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[dennisK]

http://www.pulse24.com/Business/Top_Story/20040803-001/page.asp

Border Officials Won't Collect Duties On Sept. 6

 Some might see it as an act of defiance, others as an act of charity.

On Sept. 6, Canadians returning from the United States will reportedly be treated to a tax-free holiday.

On Labour Day customs officials won’t be collecting duties from people who did some cross-border shopping – a move that could cost the federal government millions of dollars.

The officers are upset over working conditions and wages and claim they earn nearly half of what their American counterparts bring home. The Canuck workers make about $48,000 a year.

Union officials warned they could face disciplinary action if they follow through on their plans.

As part of the ongoing dispute with Ottawa, officers at the borders tried to create holdups over the long weekend, performing in-depth checks on all cars and trucks crossing the divide. But their actions didn’t create much chaos and no major delays were reported.






August 3, 2004

[Gooey]

Man, if those guys weren't unionized, they get canned in a heart beat!  A good example of how unions have provided their members too much security!  

Nothing wrong with $48,000 a year...thats twice as much as a first year teacher who had to go thru 5+ years of school!

And with 300+ million heads in the US (10 time Canada) there is a far greater tax base to pay for federal programs like boarder control.

Thank god the NDP didnt get back in!  Time for the liberals to kick a little border official my friend!

[The Gilly]

They should find other ways to lobby their bosses to negatiate.  Maybe we should deduct all the non-collected taxes from their paychecks.  I'm paying  them (with my taxes) to do their job.  How about we don't pay them to put pressure on them?
They should think about it this way...
"Lets make our employer earn less money.   Now that our employer has less money, he'll be able to pay us more".

Don't blame the union worker for actions like this.  As a worker, if you don't go along you'll be black balled by the union hierarchy.  You have to go along to make your everyday job palatable.  Blame the backward thinking union management for the problems.  These union managers sit in their offices earning up to $100k and more and will never face layoff or strike pay.  Pretty easy for them to make decisions for the union worker.  It's a little like Napoleon sending his troops into battle.  "You guy's line up over there and hopefully you will survive the battle.  I'll sit on my horse over here and run away if things go bad".

I've never been union, but my dad was for 43 years.  I do know what goes on.

Both sides have to get their heads out of their a**es.

[Fish Assassin]

I suggest the Prime Minister take a page from the late Ronald Reagan and do what he did with the air traffic controllers.  

[The Gilly]

You can't buy cuban's down there

[Bushwacker]

I personally think the big "victory" for the unions was the Rand Formula handed down by the Supreme Court Justice Ivan Rand after world war II. I was never in favour of unions when I first started work in a non-mgmt position but still had to pay the union dues to be part of the bargaining unit.It pissed me off that promotions were governed by the seniority level and this perpetuates more union dues amassed to the union coffers and feeding the Fat Cats in the Labour Halls deciding to conduct strikes/walkouts with the perception of negotiating better working agreements,job security, higher wages,etc.
It did'nt take me long to see the light of day to embark on a course of self development by attending a Business Management program thru a 4-year night studies at UBC as well as a number of additional courses to improve my own personal skills and obtain more opportunities for advancement. I am now retired and wonder why and how so many workers belong to such unions that have a stranglehold on the business community...many of which are considered as essential services. And where the hell is the gutless government of the day doing anything about it...just diddly squat. Someone mentioned Ronald Reagan firing some 10,000 traffic controllers. Can you see Paul Martin firing 10 Customs Officers? About 4 years ago the Conservatives planned to repeal the Rand Formula to weaken the unions  but they're not in power and talk is cheap. However, I hope some day the working public will smarten up and help proceed in de-certifications in militant unions for the good of all.

[BirdNester]

Maybe CasinoJim will get em' decertified. ROFLMAO!!
I won't explain, you can ask him.
RobertO

[Steelhawk]

Was returning at the border around 5:30PM (at the truck custom) last saturday.  Didn't get home in Poco until 8:00PM.  Lined up in the sun for close to 2 hours. Only 3 booths opened during the peak returning traffic, go figure!  (any small shops in private sector have more workers) Funny the morning crossing to U.S. only took 10 minutes.  Who is more concerned with security now?  Where is Ronnie?

[casinoJim]

Maybe CasinoJim will get em' decertified. ROFLMAO!!
I won't explain, you can ask him.
RobertO

TALK ABOUT COMBAT FISHING.... HOW ABOUT COMBAT CASINO UNIONS!!!
 

Ahhhh the good ol days eh Rob?
CJ

[otto]

i have worked in both union and non union shops.

i'm still waiting for the F****** HEU to deal with my case thats over a year old.

cant wait to see the look on their face when i introduce my team of labour lawyers and serve them with court notice.... (helps to have the top labour lawyer in the country as a relative......)

[fishin_chick]

Posted by: Gooey: August 09, 2004, 09:28:34 AM  Thank god the NDP didnt get back in!  Time for the liberals to kick a little border official my friend!

Gooey, Provincial NDP have NOTHING to do with a federal issue like borders.  If you want the liberals to kick a little border official my friend, you need the liberals that probably caused the problem in the first place to get off their asses.

(am I allowed to say my friend?)