I haven’t been posted recently because of what could possibly be a newly aquired fear of writing (graphophobia?). I simply cannot write well anymore, or perform other acts of English creativity. Possibly because of the 1st Theory of Tongue which stipulates that language can neither be created nor destroyed…it can however change form! Therefore, I am hoping that while my English rapidly deteriorates to the point where you will all may soon need a Babel Fish to decipher my attempts at communication, my Zhongwen improves!

Steve: Hey man, what are doing after class?
Bryan: I go to shop……

On British Columbia:

“We don’t get to obey the laws we like and disobey the laws we don’t like. That is the central issue here,” said Premier Campbell.

Exactly…couldn’t agree more, Mr. Hawaii. Furthermore….

quote:
——————————————————————————–
The International Labour Organization (ILO), an agency of the United Nations, has again condemned the Liberal government of British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell for violating workers’ human rights by contravening international labour standards that Canadian governments have committed to uphold.
In a highly critical report released recently [February 2004], the ILO condemned the province for clear violations of freedom of association principles. It also recommends the government take specific actions to repair the damage done and demands the province come into compliance with international standards.

This is the ninth time in two years the ILO has condemned the B.C. government for trampling on the basic rights of workers, the worst record of any government in North America.

The ILO is a tripartite body made up of representatives from business, government, and unions. It is responsible for monitoring and upholding international labour standards and safeguarding workers’ human rights. These rights are spelled out in ILO Convention No. 87 – Freedom of Association & Protection of the Right to Organize Convention (1948), as well as the ILO’s Declaration of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (1998).

Canada and all provinces are signatories to many ILO Conventions, and have made the commitment “to respect, to promote and to realize, in good faith” the principles underlying these standards.

[snip]

The UN body also warned the Campbell Liberal government to “abstain from adopting” any similar laws in the future.

The ILO also requested to be kept informed of developments on all the above issues.

With the ILO’s most recent ruling, the Campbell government has given the province the embarrassing record of having more ILO complaints filed against it than any other Canadian province in the agency’s 84-year history.

In fact, there has not been another government in North America found guilty more often of violating ILO freedom of association principles in such a short period of time.

[snip]

To date, the province continues to thumb its nose at the UN agency, and has failed to comply with any recommendations to bring these laws into compliance.

In fact, since coming to office in May 2001, the B.C. government has passed 12 pieces of legislation that restrict, suspend or deny the freedom of association rights of workers. Restrictions have been placed on the right of unions to organize. Collective agreements have been torn up. Freely negotiated wages and benefits have been swept away. And employers’ proposals have been imposed on workers and their right to strike removed. Source

——————————————————————————–

Two years earlier, the ILO had ruled that six B.C. statutes violated international standards by shredding signed collective agreements and curtailing bargaining rights for more than 150,000 health, social service and education workers.
These statutes included:

Education Service Collective Agreement Act, 2002 (Bill 27, January 2002)
The Act removed the right to strike on approximately 45,000 teachers employed by school boards and imposed a three-year collective agreement on terms proposed by the employer’s last offer.
This legislation was the subject of two ILO complaints (Case No. 2173 and Case No. 2180) and found to be in violation of freedom of association principles.

Public Education Flexibility and Choice Act, 2002 (Bill 28, January 2002)
The Act permitted public school board employers to override negotiated collective agreement provisions for teachers regarding class size, courses to be taught, hours of instruction and job security. It also allowed for contracting out.
This legislation was the subject of three ILO complaints (Case No. 2173, Case No. 2180 and Case No. 2196) and found to be in violation of freedom of association principles.

I’ve never studied law, so I don’t feel like that I can offer any qualifed comments on international law. From what I’ve heard, such laws are often shaky ground, on which many assumptions and interpretations can be made. One doesn’t have to look far to see how many nations have disregarded so-called international laws. I would consider such items as more of a ‘framework’ rather that iron-clad law…to be noticed and followed should a nation feel that they should.

However….my problem with Campbell choosing to ignore and disregard is this tid-bit.

Canada and all provinces are signatories to many ILO Conventions, and have made the commitment “to respect, to promote and to realize, in good faith” the principles underlying these standards.

I consider Canada to be a beacon of the developed world…in several words…a role model. Campbell and his buddies are acting a very third world fashing. It is rather embarrassing actually.

I’ve got piles to say on this, but like I said earlier, my communications skills now officially rank below that of a 12 year old, and I’m unable to adequately sort out what I want to say and present it in a orderly fashion. Sorry.

Oh yeah, the gov’t has shut down my parents email accounts.

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