Management Rights and the Lack of Criticism of Such Rights Among the Social Democratic Left, Part Three: Private Sector, The United States

Introduction The power or employers to dictate to workers is hardly confined to Canada, of course. Various countries dominated by the class of employers have the right to dictate to workers except as limited by the collective agreement (and, of course, certain legislative acts). Collective Agreement Between Aimbridge Employee Service Corp. and UNITE HERE! Local … Continue reading Management Rights and the Lack of Criticism of Such Rights Among the Social Democratic Left, Part Three: Private Sector, The United States →

Direct action confronts Canada-Israel arms trade–but the Idealization of International Law Limits Its Effectiveness

The above title is taken from the following article published in the Canadian social-democratic magazine Canadian Dimension ( https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/direct-action-confronts-canada-israel-arms-trade ). Although its tactics of direct action against arms manufacturers that produce arms for Israel is, in general, a better tactic than merely protesting against the genocide occurring in Gaza and the West Bank, it, like much … Continue reading Direct action confronts Canada-Israel arms trade–but the Idealization of International Law Limits Its Effectiveness →

Critical Education Articles Placed in the Teacher Staff Lounge While I Was a Teacher, Part Twenty-Eight: The Reduction of Human Beings to Their Brains

This is a continuation of earlier posts. When I was a French teacher at Ashern Central School, in Ashern, Manitoba, Canada, I started to place critiques, mainly (although not entirely) of the current school system. At first, I merely printed off the articles, but then I started to provide a summary of the article along … Continue reading Critical Education Articles Placed in the Teacher Staff Lounge While I Was a Teacher, Part Twenty-Eight: The Reduction of Human Beings to Their Brains →

The Poverty of Academic Leftism, Part Ten

Introduction It is interesting that social democrats express themselves in different ways. Thus, Professor Noonan, a professor at the University of Windsor (Ontario, Canada), who teaches Marxism, among other courses, presents a few truths that give credence to a number of distortions and silences in his recent post on his blog (see https://wordpress.com/read/blogs/25539351/posts/5759). Distortions and Silences … Continue reading The Poverty of Academic Leftism, Part Ten →

Further Oppression of Those Who Work in the Medical Field Due to Their Support of Palestine

The Breach published the following (https://breachmedia.ca/abuse-of-power-hospitals-med-schools-crack-down-on-palestine-advocacy/) on March 9, 2024: ‘Abuse of power’: Hospitals, med schools crack down on Palestine advocacy Immediate suspensions, harsh repercussions plague health-care workers advocating for Palestine, a Breach investigation has found by Brishti Basu At least six doctors and healthcare workers were suspended at Toronto’s SickKids hospital for social media posts supporting … Continue reading Further Oppression of Those Who Work in the Medical Field Due to Their Support of Palestine →

To Attend or Not Attend Adolph Reed Jr.’s Talk on the Fascist Threat and What It Means for Working-Class Politics in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

I debated whether to attend personally the talk by the alleged Marxist Adolph Reed Jr's talk on the fascist threat and its implications for working-class politics. I suspected that it would be posted online on YouTube--and I was right (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2LonZNB1c0&list=LL&index=12&t=2458s). I did not attend. I had heard of Reed from Sam Gindin, a so-called … Continue reading To Attend or Not Attend Adolph Reed Jr.’s Talk on the Fascist Threat and What It Means for Working-Class Politics in Toronto, Ontario, Canada →

Several Blockades of Military Manufacturers of the Israeli War Machine in Canada

The following is found on the Socialist Project's website ( https://socialistproject.ca/2024/03/arms-embargo-on-israel-now/). It details several efforts in Canada to block the shipment of military equipment to Israel. Unfortunately, it begins with a UN call for an arms embargo--addressed to governments independently of working-class, citizen, immigrant and migrant worker pressure. Such a reference should have been supplementary … Continue reading Several Blockades of Military Manufacturers of the Israeli War Machine in Canada →

The Need to Develop Connections Between the Critique of Daily Life and International Affairs, Part One

Perhaps I am reading too much into the following, but I find it interesting the lack of response to my last intervention. Julius Arscott, union executive for the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) and member of Socialist Action, recently posted the following on Facebook: Julius Arscott tordseonpSl2fym0tf25it7:uru7fF5188M4r2hm0ueu8fabP17a48ua · The following motion was passed at … Continue reading The Need to Develop Connections Between the Critique of Daily Life and International Affairs, Part One →

Management Rights and the Lack of Criticism of Such Rights Among the Social Democratic Left, Part Two: A Finnish Collective Agreement

Introduction Managerial power to hire workers, fire workers, allocate them to various positions (subject to the collective agreement) and to supervise their work is rarely discussed in union settings. Should it be discussed? Is it relevant for determining the kind of lives people can and will lead? Some of course may claim that unions do … Continue reading Management Rights and the Lack of Criticism of Such Rights Among the Social Democratic Left, Part Two: A Finnish Collective Agreement →