CANADIAN POLITICS:

SOME LATE LATE NIGHT THOUGHTS ON THE RECENT CANADIAN ELECTION:

It's been decades since I voted in any governmental elections (the associations that I belong to don't count). Still, like a reformed smoker, I find myself glued to the TV as election results pour in. The recent election results here in Canada were, if nothing else, interesting. It's been almost two weeks so far, and I have yet to hear the 5:00 am knock at the door that signals that Stephan Harper's friends have come to take me away to the re-education camp. Not that such a thing is beyond him or his buddies, but I give him more credit than that for intelligence.

This election was a do or die affair for Harper and also for the Conservative Party. Without a win Harper would be gone, and the next leader would have either been from the wacky fringe of Biblical literalists (think Stockwell Day) or would have had nowhere near the talent and vision of Harper. Make no mistake about it; Harper does indeed have what has been called his "hidden agenda", but he also has the realism that says that this horror should be imposed by a thousand cuts rather than a "revolution". Look to more of the same with, of course, a bit more corruption and a bit more arrogance in terms of corporate giveaways. In other words a slim Conservative majority will be about the same, though a bit sleazier, as a Conservative minority government. The sky hasn't fallen nor have the evangelical militias come to take your poor little scribe away.

It's true that to borrow the old and hoary Zen koan form, "before the election life goes on; during the election things become confused and after the election life goes on". Unless, of course, you are a Liberal or BQiste. For them the sky did indeed fall and rather spectacularly. To all intents the BQ is finished, and it would be better for them to fold up with as much grace as they can muster. They've always occupied a rather odd spot in the Canadian political spectrum anyways. As for the Liberals it is exceedingly hard to feel any sympathy for them. While in power they became almost as arrogant and crooked as the Conservatives...which takes some doing. Whether they remain as a rump of their past glory depends pretty well exclusively on what the NDP does with its new-found status as official opposition. Nothing !!!! the Liberals can do on their own matters very much.

The NDP. I think it goes without saying that nobody expected the surge in NDP support on election night, even the NDP themselves with their bluster about Layton as Prime Minister. Not that this new status is without its dangers. The natural tendency of a party like the NDP would be to swing right and vacuum up the Liberal support. There is, however, a limit to this in the fact that the majority of their sitting members come from Québec. Not all of these people are "symbolic candidates" who got elected on the party's coat-tails. A good number of them will want policy that is to the left of where the NDP is presently, let alone where they would have to go to sponge up Liberal support. I'm surprised that more people haven't noticed the historical parallels to the explosion of Social Credit support in Québec, and what happened subsequently.

So where does that leave us Canadians ? I can say that I wasn't disappointed by the NDP surge even though I have few illusions about the Party. They ran what has probably been one of the most effective campaigns in Canadian political history, carefully avoiding the over-the-top attack rhetoric of both the Conservatives and Liberals. They were also able to distract attention from the fact that they had little in the way of large scale vision and policy by making a few attractive promises and using the emotional buzz words to far greater effect than the old parties. I honestly believe that if you were to read the speeches of Layton as compared to those of Harper that you would find that Layton used the term "family" far more than than the 'Family Guy Harper'.

I can also say, however, that I was disappointed that we didn't have another minority government. That configuration sets much more comfortable limits on the damage that a political party can do. Which spins us back to Harper again. No doubt there is a selection of the so-called "radical" political class that is quaking in its boots over the removal of the petty funding it has been provided with for many years to pretend to be an opposition. The main result of Harper's first (and one hopes only) term will be a redivision of the spoils as debts are collected so to speak. I have little doubt that Harper does indeed have a "hidden agenda", but he also has a public one that he has hardly been shy about expressing. What the guy wants to do is build a long lasting "conservative consensus" in the country. This doesn't preclude "paying off his buddies". I would expect an ever accelerating number of scandals as Conservative politics seems to attract a great number of people who are "down to the bone crooked". I think, however, that both Harper's friends and his enemies seriously underestimate both his cunning and his opportunism.

So, as I said, I expect very much more of the same in the days to come. I am not complaining too much. For a much more pessimistic view of Canada's politics I refer the reader to a recent item at the Porkupine Blog. On a personal note I am happy that the Greens got a member elected, but I wish it could have been somebody other than Elizabeth May. This isn't solely because her opportunism puts Harper to shame nor is it because she is the right wing favourite in a party whose ideological infighting supasses that of the NDP (Conservatives and Liberals, like countries, have no friends or beliefs...only interests). It finally came to me appropriately enough while I was taking a leak. The reason she inspires a visceral dislike in me is because her act could best be described as that of an elementary school teacher strung out on amphetamines.

CANADIAN LABOUR - CANADIAN POLITICS MANITOBA:

A MODEST PROPOSAL FOR THOMPSON:

Out here in the middle of nowhere the news has been hot as the infamous Vale Inco of Sudbury strike fame has decided to close their smelter in Thompson Manitoba citing both a lack of nearby refinable ore and difficulty in meeting federal pollution control regulations. Some may see this as a "feint" designed to get either an exemption from the regulations or yet another government subsidy to meet them. Yet, believe it or not, I'm inclined to believe at least part of the company's rationale as it makes little sense to truck ore half way across the country to be processed in northern Manitoba. This latest move, however, may be a cause for regret for Thompson members of the USW when they didn't go on a sympathy strike with their brothers and sisters in Ontario (and the still striking miners in Labrador).

Be that as it may, let's assume the die is cast. the following article from the Winnipeg Free Press shows how cynical the federal Conservative government is in regards to the people of Thompson. Business interests trump all after all. Meanwhile here in Manitoba the local Conservatives are playing politics claiming that the provincial NDP government should "have anticipated" the closure. Did their friends in Ottawa anticipate it ? Maybe they did, but they certainly don't care. After all smelter workers and natives rarely vote Conservative anyways. Bugger them as long as Vale gives donations to the Party and offers soft jobs to its nominees.

MOLLY, HOWEVER, HAS ANOTHER PROPOSAL. ONE THAT ACCEPTS THE NON-VIABILITY OF THE SMELTER, BUT ALSO ONE THAT WOULD PRESERVE AND PERHAPS EXPAND JOBS. SURE IT WOULD INVOLVE SOME POLITICAL COURAGE, AND SUCH COURAGE IS UNLIKELY FROM OUR PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT. IT IS STILL, HOWEVER, SOMETHING WORTH CONSIDERING. SEE THE ADDENDUM TO THIS POST.

