Scott Thompson: Other unions could learn a lot from Smokey

I have often said on the show that big unions need to modernize.

We all know how important they have been in progressing conditions in the workplace since the industrial revolution.

But we live in a nimble modern time where unions seem to be acting more like another political party than groups of people who share the same industry.

We have seen this in Ontario with militant teachers unions who use our kids at contract time to squeeze more out of vote hungry politicians.

Another example, the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario who recently announced they were trying to eliminate the name of our first Prime Minister John A. MacDonald from schools for being a racist.

What has that got to do with our kids or their school?

Perhaps a greater knowledge of Canadian history and the general racism of that period would better help the students, more than a name change.

That’s why it is always a pleasure to engage Warren ‘Smokey’ Thomas, president of OPSEU, as we did on the LCBO’s involvement with legalized marijuana.

He doesn’t play political favourites and is always open about his position and what he is trying to do for his members in a modern world.

It’s not about being a militant bully, it’s about being realistic.

Politics aside and whether you agree with him or not, perhaps this is why most feel as comfortable as they can be, with him handling this situation.