will present them up front for people in the province to consider before the upcoming election.

He points to the difference in approach of Simpson's acknowledging his party's review of the labour code for still-undecided changes, as compared with how the B.C. Liberals dealt with the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) before and after the last election.

However, Barnett says removing secret ballots from unionization is a "dangerous" precedent to set.

"Is the next thing that [BC NDP Leader] Adrian Dix is going to do is say we can't go into a polling booth and have a secret ballot for an election?"

She notes third-world countries still fight today for the ability to have a secret ballot on anything, but Canadians are privileged to have this democratic right for everything from unions to volunteer organizations.

"Are we going to go into a socialistic system like they got rid of years and years ago in Europe? It's very, very dangerous and people should be very concerned."

The MLA adds a "prime example" of the trouble a lack of anonymity causes is when spouses vote differently, which can disrupt their home life.

"[A secret ballot] is the one private thing you have in your life that nobody should take away from you - nobody.

"People better stand up and take notice because what else is in Mr. Dix's box?"