Meanwhile here is the item from the Winnipeg Free Press.

MAMAMAMAMAMA

Thompson's loss of jobs Canada's gain: Clement
Miner downsizing in Manitoba, investing $10B elsewhere
By: Mia Rabson and Larry Kusch


OTTAWA -- He's sorry for Thompson but a $10-billion investment in mines is good for the rest of Canada, Industry Minister Tony Clement said Thursday in the House of Commons.

Clement was responding to a question from Churchill MP Niki Ashton about a plan by Brazilian mining company Vale SA to close the Thompson nickel smelter and refinery by 2015.

It will result in the loss of 500 jobs in Thompson, about 40 per cent of the Vale SA workforce in the northern Manitoba city.

Clement told Ashton he would speak to the Manitoba government about it and said his officials would meet with her to get "all the facts on the table."

Then he said the news might be bad for Thompson but there is good news for the rest of Canada -- a $10-billion investment in Vale's other operations in Sudbury, Ont., Long Harbour and Voisey's Bay, N.L., and Saskatchewan that will result in 1,000 permanent jobs.

"The context of this, however, is that the announcement that is so affecting her community in a negative way is also part of a larger announcement where thousands of jobs will be created throughout the rest of the country," said Clement. "I know she has to defend her people. I understand that, but this is good for Canada in the overall."




Ashton was incensed by Clement's response. "The guy is not committed here," said Ashton. "Manitobans are just as Canadian as people in Sudbury, in Long Harbour and Voisey's Bay."

The Thompson smelter and refinery will be closed because there is a shortage of mineral reserves for it to process. Vale SA also decided it could not meet tough new federal sulphur dioxide emissions standards that would require it to cut emissions from the Thompson smelter by 88 per cent in five years.

Ashton said if its federal standards involved, clearly the federal government can be part of the solution.

Ashton said Clement needs to show he is committed to the people of Thompson and that he should be the one to bring Vale SA to the table to figure out how to save the smelter and refinery.

"He's a cheerleader for Vale and isn't standing up for Canadian workers who are losing their jobs," Ashton said.

Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger flew to Thompson for a meeting Thursday morning with city officials. He said it's premature to discuss any incentives the province may offer Vale SA not to close the refinery.

"We first want to meet with them and find out what their thinking is and ask them to consider alternatives (to closing the nickel smelter and refinery)," said Selinger.

The premier said he was confident the province would be able to arrange a meeting with the company soon.

"When we do, we'll sit down and see what they have to offer and what their thinking is and also put the case forward for why Thompson is a good place to do business."

Opposition Leader Hugh McFadyen criticized the province for failing to anticipate Vale's decision. He cited a 2005 Free Press article that said Thompson would only be processing ore from Newfoundland until Vale's smelter there was completed.

He said it would have been easier to mitigate the impact of Vale's announcement on the northern Manitoba community if Selinger "hadn't failed so miserably to anticipate (Wednesday's) announcement."

mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca
MAMAMAMAMAMA
MOLLY'S MODEST PROPOSAL:
Let's accept the idea that the Thompson smelter is an essentially bad idea. It is both uneconomic and heavily polluting ( without either government exemptions or subsidy). Let us also, however, understand that the smelter has benefited from decades of government subsidies in terms of unpaid infrastructure and low power rates (smelters don't operate on 60 watt bulbs). Does the Province of Manitoba owe Inco's heir, Vale Inco, anything ? No !!! If anything the balance is all on the other side. However, to be generous let Vale strip the premises of whatever they want except things that might contribute to a more appropriate use. Chalk up the premises and such amenities to the decades of subsidy.


What would be such an alternative use ? The answer is just a little (little in Northern terms) bit down the road in Flin Flon. The Flin Flon operation for growing medical marijuana is due to be closed in 2012 due to a dispute between the operators Prairie Plant Systems and the 'landlord' Hudson bay Mining and Smelting. This operation produces Canada's 'medical marijuana' crop (to my understanding of poor quality). What I would suggest is that the province of Manitoba, the City of Thompson and the United Steelworkers representing present workers in Thompson make a bid to convert the smelter to a new facility for growing this crop. I further recommend that the ownership of this facility be tripartite between the above mentioned parties.


Is this advantageous to the Province ? Yes ! The energy subsidies to such an operation would be far less than those for a smelter. Is this advantageous to Thompson and the workers ? Yes ! Jobs are preserved, and the local economy thrives. Here is where political courage comes into play. In Canada the Narcotics Control Act is a federal law. Yet, just as in the USA where California has all but legalized marijuana by "over-defining medical use" it is within the powers of a Canadian province as they have responsibility for health to act likewise. It is also a fact that the RCMP are contracted by the Province and are thus subject to directives from the Province as to what law enforcement priorities they should have.


With an expansion of the present piddling Canadian marijuana growing operation it is entirely feasible that all the jobs in Thompson could be preserved, and let me say that the new jobs would be a lot more pleasant than the old ones. We will say nothing about "medical tourism" for now except to briefly mention it. Who would oppose such an enterprise ? Certainly Conservative politicians and organized crime (whose prices would be undercut tremendously). Perhaps Conservative politicians and organized crime are two words for similar things. Perhaps even crime and policing costs in Winnipeg would drop dramatically. But Conservative politicians would be very unhappy about that because it would undercut their "market share" of the vote just as it would undercut the "market share" of the marijuana trade of the gangs..


Does the provincial NDP have the courage to do such a thing ? I doubt it, but it is a policy worth considering. Perhaps the only realistic way to save jobs in Thompson.

CANADIAN LABOUR MOOSE JAW:

XL BEEF TO BE CLOSED PERMANENTLY:

After over half a year of locking out their employees XL Beef in Moose Jaw Saskatchewan has announced that they plan to close their plant permanently. Molly has blogged before on this lockout and the subsequent boycott of XL Beef products which the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (reluctantly and tardily) agreed to. The story of the closure is given below in a story from the Moose Jaw radio station CJME. Before getting into that, however, there is a lot of behind the scene details about this story that the reader should be aware of. Unions sources are suspicious that XL planned to close the plant all along. If they didn't it would seem like gross incompetence for them to dither about with temporary closures and lockouts as long as they did. If these plans were in the making for this long the actions of the company in carrying out the lockout were more than slightly deceitful and callous. Anyone who would like to say so to the parent company of XL Beef in Calgary can do so via the following contact info:

Nilsson Brothers Inc.

