The Crucifixion of Phillipe Arbour

September 8 2007

Brother Jenkins is quite right in that this whole drama is all about pre-convention politics. There is no question Brother Arbour was defeated previously because of his support of Darrel Tingley back in 1999. It wasn’t for screwing up grievances and getting sued like his replacement was. Brother Tingley at the time was out of control. The delegates wanted him replaced along with his vindictive storm troopers.

Should Brother Arbour have been defeated solely because of his support of Brother Tingley? I’m not sure. Darrel was out of control and blind obedience to Darryl was dangerous for the movement yet Brother Arbour was his own man.

Did Phillipe Arbour apply for a LR position at Canada Post after that electoral defeat? That is hard to believe. Darrel and Phillipe’s reputation was that of being so anti company that they couldn’t get anything accomplished. The crew that replaced them were not a right wing take over of the Union as Darrel erroneously claimed in Canadian Dimension, but they were one very small step right of Darrel as was anyone else who stood on the West side of the Berlin wall so to speak.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not anti socialist. I’m anti dictator and that applies equally to a right wing dictator as it does to a left wing dictator. To me a dictator is a dictator regardless of lip service or paper politics.

Should Brother Arbour be kicked out of the Union for applying for a job as LR during that time period? No. Should the members take that into consideration in the next election? Of course. However, how much they take that into consideration should indeed be balanced with the fact that he is not being smeared because he is pro company he is being smeared because he is not part of the new boys or should I say girl’s club. Brother Arbour did not withdraw my grievance and the party that is smearing him were sure silent when push came to shove in my case.

Party politics are a fact of life. Like minds attract and form alliances. That is a part of democracy. Nevertheless power does ten to corrupt and absolute power does tend to corrupt absolutely. Having the new crew in office without any representatives from the old crew is dangerous. We need some of the old crew to keep an eye on the new crew so they don't sell us down the river. I mean the rest of us. I have already been sold... out but that is water under the bridge. I made a choice and I have to live with that choice and that I can and do.

I’m the dreamer. I believe in balance. You can’t fight the company on everything all the time but you should not be in bed with the company selling out the members because that is not what you are paid to do. Everet Hoogers, Geoff Bickerton, Deborah Bourque, Lynn Bue… this is a strong team. Denis Lemelin, George Floresco… the list goes on but this is a competent team. However, you need people like Cindy McCallum and Phillipe Arbour to keep an eye on them because in politics absolute power tends to sell out constituents. Every political party needs a royal opposition.

Before you crucify Brother Arbour again, remember the old law of an eye for an eye leaves everyone blind. Think about it. How did the new girls' club get the application to smear him with? The company had to have given it to them. If the company doesn’t want Brother Arbour in that position, I do. Salut !

All the Best,

Dennis Watson
www.moyagreene.com