Why we vote

This fall, British Columbians have entered an intense campaign period, with federal and local government elections, two
provincial by-elections, and ultimately the provincial election in May 2009. BCGEU members will also elect union stewards over the next few weeks.

I know some people find the flurry of phone messages, pamphlets, house calls and advertising a bit irritating. Some wonder if elections are relevant in their busy lives. It's also clear from very low voter participation, that many people in British Columbia just don't bother to vote.

It's important to remember that the right to vote and sit in parliament did not come easily for many groups in our society. Women campaigned for years but didn't gain the right to vote in federal elections until 1918. People of Chinese descent in B.C. did not have the right to vote until 1947; Japanese in 1948. It wasn't until 1960 that the Diefenbaker government changed the law to allow aboriginal people to vote without giving up their status.

It is worth reminding those who can't be bothered to vote that, until recently, voting in Canada was a
privilege for the few, and not a right. We are fortunate that elections are peaceful, orderly, and accurate. We see many countries on the news where voters are threatened at polling stations; where there is only one party to vote for; where opposition leaders are beaten and jailed; where ballots are thrown out, or magically multiply, or disappear into electronic voting machines.

We have real choices to make. There are clear differences between the parties on issues important to working people, like health care, the economy, protecting the environment, job creation, and childcare. Our political parties and our politicians are not "all the same".

It is encouraging to see the increasing number of BCGEU members standing for public office in their communities. In the federal election, union activists Ann Chambers, Helen Kormendy and former vice president Catherine Bell, are running. So far 27 BCGEU members have put their name forward for municipal councils or school boards in B.C. I urge BCGEU members to vote for progressive members in your community who share your values.

I also want to recognize the several thousand women and men who have been workplace stewards. Our strength as a union is founded on our stewards - they all have experienced the challenges and rewards of making sure our collective agreements are upheld and our members respected. My thanks go out to everyone who has done this work-I hope you will continue, and that many others will consider standing for steward election this Fall.