5101- 11th St. SE

Calgary, Alberta

T2H 1M7

phone 403-258-3233

fax 403-806-3849

Molly thinks that the union suspicions are quite accurate. To see why here are some forgotten facts about the plant. The plant originally opened as a joint private/public partnership in 1995 under the name of 'Western Canadian Beef'. At that time the Crown Investments of the Saskatchewan government owned 40% of the equity for God knows how much of the original investment. Management of the plant was turned over to the private partners whose "efficiency" ran it into the ground so that in 1998 the Crown had to take over the entire operation. The remaining 60% of the operation was purchased for $1.8 million with a government loan guarantee for $3 million for operating expenses.

Over the course of the next two years the provincial government also failed to turn a profit from the plant, and, despite the cyclical nature of the beef business, they were convinced they should unload the facility back to the private sector. In the year 2000 they sold the plant to XL Beef for a cost of $1.868 million plus, of course, a government financed loan at low interest rates of $2.368 million. Note this loan as it is important. The loan was to be paid off over 10 years.

Ten years arrived in 2010 !!! During that time the funds available from the loan were still active despite the fact that XL Beef had been in either shutdown or lockout for the better part of a year. The loan was "presumably" for operating expenses that never existed during the time of shutdown. While XL continued to pay back the government at a low interest rate they were able to apply the funds in more profitable ways all the while. When the loan was finally repaid XL had no reason to not go ahead and do what they intended all along ie close the plant. One has to wonder what uses the loan monies were put to over the years, uses remote from ensuring the profitability of the Moose Jaw plant. You gotta love the company accountants.

Let's examine the sale in 2000. The province bought the remained of the plant in 1998 for $1.8 million and sold it again in 2000 for $1.868 million. Seems about even ? Wrong ! Don't forget that the province already owned 40% of the plant in 1998. Selling both the 60% interest and the already owned 40% would have yielded a selling price of about $3 million to break even. Seems like a great deal for XL, and it was indeed.

Let's travel back to 2000 again. Labour activists in Canada are forever enraptured by the NDP and its supposed virtues. In 2000 the Saskatchewan government was NDP under Roy Romanow. In other words the beloved "left wing" NDP engineered a massive corporate giveaway that any conservative government would have drooled over. Here's the then Minister in charge of the sale John Nilson about the supposed benefits of selling the plant to XL:

"Our goals were to keep the company in business, to keep it in Moose Jaw and to prevent further financial loss for the Province"

It's 2010. The company is no longer in business in Moose Jaw. The province incurred a huge "paper loss" by selling the plant for far less than it was worth at the beginning. Given fluctuating interest rates the province may or may not have 'broken even' over the loan guarantees for the past decade. It depends on the fine details of the loan that are not open to public access.

What should have been done at the very beginning of this disaster ? Libertarian socialists as opposed to the statist socialists of the NDP would have seen the plant as a prime candidate for a "mixed cooperative". This would originally have been a tripartite partnership between the workers involved and their union, Saskatchewan beef producers and the provincial government. The monies needed would have come from exactly the same sources as XL drew upon (unless you believe the fairy tale that XL just so happened to have $1.8 million of 'spare cash' hanging around in their safe) ie loans. There should have been an agreement in place for the workers and the producers to gradually buy back the provincial equity. That sort of thing would have been the only way that it could be assured that the plant would remain to service Saskatchewan producers and consumers.

Is this alternative viable now ? Obviously not. There is a conservative provincial government in place in Regina. The Saskatchewan Federation of Labour was seriously reluctant to launch a simple boycott and did little to promote it after its announcement. The city of Moose Jaw is cash strapped and could hardly step in to replace the province. The union representing the workers the UFCW is far too weak in the province to carry out such a thing on its own. Saskatchewan beef producers are cynical and rightfully so. As a side bar to this story I can remember many years ago when an anarchist comrade from Saskatchewan who was also a cattleman attempted to organize a cooperative marketing group for Saskatchewan beef. Who were the main opponents who killed the idea by vigorous campaigning ? Full points if you guessed the NDP government.

All that Molly can say is that a few conclusions can be drawn from debacles such as this. One is that governments, including so-called 'left' governments are by their very nature treacherous, and that one should never depend on them and always keep them under close scrutiny. Another is that a cooperative alternative should always be first and foremost in examining what can be done about economic questions. The whole idea never occurred to anyone's mind in 2000, but if it had the story would have been quite different today.

Enough of the lecture. Here's the story from Moose Jaw.

CLCLCLCLCL
XL Beef lays off 200, closes its doors permanently in Moose Jaw
Blames market conditions and lack of collective agreement with union

It's been a very unlucky Friday the 13th for employees of XL Beef in Moose Jaw -- almost 200 picketing workers have been permanently laid off.

A letter from XL Beef says the closure is for business and economic reasons, blaming market conditions and that they still don't have a new bargaining agreement with the union that represents employees at the plant.

"We've maintained all along that we're willing to negotiate, that the people go back to work and negotiate a fair and equitable contract," said Norm Neault, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1400.

"I don't think we've been the ones holding this up by stretch of the means. We haven't taken a strike vote and I guess the company, for the lack of a better word, gave up on that.

"They've got their interest in Alberta which is where their negotiating right now and I think that's on their horizon. I think Moose Jaw has been part of their plans for quite some time now."

Nilsson Bros, the parent company of XL Foods out of Alberta, have declined to comment.
The facility was initially shut down last spring due to market conditions. Employees were supposed to be back to work in the fall of 2009. Just days before they were to return, employees were locked out by XL Beef and a labour dispute began. Union members have been walking the picket line ever since.

The letter from XL Beef says the plant will be permanently closed within 90 days.

While the union tries to get all of the loose ends under control, Moose Jaw's mayor is voicing his disappointment in the decision -- saying this is terrible news for the city.

Mayor Glenn Hagel has been in touch with Nilsson Bros, the parent company of XL Foods in Alberta.

"They called to advise that they were making their decision," he said. "They assured me that there wasn't anything that the City of Moose Jaw did or didn't do that influenced their decision and indicated that their decision was final."

If there is anything that the employees can look forward to, it's the opening of the pork plant -- that facility opens in the new year.


With reporting by Chris Rasmussen, CHAB Moose Jaw.

