The unions are threatening a labour walkout--and for good reason, I'd have to add. In response the lack of fair-and-balanced news coverage (from the near-tabloid daily), I wrote a letter to the editor...

It shouldn't surprise me that the overwhelming message from the Province over the labour disputes would be, "Okay, all you union workers out there, be good girls and boys, obey the government and get back to work." I would have thought a paper whose audience is primarily blue collar to be a little more supportive. Will I be inconvenienced by the strikes? You bet. How easy it would be for me to follow Mr. Smyth's example and hope for Gordon Campbell to strong arm the evil influence of Big Labour.

The truth is, the people going on strike are out there not because this sinister entity is directing them to. They are people. They are distrurbed by legislators who ignore promises and break contracts and conveniently hide behind legislation to cover their butts. They wonder why those same legislators vote themselves salary raises and while slashing at low-end wages. Such goverrnmental measures may not have the immediate effect a slew of cancelled surgeries, but the effects are no less damaging and widespread. Keeping hospital employment above the level of McJob, keeping those positions relatively competitive is what keeps up the level of service.

I for one am not about to succumb to the knee-jerk reaction of blaming the strikers for my losses and/or inconvenience. If the cuts have to come, they should be across the board, from the top down. The government is supposed to be working for the people, not the other way around. Until I see the government doing its job, I will throw my support behind the real workers.