B.C.'s skills development and labour minister says employers, unions need to build on success stories
Editor’s note: The following is an opinion piece written by Graham Bruce, British Columbia’s Minister of Skills Development and Labour.
As the end of summer approaches, we remind ourselves that Labour Day is more than just a last long weekend to enjoy the summer sun. It’s the day we recognize how important work and our workplaces are to all of us. We can pay no greater tribute on Labour Day than to take time to honour those who give of themselves to make this province a better place for all of us to live and work.
Over the past century, union members and non-union workers have made tremendous contributions to B.C. society. It was through the selfless efforts of those men and women that we are able to enjoy the rights and freedoms we sometimes take for granted today.
Those were people who stood up for their beliefs, often at great personal cost. We all gained from fair wages and benefits, safer workplaces and a strong social safety net that we were able to afford as the world came to us to buy our products.
Our hard-won standard of living still depends on our ability to sell our products to the world. We must continue to welcome and respect diversity and create opportunities for jobs. For this to happen, we need a skilled workforce, competitive enterprises and labour peace.
That means we need to let go of the old ways of thinking and find new ways to work together to help B.C. compete in a global economy. Employees, and the union leaders they vote to represent them, have to see themselves as partners in the enterprise. Employers need to look at their workforce differently and listen to their employees’ and unions’ suggestions. We have seen good examples around the province of this innovative, co-operative relationship between employees, unions and management – like the recent long-term labour agreement reached at Norske Canada in the forest sector, and the Boliden-Westmin agreement in the mining sector that rewards employees based on how well that company can compete on the world scene. It’s time to build on these success stories.
While the world economy has seen many challenges in the past year, British Columbia continues to show strong signs of growth, resulting in more people working in our province than ever before. For the first time in our history more than two million British Columbians have jobs in both union and non-union workplaces.
At the same time, we have just had some of the best possible news in the awarding of the 2010 Winter Olympics to Vancouver and Whistler.
The 2010 Games mean a lot more than just a two-week event seven years away. It has been estimated that getting ready for and holding the Games will add more than 200,000 jobs to our economy, not to mention the jobs that will continue long after 2010. It is a tremendous opportunity for British Columbians to open their doors for the world to see everything we have to offer.
Labour Day is a day to celebrate our workers. So on this Labour Day of 2003, let us celebrate everyone who is working to build a better British Columbia.
Graham Bruce is British Columbia's Minister of Skills Development and Labour.
As the end of summer approaches, we remind ourselves that Labour Day is more than just a last long weekend to enjoy the summer sun. It’s the day we recognize how important work and our workplaces are to all of us. We can pay no greater tribute on Labour Day than to take time to honour those who give of themselves to make this province a better place for all of us to live and work.
Over the past century, union members and non-union workers have made tremendous contributions to B.C. society. It was through the selfless efforts of those men and women that we are able to enjoy the rights and freedoms we sometimes take for granted today.
Those were people who stood up for their beliefs, often at great personal cost. We all gained from fair wages and benefits, safer workplaces and a strong social safety net that we were able to afford as the world came to us to buy our products.
Our hard-won standard of living still depends on our ability to sell our products to the world. We must continue to welcome and respect diversity and create opportunities for jobs. For this to happen, we need a skilled workforce, competitive enterprises and labour peace.
That means we need to let go of the old ways of thinking and find new ways to work together to help B.C. compete in a global economy. Employees, and the union leaders they vote to represent them, have to see themselves as partners in the enterprise. Employers need to look at their workforce differently and listen to their employees’ and unions’ suggestions. We have seen good examples around the province of this innovative, co-operative relationship between employees, unions and management – like the recent long-term labour agreement reached at Norske Canada in the forest sector, and the Boliden-Westmin agreement in the mining sector that rewards employees based on how well that company can compete on the world scene. It’s time to build on these success stories.
While the world economy has seen many challenges in the past year, British Columbia continues to show strong signs of growth, resulting in more people working in our province than ever before. For the first time in our history more than two million British Columbians have jobs in both union and non-union workplaces.
At the same time, we have just had some of the best possible news in the awarding of the 2010 Winter Olympics to Vancouver and Whistler.
The 2010 Games mean a lot more than just a two-week event seven years away. It has been estimated that getting ready for and holding the Games will add more than 200,000 jobs to our economy, not to mention the jobs that will continue long after 2010. It is a tremendous opportunity for British Columbians to open their doors for the world to see everything we have to offer.
Labour Day is a day to celebrate our workers. So on this Labour Day of 2003, let us celebrate everyone who is working to build a better British Columbia.
Graham Bruce is British Columbia's Minister of Skills Development and Labour.