CANADIAN LABOUR-MANITOBA:

TEMBEC LOCKOUT ENDS:

The lockout at the Tembec plant in Pine Falls Manitoba, which has been ongoing since last September 1, is now over. Molly has blogged multiple times on the subject of this dispute. Today the Manitoba Labour Board ordered Tembec to end its lockout. It is expected that layoff notices will be issued to the workers involved, allowing them to collect EI. This marks the sterling failure of the claims of both our provincial government and local Conservative MPs that they might influence the federal government to allow the Tembec workers to collect EI. Another thing that Molly is at pains to point out is, while the idea of any "influence" over the feds to persuade them to actually help rather than harm workers is ludicrous, it has always been in the domain of the Province to do what they have done today. The Conservatives make no claims about being a friend of labour. Our provincial NDP does. Why wasn't this action taken long ago ? Here's the story about today's ruling from the CBC.

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Lockout at Pine Falls plant ends:
The Manitoba Labour Board has ordered an immediate end to a prolonged lockout at the Tembec newsprint mill in Pine Falls, Man., CBC News has learned.

The mill has been idle since Sept.1 after the Montreal-based company locked out more than 250 unionized workers and stopped operations. Prior to closing, the company had said it needed "an immediate and significant reduction" in labour costs to stay competitive in the newsprint market.

The United Steelworkers union had applied to the labour board for arbitration in the labour dispute. This morning, the board ordered Tembec to end the lockout, the union said.

Employees on the picket line have just learned of the new development, United Steelworkers union spokesperson Wayne Skrypnyk said.

Not going back to work
However, unionized employees will not be going back to their jobs in the wake of Wednesday's announcement.

Tembec announced in December that it was putting the mill up for sale and would not be resuming operations even if the lockout was ended.

Skrypnyk said the lockout's end isn't considered a victory for the union workers, but will come as some relief to them as they'll now be issued layoff notices and become eligible for Employment Insurance benefits.

An arbitrator will still be appointed to try and resolve outstanding issues between labour and management, Skrypnyk said.

The mill is about 130 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg.

CANADIAN LABOUR-MANITOBA:

TEMBEC ANNOUNCES PLANT UP FOR SALE:

Earlier today Tembec, after almost 4 months of lockout against their workers announced that they planned to put their plant at Pine Falls up for sale. The announcement took pretty well everybody by surprise. Here's the basic story earlier this day from the CBC.

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Tembec to sell Pine Falls plant:
Last Updated: Tuesday, December 8, 2009 1:54 PM CT Comments26

Workers at forestry company Tembec's newsprint mill in Pine Falls, Man., are expressing relief over news the mill is up for sale.

The mill has been idle since Sept. 1 when the Montreal-based company locked out its unionized staff, represented by the United Steelworkers.

Tembec said on Tuesday that it's in the best interest of the company and its more than 250 employees to sell the mill.

That comes as a relief to Mike Dupont, a finishing and shipping supervisor, who has worked at the plant for 21 years.

The biggest problem workers had with the lockout was living under a cloud of uncertainty, Dupont said.

"Sell it to someone who maybe wants to run this place and get us back to work and do what we do best," he said. "That's what I'm very hopeful for."

Tembec said it has told the Manitoba government and the United Steelworkers that it's prepared to end the current lockout, subject to reaching an agreement on a limited number of local issues.

However, the company said won't reopen the mill, located about 130 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg.

Prior to closing, the company had said it needed "an immediate and significant reduction" in labour costs to stay competitive in the newsprint market.

The union said it was willing to accept wage cuts, but sticking points in negotiations have been pension plan changes and severance pay.

Gary Richardson, who has worked at the mill for 31 years, said he's convinced the business can be profitable.

"The future is, mills, paper mills, newsprint mills are gonna be closing. If you can keep your cost low enough, you’re gonna stay in the game. There’s always gonna be a market for newsprint. The trick is to keep your costs low and that’s the problem right now," Richardson said.
Union caught off guard
Tuesday's announcement caught the United Steelworkers local off guard, president Cam Sokoloski said. It was just a few days ago that there was hope that the mill would reopen.

Sokoloski said on Dec. 1 that the Manitoba government offered to send a letter to Tembec urging the company to get back to work.

"[Tembec] kept telling us their intent was to run the mill," Sokoloski said Tuesday.
The company had told the union their intent was to permanently close the plant if a collective agreement couldn't be reached by January, Sokoloski added.

The union will now turn to pressuring the federal government for employment insurance benefits to see the workers through the winter, Sokoloski said. (HUH...the "request: for such a thing was already made via the "political dependency" on our provincial government. As Molly has said before this is very much like petitioning the High Lord of Hell to finance a cathedral to the Virgin Mary. Plain and simple it won't happen. What this is is "diversion" whereby someone attempts to be seem to be doing something while, in actual fact, doing nothing.)

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Our provincial government, of course, is attempting to put the best "spin" of concern about this matter, as the following item from CBC says. Our Premier has lowered himself to attend an "emergency meeting" in Pine Falls, after weeks/months of doing nothing but sending a letter to "the heart of darkness" about how workers in Pine Falls should be able to collect EI.

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Once more, our presumably "pro-labour" provincial government is trying to its best to appear to "be concerned". They have offered a $1 million "transition fund" to the workers in Pine Falls. This works out to about $3,000 per worker. Take away from this the inevitable ½ "tribute" whereby government employees get to tell the people that they are in "deep shit" ( a conservative estimate as, when dealing with natives, the 'suck it off" ratio is about 90%) and you get about $1,500 per family. That should cover their moving expenses to as far as Portage La Prairie. Here is the public relations exercise of our NDP government.

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Emergency meeting set over Tembec sale:
Manitoba kicks in $1M for 'community adjustment'
An emergency meeting will be held in Pine Falls, Man., on Tuesday for provincial officials to talk with local politicians and residents about the planned sale of a local paper mill amid a labour dispute.

Montreal-based company Tembec said earlier Tuesday it plans to sell its newsprint plant, where more than 250 unionized workers have been locked out since Sept. 1.

Tembec is the town's largest employer. The workers are represented by the United Steelworkers union.

Pine Falls Deputy Mayor Jack Shwaluk said many townspeople have spent their lives working at the mill. He worries that if it doesn't reopen it could be devastating for everyone around the community 130 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg.

