Now I know why Clint Dunford isn’t called the Minister of Labour. That old title inferred that the Minster would have some genuine responsibility for defending working people and their most basic democratic rights.

As Minister of Human Resources and Employment, Mr. Dunford sounds more like an arm of corporate Alberta – and darned if that isn’t exactly the way he’s acting!

Consider three current labour conflicts, the Calgary Herald strike, the BDL (Molson/Labatts) lockout, and the AUPE hospital strike.

In the Calgary Herald strike, owner Conrad Black has publicly stated that the union workers are gangrenous limbs that have to be amputated and that he is going to wait two years and then decertify the union. This is a blatant and obvious refusal to bargain in good faith, and is obviously in violation of the Alberta Labour Code which supposedly protects the democratic right of workers to be represented by a union.

When the Alberta federation of Labour urged Mr. Dunford to act, he refused. He won’t call a Disputes Inquiry Board – which could provide him with means to enforce a settlement. He won’t even make a public statement warning Conrad Black not to scoff at Alberta labour laws.

Then, there is the BDL lock-out. In this instance, the employer again made public statements about closing shop and reopening elsewhere non-union. BDL forced the conflict by demanding incredible (38%) concessions – then they simply contracted out their work to another firm.

Contracting out union jobs is just another way for employers to avoid their legal responsibility to bargain with their workers. Contracting out all the jobs of a company is simply creating a spin-off – something that violates the very essence of labour law.

Again the AFL urged the Minster to act. We suggested that he make clear to BDL that this kind of behaviour is unacceptable. But, Mr. Dunford would not intervene – no Disputes Inquiry Board, not even a simple public statement on behalf of workers whose rights are being trammeled.

No sir, Clint Dunford isn’t the kind of Minster who is going to get involved in labour disputes. That wouldn’t be neutral – that would be interfering with the market.

Ah, but how about the AUPE health care strike. When 10,000 underpaid, overworked health care workers even talk about job action, Clint leaps into action.

The government had a Labour Relations Board decision against the strikers before they acted! And, they had it before the courts. And, Clint called a Disputes Inquiry Board into the matter before the strike started!

Somehow, when workers ask for government action, nothing can be done – even in the face of gross flouting of labour law. But let an employer ask – like the Provincial Health Authorities – and the sky is the limit.

Well, I’ve got a suggestion for Mr. Klein and Mr. Dunford, why not get really honest about your ministerial titles. How would the Minister of Management Rights fit you Clint? Or, the Minister of Union Repression? Perhaps the Minster of Cheap Labour?

One things certain, you are certainly not the Minster of Labour.