Why I Like my Job

[mbarrick]

This is a quote from a speech delivered to the Vancouver Board of Trade by the CEO and co-owner of where I work:

I also believe that the some CEO’s absolute obsession with return to shareholders is very unfortunate. I am no social engineer but I do believe that companies that operate in BC’s public forests have a responsibility to the people of British Columbia. Those people include those who are part of First Nations and those who live in the small communities throughout British Columbia and who have a right to expect sustainability both in the forests and their communities.

I will close with a comment from David Packard, who founded Hewlett Packard. He said – "a company has a greater responsibility than making money for it's stock holders. We have a responsibility to our employees to recognize their dignity as human beings". I would add – "and to make certain that their communities are properly supported". Slavish devotion to share price and shareholder return is an unfortunate facet of today’s world. Profits are important but they aren’t everything. They should be an outcome – not a singular motivation.

You can go read the whole thing here.

Comments

[mediavictim.livejournal.com]

Wow .. either that guy is a decent human being .. or that was complete bullshit.

[mbarrick.livejournal.com]

I assure you, it's not bullshit.

very poignant...

[seymour-glass.livejournal.com]

it's always nice to see there are real people out there running ocmpanies sometimes...good corporate citizens...and it's those that care that give hope for the world and actually uphold the values of the capitalism envisioned by adam smith...you are lucky to work for someone who believes his employees deserve his respect...and we are lucky as citizens of the province to have someone who believes that the community is an integral part of any industry...those individuals are few and far between...i sound anti-corporate, and in some ways i am, but i'm more anti-greed...forestry is a huge part of the bc economy, there is no question of that...just ask all of those towns that are suffering right now...hopefully we can find a sustainable solution that allows people to make a reasonable living while maintaining the integrity of our communities...

The US believes in free trade ‘if it suits them’ and ‘by their rules’. Lumber may be the biggest example of this but Canadian cattle ranchers and wheat farmers would share my point of view.

no kidding...i'm glad some people who have a stake in business have the guts to say this...it's evident in any industry when someone can produce goods more cheaply than the u.s....whether it's our lumber, south american steel, third world agriculture and cotton, or various other commodities...

That all changed a couple of weeks ago when a NAFTA panel declared unanimously that the International Trade Commission had failed to prove that Canada had injured the United States or that there was a threat of injury. In very strong language the panel (which had three US jurists and two Canadians) repudiated the US position and gave them 100 days to come up with new arguments.

That will be a very tough assignment and if they fail, the whole case is over and Canada gets it’s money back.

let's keep our fingers crossed, though i don't hold any hope for anything happening with this in the near future...

As Dick Bennett, one of the leaders of the US Coalition put it, ‘if Canada wins, we’ll just change the law and go after them again. We’ll never give up.’

Rather it is one of raw US politics, where they don’t play fair and never will.

how typical of the u.s. protectionists, if the rules don't work for you just change them, don't worry if it's fair or not...justice is only for americans...