"I'm not sure how successful they'll be in finding jobs elsewhere, so the impact could be enormous — not only to the families, but to the businesses and to the entire community," Shwaluk said.

"If this mill should shut down, it would be very, very devastating to the area."

In the wake of Tuesday's news, Manitoba has set aside $1 million for a "community adjustment committee" to set up projects that will aid workers heading into an uncertain future.

Jennifer Howard, provincial labour minister, said the closure of the mill is a "traumatic event" for workers.

"We will do everything we can to help them cope with the impact," Howard said in a release.
Premier Greg Selinger will speak at the meeting, scheduled for 4 p.m. CT.

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MOLLY OPINION:

Previously on this blog Molly has praised the actions of unionists in BC who have moved to take over their workplace under a producers' cooperative SEE HERE. To say the least all things are context dependent. Workers' takeovers of enterprises are best done in good economic times. The idea of workers in Pine Falls advancing this idea now would merely guarantee the highest price that Tembec might ask. Tembec would have few other buyers. My first thought is that the asking price should be reduced by an immediate occupation of the workplace. If for no other reason except punishment. I doubt that the workers involved are so determined as to go to these lengths, but I would recommend it to them as the best bargaining tool that they have left to them. As to how they will bargain with the provincial government, I will leave that up to common sense ie don't trust the conservative opposition. I have no great plans that people in Pine Falls could follow. Commentators on the references above have offered their own opinions, some of which involve a workers' cooperative. I urge the reader to peruse them. for myself I am doubtful in this case. What I would say is that the provincial government's "transitional funds" are totally insufficient, and that they shouldn't be allowed to get away so cheaply from a situation that they intended to betray in the first place.

CANADIAN LABOUR-MANITOBA:

TEMBEC WORKERS TURN THUMBS DOWN ON ARBITRATION:

The lockout on the part of the Tembec pulp and paper plant in Pine Falls Manitoba has been ongoing since August 31. 270 members of the USW and the COPE unions are affected. As the following story from the Winnipeg Free Press says they have turned down the arbitration offer from the provincial government, afraid that the company will likely demand even more concessions than its already ridiculous demands. Get all the chips on the table so to speak. To be sure the NDP government is not exactly lining up in solid ranks behind the workers. As a PR exercise the provincial labour minister sent off a letter to the feds asking that the Pine Falls workers be able to collect EI while on layoff. A non-starter to say the least. Considering the recipient of the letter that is something like writing Satan asking him to finance a new cathedral dedicated to the Virgin Mary. As one of the laid off workers in the following story says there is a lot more that the government could be doing. Be that as it may the spectacle of the provincial Conservative opposition trying to make political hay out of the lockout is much more repulsive. If in power the Conservatives wouldn't have even given the cuddly shoulder to cry on that the NDP has restricted itself to doing. Not all members of the Legislature, however, are as cynical as the government and the opposition. According to the Dec. 3rd edition of the Selkirk Journal NDP MLA Greg Dewar, along with local City of Selkirk City Councillor Duane Nicol have been working to solicit donations to the USW/COPE Family Fund to help the workers over the holiday season. The MLA's office will continue to accept donations until the 7th of the month. This man's actions are much more commendable than those of the party that he belongs to. See the end of this post for how you can help these workers and their families. first, here's the story.

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LOCKED-OUT WORKERS TURN DOWN ARBITRATION:
Locked-out Tembec workers in Pine Falls have given a big thumbs-down to the province and its offer of binding arbitration to settle the three-month-old labour impasse.

Many of the workers were at the Manitoba legislative building Wednesday to press Premier Greg Selinger and his government to hold the newsprint company more accountable for the lock-out and its economic impact on the town north of Winnipeg. The 270 unionized workers were locked out by the company Aug. 31 after they overwhelmingly rejected a proposal that union officials said called for wage and benefits concessions totalling about 35 per cent.

Observers say at this pace the dispute may never get resolved: either the union will give up or Tembec will close the plant.

Workers said yesterday giving up is not an option, but added it won't be at the hands of an arbitrator under the province's Labour Relations Act. Under the act, either side in a strike or lockout can apply after 60 days for binding arbitration to settle the dispute.

Bill Lavallee, spokesman for the workers, said they don't want to go that route because the company has already signalled that it also wants to reopen the employee pension agreement, which is set to expire in 2013.

Lavallee said it's possible an arbitrator could agree to do that, and that's too big a risk as 65 of the employees are set to retire in five years and 170 of them in 10 years.

He said the province should hold Tembec's feet to the fire by clamping down on the company's forest management licence and removal of timber from the province.

"I'm locked out," Lavallee said. "Why aren't they locked out?"

Workers met with Selinger and Labour Minister Jennifer Howard after being invited to the legislature by Lac du Bonnet Tory Progressive Conservative MLA Gerald Hawranik. (Question: How do you spell "hypocrite" ? Answer: "C..o..n..s..e..r..v..a..t..i..v..e" -Molly )

Howard said during question period she has written to the company in an effort to bring both sides to the table.

"I'm looking forward to a favourable response," she said.

Tory Opposition Leader Hugh McFadyen said the length of the lockout is a blemish on the NDP.

He said in the house that if Gary Doer were still premier, he would have personally settled the dispute long ago. Doer quit about three months ago to become Canada's ambassador to the United States.

Selinger said his government will strengthen provincial pension legislation so that all workers' pensions are better protected, and that the threat to Tembec pensions can't be repeated.

The province appointed a mediator to intervene in labour dispute when it was only 18 days old, but that failed to bring any hint of a resolution.

Tembec, Powerview-Pine Falls' largest employer, has said it needs to achieve immediate reductions in labour costs to improve the competitive position of the plant, reeling from a decline in the North American demand for newsprint.

Tembec, which posted a loss of $38 million in the second quarter, has wood product, pulp, paperboard and newsprint plants across the country.

North American demand for newsprint has dropped almost 50 per cent since 2003 and the reduction in demand from 2008 to 2009 alone is equivalent to the capacity of seven or eight plants the size of Pine Falls (which can produce 180,000 tonnes of newsprint per year).
bruce.owen@freepress.mb.ca

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Want to help the Pine Falls workers at this hard time ? Here's how. You can send cheques to the USW & COPE Family Fund, earmarked for same via the Wings of Power Community and Family Resource Centre, Box 66, Pine Falls, MB R0E 1M0. All donations are tax deductible if you are Canadian. Make sure to tag the cheques as 'USW & COPE Family Fund' even though they should be made out to 'Wings of Power'.

