I AM members Bill McPherson, Alan Wheatley, and Walter Gerlach carry the IAM flag
 to protest  the Legislated mandates from the Liberal Government resulting in the
dismantling of workers contracts throughout the province of BC.

Why is the Union Involved in Politics?

We often hear this question: "Why is the Union involved in Politics?" The answer is quite simple: Governments make laws, and laws govern our lives, both in and out of the workplace.

The Union movement has long been involved in Politics at all levels of Government - indeed we were responsible for the formation of the NDP party (then called the CCF) in the last century. Most Unions continue to support the NDP as the party that best represents the interests of working families.

The reason for this is simple: what we can negotiate at the bargaining table, Governments can remove with a stroke of the pen through legislation.
Shortly after the current Liberal Government was elected into this Province
they began ripping up collected agreements resulting in thousands of workers loosing their jobs because they changed the legislation.

Provincial labour codes have been altered attempting to make it more difficult for
workers to form a Union at their workplace. Serious changes have been made to
limit benefits from the Workers Compensation Board

So when you next hear someone ask: "Why are the Unions always involved in Politics?", you can answer them. We want to keep the basic rights and working conditions we have won over long years of struggle.

And we want the freedom to negotiate better conditions.