Support from Foreign Parts

I vow to zap off a note to your school. Let this be a lesson to all students about the evils of unions, which have replaced employers as the curse of all workers. Unions dictate what dues you must pay, and in some states require that you join before you can work. They are the reason auto jobs are being moved from the rust belt to the sun belt (and the taco belt) and the reason for much of the troubles with our larger cities. I think you are getting a first hand look at the way unions evolved from a friend of the employee to the employee's worst nightmare.

I posted off a note to the administration, just letting them know that we all can see CUPE's hand in all this. May I wish the Tubers well, as stiffling free enterprise makes me sick.

These are people un-elected by the general population-- with the power to directly effect private peoples lives.

They represent a power unto themselves that is accountable only to the members-- the only power private people have (as opposed to management) is in the court of public opinion and even an ardent supporter must admit that the University's CUPE acted in a fashion that does not reflect well on the state of modern Unionism.

I 'm enjoying seeing this medium (the internet) used as an agent of democracy, this issue is actually a large one as it deals with free choice and an individuals ability to effect change -- true grassroots rather than the orchestrated agendas of political so-called populism (see Reform or even Unions for that matter.)

So here we have a union who consistantly claims to be looking out for the interests of the poor dumb citizen when it goes on strike, actively preventing that same citizen from making a buck as a hot dog vendor. Talk about government protecting the little guy. Just goes to show how blatant the hypocracy can be and people still buy it.

And the administration caved. Not because of the money, you know. It's not their money, and they pour enough down the drain on other issues with less real validity. But remember who pays their salaries. The same John Q. Public that the CUPE is so interested in preventing from making a buck. Brothers under the skin and all that.

Saw the item on CBC this week and was OUTRAGED! Unions have long outlived their usefullness in this country. If CUPE/CAW etc had thier way, we would all be out on the street looking for ways to put food on the table.

When I lived in Thunder Bay and was surviving on what I could make driving a cab 14-18 hours a day, Jack, the local Mr T franchisee, made my night. Not only was he a great guy to talk to but his product was the BEST in town! I don't know if is the meat or not but personally, I think the BUNS are what make Mr Tubesteak far and away the best choice!

Many was the time my SO would send me out after midnight just to get a "Jack's Dog"!!!

We don't have Mr Tubesteak here in North Bay although I did tell Jack last Fall he should set up here too. Should that ever happen I know they would "own" the town in a month or less!

Fight the good fight. Your cause is just; you have the support of the student body at UBC and thousands of working Canadians. Keep the pressure on the administration; bring the ugly spotlight of media attention to bear on them; and they will cave, which is the natural predilection of administrators everywhere.

And one more thing: Don't let the bastards grind you down!

Darren Crooks