CANADIAN LABOUR-ONTARIO:

STEELWORKERS BOOTED OUT OF LEGISLATURE:

This one may be slightly dated, but it's interesting enough to be reprinted anyways. Last Thursday unionists, amongst whom were steelworkers from Sudbury, came to watch the debate in the Ontario Legislature over a private members bill to outlaw the use of scabs during strikes or lockouts. Under the impression that a house of public debate might actually be somewhere where the public could debate, the unionists were ejected. Not exactly the storming of the Winter Palace, but a small step in the right direction nonetheless. Here's the story from the Sudbury Star. It came Molly's way via the Steelworkers strike support site Fair Deal Now.

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Steelworkers tossed from legislature:
CAROL MULLIGAN,

THE SUDBURY STAR
Debate on a private member's bill banning replacement workers during labour disputes came to a halt Thursday afternoon when about 100 trade unionists, dozens of them striking Steelworkers from Sudbury, were ejected from the Ontario legislature.

The union members were escorted from the visitors' gallery after cheering -- and jeering -- several times in response to MPPs' comments, despite repeated warnings from the House speaker not to "participate" in the debate.

The audience grew rowdy when a government-side MPP defended the Liberals' position that anti-replacement worker legislation would further damage businesses in Ontario.

When the member spoke about the "strict requirements" Ontario companies are required to meet before they can hire replacement workers, several audience members began booing.

"Come and walk a picket line," a striking Steelworker yelled from the gallery. When the group was ordered to leave, it began chanting: "No more scabs, no more scabs, no more scabs" as it was led down several flights of stairs to a side exit of the legislature.

After escorting the delegation outside, security guards allowed five members to go back into the building to reclaim their and their colleagues belongings.

The members were part of a delegation of trade unionists from several communities in the province where they are on strike, locked out or facing job losses.

About half of the delegation in the legislature was comprised of Steelworkers from Local 6500 in Sudbury and Local 6200 in Port Colborne, who have been on strike against mining giant Vale Inco Ltd. since July 13.

"We've been kicked out of better places and by better people," said Wayne Fraser, District 6 director for United Steelworkers, as members waited to collect their belongings.

Vale Inco has resumed partial production at three operations in Sudbury -- Clarabelle Mill, Garson Ramp and Coleman Mine in Levack.

The mill and mines are being run by management and staff, as well as by members of USW Local 2020, which represents office and technical workers.

The inside workers, who number about 1,200, are being forced to do the work of strikers under the threat of discipline up to and including firing.

Bill 86, banning the hiring of replacement workers during strikes or lockouts, was introduced by Welland MPP Peter Kormos and seconded by Nickel Belt MPP France Gelinas, both New Democrats. Port Colborne is part of Kormos's riding.

Bill 86 would reintroduce legislation enacted by the New Democrat government of Bob Rae in 1990.

When the Progressive Conservative government of Mike Harris was elected in 1995, the legislation was the first bill the Tories threw out.

"When a scab comes down the street, an angel weeps," Kormos told a largely empty legislature when his bill was to receive second reading, "and the devil shuts the gates of hell."

Said Kormos: "Judas was a gentleman compared to a scab."

The MPP, who is in poor health and limped slowly into the legislature, said the use of replacement workers by companies is the "greatest single impediment to fair bargaining."

The use of replacement workers is also the largest single source of injuries on the picket line, he said.

Gelinas said the bill to amend the Ontario Labour Relations Act would not allow companies to allow managers or transferred employees to do the work of employees who are striking or locked out.

The Nickel Belt MPP appealed to her colleagues by saying that every one of Ontario's ridings has been affected by a strike or lockout.

Her research shows that 219 strikes have been held in Ontario in the last couple of years.

They affected more than 200,000 workers, cost more than three million in lost production days and lasted from half a day to "thousands of days."

Passing the New Democrat bill would help bring about fair settlements quicker and avoid the risk of conflict on picket lines, said Gelinas,

The bill was to receive second reading later in the afternoon.

CANADIAN LABOUR-TORONTO:

ANTI-SCAB RALLY:

The following item comes from the Steelworkers strike support site Fair Deal Now. Yes, yes, yes, I know who is sponsoring the rally, but the thought is good anyways. So good in fact that the NDP in power has never introduced such legislation in any province. Any guesses why such bills are an useful thing when they cannot pass, like the present situation in Ontario.

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Anti-Scab Rally at Queen’s Park – Oct 8th:
Support the Ontario NDP’s Anti-Scab Bill
Join workers from across the province. Come to Queen’s Park and let the McGuinty Liberals know that it’s time for balance and fairness in Ontario’s labour relations.

On Thursday October 8, Peter Kormos’ anti-scab bill (Bill 86, Labour Relations Amendment Act) will be voted on at Second Reading in the legislature. A rally in support of the bill is being organized for noon at Queen’s Park.

Striking workers will be arriving by bus from Sudbury, Fort Erie and other locations around the province in support of the need for anti-scab laws in Ontario.

Folks will then go into the galleries for the vote – which will likely take place around 3:00 or 4:00 pm. Please help make this day a success by attending the rally and/or vote and by distributing this poster widely among your contacts.
RALLY to Support the introduction of NDP’s Anti-scab Legislation
Thursday, October 8th
12:00 noon
South Lawn, Queen’s Park
For more information: ndpcaucusoutreach@ndp.on.ca

CANADIAN LABOUR-SUDBURY:

HUNDREDS RALLY IN SUPPORT OF STEELWORKERS' STRIKE AGAINST VALE INCO:

The following item from the Sudbury Star came to Molly's attention via the strike support blog Fair Deal Now set up by the USWs who are on strike in Ontario against Vale Inco. The only disturbing part of this event is how Jack Layton managed to make it a partisan political event. It has to be expected I guess. The chances of an NDP federal government in Canada are, of course, remote beyond imagining, but should such an unlikely event ever occur there is little doubt that labour would find a NDP in power far less of a friend than they might imagine now.

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Feds must 'stand up for North's resources':
RALLY: Jack Layton's message for Sudbury
Posted By CAROL MULLIGAN, THE SUDBURY STAR
It started out as a rally for laid-off Xstrata Nickel workers and striking Steelworkers, but it turned into a get Tony Clement event attended by more than 500 people.

