Oil Sands Truth: Shut Down the Tar Sands

Labour / Migration

Labour / Migration

It is falsely assumed that big projects equal lots of jobs and, by extension, labour peace if not outright satisfaction. The size and scope of the tarsands means for incredibly dangerous work conditions-- some fatalities at the plants have already occurred. The products seldom get their "value added" in union-run locations, instead the heavy bitumen can be shipped to many different locations across North America for refining, denying benefits to the union. However, the Union does not represent the "guest worker", now being imported in increasing numbers as legislation is changed to make access easier, the term of exploitation last longer, without any new efforts or pathways to deciding to stay after helping tear up the earth.

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It is falsely assumed that big projects equal lots of jobs and, by extension, labour peace if not outright satisfaction. The size and scope of the tarsands means for incredibly dangerous work conditions-- some fatalities at the plants have already occurred. The products seldom get their "value added" in union-run locations, instead the heavy bitumen can be shipped to many different locations across North America for refining, denying benefits to the union. However, the Union does not represent the "guest worker", now being imported in increasing numbers as legislation is changed to make access easier, the term of exploitation last longer, without any new efforts or pathways to deciding to stay after helping tear up the earth.

Two "Temporary Foreign Workers" Dead, Four Injured in Tar Sands Accident

Two dead, four injured in roof collapse at job site north of Fort McMurray
http://www.oilweek.com/news.asp?ID=8643

FORT MCKAY, Alta. (CP) _ Two workers were killed and four others injured Tuesday when a roof collapsed at a Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. job site north of Fort McMurray.

The company said in a news release that the 2:30 p.m. accident involved a roof support structure at the tank erection site of the Horizon Oil Sands Project.

“All authorities have been notified of this incident,‘‘ the company said in a news release.

"Keystone pipeline will suck jobs, oil from Canada"-- Alberta Fed of Labour

Keystone pipeline will suck jobs, oil from Canada, AFL warns
Shaun Polczer, CanWest News Service; Calgary Herald
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/story.html?id=9a3a1fcc-9278-40b9-9032...
April 17, 2007

CALGARY - The head of the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) says TransCanada Corp.'s proposed Keystone pipeline to the U.S. is a "job killer" that needs to be stopped.

National Post on Peak Oil and the Tar Sands

FYI for the non-Canadian located reader: The National Post is Canada's ultra right wing newspaper.

--M

Sands are shifting for oil supply
Expert says we should be ready for big jump in price
Diane Francis, Financial Post
Published: Saturday, April 21, 2007
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/financialpost/story.html?id=b9a3434b-...

The world continues to run rapidly out of oil and natural gas, which points to dramatically higher prices in a handful of years.

Eco-Apartheid: Why is the green movement so lily white?

Eco-Apartheid: Why is the green movement so lily white?
http://www.commongroundmag.com/2007/04/eco-apartheid0704.html
By Van Jones // April 2007, common ground

In 2005, Americans sat before our television sets, horrified by images of an
American city underwater. In 2006, we sat in the nation's movie houses,
watching Al Gore make the case for urgent action. In 2007, Americans are
finally rising from our seats and demanding action to reverse global
warming.

Students are planning marches and protests to push Congress to curb

Alberta Fed of Labour asks NEB to Stall Keystone Pipeline Project

Labour wants Keystone pipeline put on hold

NEB warned pipeline is a job killer

EDMONTON, April 16 /CNW/ - In a submission to the National Energy Board
(NEB) on April 13, 2007, the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) argues that
the Keystone pipeline project that is currently before the NEB for approval is
not in the public interest.
"We have asked the Board to consider the broader, long-term impacts of
approving the pipeline to connect suppliers of bitumen in Alberta to
purchasers of bitumen in the United States," says AFL President Gil McGowan.

The Gigaproject Imports People: 24 Month "Guest Labourers" from China in the Tarsands

The response to this importation of people, to be exploited vastly and then dumped on transport back to their original nation-state, has often been put in terms of "Canada first" language, the language of making sure "Canadian jobs are protected" without the obvious fact that there simply is not enough labour already. The problem here is not a nationalist one, but a disposable people attitude being put forth here.

Too Many Workers, No Housing, New Campgrounds Banned: Welcome to Fort McMurray

No new campgrounds in McMurray, council rules

By LARISSA LIEPINS
Today staff
http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/Local%20News/300068.html
Thursday April 12, 2007
Any future campgrounds in Wood Buffalo must be located outside the urban area, and they must “allow for year-round operation.”
Regional council made the decision Tuesday following a heated debate over whether the move will attract even more transient workers to the boomtown.

Consultations a Scam: "Don't ask Questions If you Don't Want Answers"

DON'T ASK QUESTIONS IF YOU DON'T WANT ANSWERS
http://www.vueweekly.com/articles/default.aspx?i=6165
RICARDO ACUNA / ualberta.ca/parkland

If you don’t want to hear the answer, then you shouldn’t ask the question. Likewise, if you are already convinced you have the solution, and nothing will change your mind, then don’t ask for advice and input.

Of course, in Alberta during the Klein years, we became used to a slight variation on the above tenets—asking the right very narrow and carefully designed questions will ensure you get only the answers you want no matter whom you ask.

Suspicious Death at the Suncor Tar Pit....?

Suspicious death at the oilsands
By CP

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2007/04/02/3897136-sun.html

FORT MCMURRAY -- RCMP are investigating the suspicious death of a man at the Suncor oilsands plant north of Fort McMurray.

A worker found the body yesterday morning and reported it to emergency services.

Several hundred tradesmen were sent home and security was tight at the plant while police investigate. Const. Tye Roddick-Ament said investigators are not ruling anything out, including the possibility of foul play.

"...[I]s there enough labour force that can fly in from other provinces...?"

Oil sands boom adds to worker shortage woes

BRIAN BAKER
staff writer
http://dcnonl.com/article/20070402300

In labour hungry Alberta, more oil sands production is predicted through to the year 2020, a portent that may compound the province’s construction industry woes.

A Canadian Energy Research Institute (CERI) study predicts the oil sands in Fort McMurray will triple production, pushing spending over $7.5 billion mark.

Limited time for training and demand in ICI sector construction will be pushed to the limits when the bitumen boom hits its full potential.

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