"I look at this as a guy in a union getting support from members of other unions." That's what North Vancouver city council hopeful Rod Clark told us yesterday when asked about the Vancouver District Labour Council's decision to endorse his candidacy. But the union Mr. Clark belongs to - the Christian Labour Association of Canada - has a troubled relationship with the labour movement. In fact, in an interview with Public Eye, council president Bill Saunders Mr. Clark's association membership would "normally be kind of a killer. The trade union movement does not like CLAC. We do not consider it to be a true labour union. We consider it to be an employer-dominated, conciliatory organization that doesn't serve the interests of workers. But, having said that, that's the organization CLAC. According to Mr. Clark, he's just a member of CLAC because of where he works. And that's hard to hold against someone" - adding Mr. Clark isn't an association organizer.
"We support him because he was asked direct questions about issues of concern to our members and our affiliates - such as his position on transit. And it was his answers to those questions - and his recent record on those issues - that got him the endorsement. And it wasn't the fact that he happened to be a member of CLAC," continued Mr. Saunders. "We're trying not to hold it against him. We're not discriminating against the guy. Because it's something that's not in his control."
Mr. Saunders said council delegates also discussed Mr. Clark's past reported opposition to the deprivatization of garbage collection services in North Vancouver - along with his history of accusing local politicians who accept union donations of being in a conflict of interest. "But that affected CUPE. And CUPE is endorsing him" after having asked Mr. Clark about those issues. Mr. Saunders said it's his understanding Mr. Clark no longer supports privatized collection services. And if the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 389 is satisfied with his answers, said Mr. Saunders, "Who am I to disagree?"
Delegates voted to endorse Mr. Clark on October 21.
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