Many in the crowd hoisted signs bearing the Industry minister's face crossed out with a large red X and bearing slogans deriding him for his remarks about Sudbury and Vale Inco last week.

The rally was planned before Clement told The Sudbury Star that Sudbury faced becoming the Valley of Death if Companhia Vale do Rio Doce had not purchased Inco Ltd. in 2006. (Ahh, those loose Conservative lips. One imagines that Clements will have to spend at least three days in Sneaky Stevie's Chamber of Torture for accidentally saying what all the Conservatives actually think. Apparently, after the thumbscrews were applied Clements admitted that his comments were "boneheaded"- See the Fair Deal Now website. Poor Sneaky Stevie; just when he convinced one troglodyte in his party to say nothing another pops up)

Friday, members of Mine Mill Local 598/CAW, among the almost 700 who lost their jobs with Xstrata in February, marched alongside USW Local 6500 members who took to the picket line July 13.

The labour event began with rousing speeches from New Democratic Party Leader Jack Layton and USW international president Leo Gerard at Copper Cliff's McClelland Arena and moved over to the picket line at Vale Inco's Copper Cliff smelter.

One theme was solidarity, regardless of one's sex, race, age or union affiliation. The other was how the Conservative government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper has let Sudburians down by allowing resources to be sold to foreign companies and not making them keep their promises.
Layton warned Canadians to pay attention to what is happening in Sudbury.

"We see time and time again, and all too often, these foreign multinationals come in and with the permission of the government, buy up Canadian companies and then begin to throw people out of work. They did it with softwood industry," said Layton.

He took aim at Clement for his comments about Sudbury.

"When you have a representative of the Government of Canada insulting the people of the North, it's not a good day. We say it's time for him to take it back and say he is sorry to the people of Northern Ontario."

Layton called on Harper to get rid of Clement, "and put someone in who will stand up" for Canada.

"But I've got to tell you," said Layton. "I'm not holding my breath." He urged the crowd to vote against the Conservatives and "throw the bums out" in the next federal election.

Layton told the crowd how Clement is "now saying that it (was) a boneheaded remark. That's the first time I've agreed with him in months," said Layton.

"I'll tell you what was boneheaded. It was that ... (these) bone-headed Conservatives signed an agreement that allowed companies to come in and do damage to this part of the country and do damage to this community. That, as far as I'm concerned, is against the law."

Gerard said what Vale Inco is doing by seeking concessions from more than 3,000 maintenance and production workers is "really gutting the standard of living of our community."

The future of Sudbury "rests on our making sure our government stands up for our resources. These resources and the wealth they create should not be flying from here to Switzerland and Brazil. They ought to be spent in this community."

Gerard welcomed members of USW Local 1005 in Hamilton to the rally, as well as members of other unions and Sudburians not associated with the labour movement.

Local 598 president Richard Paquin said the rally was an important one.

Xstrata Nickel, which promised the federal government there would be no layoffs for three years when it purchased Falconbridge, laid off 55% of its workforce in February.

Saturday is the third anniversary of Xstrata's agreement with Investment Canada.

Paquin told the crowd how his union chartered eight buses to visit Clement's constituency office in Huntsville and later met with him on Parliament Hill.

"Unfortunately for us, we weren't able to get what we were looking for. But you know what we did? We opened the door for other companies," said Paquin, referring to the federal government taking U. S. Steel to court.

"Why didn't (Clement) do that for us in Sudbury? Is that because we're here in Northern Ontario? I sure hope not. Everybody should be treated the same."

Patricia Christopher, a teacher at Cyril Varney Public School and a member of the Elementary Teachers' Federation, attended the rally, waving her union flag.

"We think it is important to be supportive of our brothers and sisters in the union cause. Personally I think it's just immoral what's happening here with Vale Inco workers. They certainly have been given a raw deal."

Susan Thornton attended the rally with her brother, Kenny Rouse of Sudbury, and sister Marlene Seymour of Elliot Lake.

Thornton's husband, Glen, was among those laid off at Xstrata in February. Thornton was laid off years ago in Elliot Lake and the family moved to Oshawa, where he was laid off two years ago. They returned to Sudbury and he began working for Xstrata "in the mines because everything was going good two years ago."

Her husband has been called back to work at Xstrata temporarily, said Thornton. "He might be good 'til November, he might not. It's always up in the air, day by day."

Brouse, an underground development miner on strike from Vale Inco's Frood-Stobie Mine, said this strike is different from others he has been on in 20 years with the company.

"There's a lot of greedy people in this world. How much is enough?"

He said he thought his union was in for a long strike. "I think we're both pigheaded, but I'm more pigheaded."

When asked what he thought about Clement and his comments about Vale Inco, Brouse said: "It makes me feel like this guy should be out of a job, not me."

At the Copper Cliff smelter picket line, Paquin president Local 6500 with a cheque for $5,000 from Mine Mill Local 598/CAW. He also warned that his union's contract expires in February and it is likely to follow the same path as Steelworkers.

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Molly Postscript:

Rumours that Jack Layton had to be revived after his speech by an emergency medical shipment of white wine and quiche are, of course, just that- rumours.

CANADIAN POLITICS/CANADIAN MEDIA:

THE SASQUATCH STOMPS IN SASKATCHEWAN:

The ever spreading influence of new models of media, internet based, are threatening the older mass media, newspapers, television and even radio with irrelevance. There are many responses, and some on the left see this as an opportunity for a progressive media to gain influence. Out in Molly's old stomping grounds, Saskatchewan, there is one such project, the Sasquatch, which aims to be both a print and internet effort. In their ambitions, if not their politics, they resemble the more libertarian and successful Z Communications (see our Links section).

I do, of course, wish them well, but I do have to say that a quick glance at their August issue shows it to be not quite my cup of tea. Some of the articles are quite good, but the plunge into "opinion" revolves around the 60 year old question of whether a)the NDP is perfect in every way or b)how much better it is than its one perennial opponent and what minor adjustments could be made or c)has serious deficiencies that could, of course, be remedied by capturing the party and moving it to the left. Some of the revelations were new to me. The Saskatchewan NDP's new leader Lingenfelter is, apparently, an ex-oil executive. And silly me- all these years of thinking that they couldn't find a leader any more right wing than Roy Romanow. Well, I still think that they will never find one who was equally 'assholeish' and so given to low cunning. I await my disillusionment.

