Anti-union goons bust up a picket line.

If this kind of nonsense can happen in Canada, you can be sure that worse violence against unions takes place here in the U.S.!!

VANCOUVER, May 31 /CNW/ - "The union representing striking railway maintenance workers at CP Rail is taking legal action against the company,after six Teamsters Canada members were confronted by CP's private policeforce and arrested for alleged "mischief" while walking a legal picket line inCoquitlam on Tuesday night. Bill Brehl, the President of Teamsters Canada Rail Conference,Maintenance of Way Employees Division, says the arrests were completely unprovoked and unnecessarily violent. "We have the whole thing on video. All the members were peacefully picketing between the lines of a public crosswalkin front of CPR property. The CPR police came in force and told them to movealong or they would arrest them. Then they almost immediately began dragging them off the picket line and handcuffing them. The video has sound and none ofthe members were belligerent or offered resistance. However, there is oneofficer who forcibly wrenches a member's arm way up at an unnatural angle andthen viciously kicks him to the ground. It is horrible to watch." The graphic video footage, released at a news conference in Vancouvertoday, outraged BC Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair. Sinclair iscalling for a public inquiry into the special powers granted to private policeforces that are being used by an increasing number of companies across thecountry. "This is not just a labour issue. It's an attack on the rights andf reedoms union members and all Canadian citizens have fought long and hard toachieve," says Sinclair." More details of this sordid episode can be read here.

We need a major revival of organized labor here in North America. Lots of people who've never belonged to a union complacently assume that 40 hour weeks, paid overtime, medical coverage and safe working conditions will be there for them without effort... The reality is that our generation has to fight again battles many thought were already won in the 1930's.