Another revelation added to my long standing opinion that Saskatchewan politics are trapped in an eternal time loop that they will never exit. One of the pro-NDP writers added as evidence for optimism that the same conference that had elected the oil executive as leader passed resolutions demanding the end of the nuclear industry in Saskatchewan. Speaking of time loops lets jump into Molly's Magical Time Machine and transport back about 30 years to a barroom in Regina Saskatchewan. This was shortly after yet another anti-nuclear resolution had been passed by an NDP Convention (ie not the first and hardly the last over the past three decades). By this time Molly has quit the NDP, and it hard to tell whom she is more pissed off with- the fools who keep valiantly soldiering on to pass resolutions that never have any effect or the political bosses in the NDP who cynically let the rhetoric spouting lefties blow off steam with such noneffective busywork. My drinking buddy for the night just so happens to have been the Premier's chief flack runner. He is all ice to my fire, all control to my moral outrage. You don't, of course, achieve such a position without having shed any vestige of principle to the last thread.

There is, of course, no disagreement with the central idea- that the lefties are fools, wasting their time by passing resolutions at party conventions that will never translate into policy. Nor is there any disagreement with the secondary idea, that the party brass knows this very well and uses it intelligently. Nor is there, finally, any disagreement with the tertiary idea, that the lefties would be of far more use to their ideals if they were to come down off their academic high horses and actually go to the people rather than try to imitate Sisyphus by rolling a rock up an eternal hill. My drinking buddy, however, has no interest whatsoever in the goals of the lefties. To say the least he "won the argument" by summing up the attitude of the party brass very well. He looks at me like the total idiot he must have thought I was and answered, ""It's not a world for babies". That sums it up pretty well. The lefties in the NDP were (and even more so are now) childish for imagining that their eternal plotting could change the course of the party. I was childish for imagining that morality (such things as honesty and principle) had anything whatsoever to do with the political process. So...more beer and let's change the subject. Nowadays I know very well that the lefties could never "go to the people" because of the simple fact that the lefties represent a class whose interests are only sometimes in agreement with those of the majority, and I also know that the term "lefty" contains at least some cynical manipulators who are worse than the bosses of parties such as the NDP. That doesn't mean that I accept the point of view of my booze buddy that night. Yes, "it is not a world for babies", but that doesn't mean that we shouldn't keep trying to make it such a world.

Enough of my trips down memory lane. Here's the Sasquatch announcement from the Act Up in Saskatchewan website. Think about subscribing.

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Feed the Sasquatch

This is a time of great upheaval in Canadian media. While corporate-owned, ad-heavy, top-down media are stumbling, slashing newsroom staff and local coverage, new and exciting media forms are rushing in, finding cracks in the system and spreading deep roots from which to grow.

That's where The Sasquatch comes in. And you can play a leading role in helping it thrive!

The Sasquatch – a new, independent print and online publication – focuses on stories that affect you and that reflect discussions in kitchens(you have to have come from a Saskatchewan CCF/NDP background as I did to appreciate the significance of "kitchen meetings"-Molly) and living rooms across the province and around the country. The Sasquatch tells stories that get swept under the rug by mainstream media but that desperately need to see the light of day.

But to succeed, The Sasquatch needs more subscribers. Please take a moment to subscribe today at our discount, introductory rate.

This is your chance to show your support for local, non-profit, independent news. For only $20, you'll receive 8 biting issues of The Sasquatch featuring thoughtful political analysis and important stories on Saskatchewan life and politics that aren't being told elsewhere.

Here are 3 simple ways you can get involved:

1. Go to our online webstore at http://www.sasquatchnews.com/store or call 1-866-431-5777 (525-2949 in Regina) right now to subscribe. Use the coupon code "promoSasquatch" to receive our special introductory rate.

2. "Attend" the Facebook event for this subscription drive. Invite your friends to attend, too.

3. Spread the word to your email networks, prefaced by a personal message encouraging them to subscribe.

We need 250 new subscribers by the end of the summer in order to meet our targets. Please take a moment to subscribe and spread the word right now.

By subscribing to The Sasquatch, you are contributing to healthy democratic debate, supporting the work of local freelance writers and ensuring that underreported stories and marginalized voices(this term is definitely not CCF nostalgia-Molly) are heard.

Buying a subscription gets you a hard copy of The Sasquatch delivered to your door every six weeks. Or buy a combo package and get Briarpatch Magazine (http://www.briarpatchmagazine.com) along with it. Or, if you'd prefer, just make a donation -- because, as much as we wish it were otherwise, good media costs money.

Even if you can't subscribe right now, or if you're already a subscriber, please spread the word, tell your friends, browse our website and email an article to your friends (or enemies!). Let them know that they can choose media that gives priority to local news and that's hard-hitting and meaningful to them.

Participating in our subscription drive gives you the chance to give something back. Again, we need 250 new subscribers by the end of the summer or we may have to scale back. Every little bit helps, and we appreciate any and all of the support we receive from our readers.

Check out what you'll be getting here: http://sasquatchnews.com/the-august-2009-issue/ and join us as we embark on this exciting independent media project!

Signed,

Shayna Stock, Publisher

The Sasquatch

p.s. Important new initiatives like The Sasquatch sometimes fail in the early stages because supportive, sympathetic people are slow to rally to them. Please don't let that happen. Subscribe right now, and encourage your friends to do the same.

p.p.s. Remember, use the coupon code "promoSasquatch" to claim your introductory rate of $20 ($45 for a combo subscription).

DON'T WAIT -- SUBSCRIBE RIGHT NOW!

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All politics aside I think that the people at the Sasquatch are going about this in a backasswards way. To my mind it would be better to begin as simply an internet publication, with minimal costs, with an ambition to produce occasional printed specials. Concentrating on this would allow the website to be much more topical. Sooner or later someone is going to ask about whether an every six weeks edition of the Sasquatch is any worthwhile addition to a monthly edition of Briarpatch. I'll get a bit "political" here and point out that what I say is obvious to anyone who has had to operate in the 'real economy', but it is far less obvious to those who have come to depend upon grants (usually from government) that prop up projects that couldn't succeed on their own. This is one of the bad habits that has been inculcated by the sort of leftism that I dislike, and if I cannot convince those who hope for such grants of the immorality of what they do I may, at least, be able to convince others of its impracticality and unintended consequences. Too much ambition guarantees failure. Good luck to them anyways.