Introduction
I was surprised to read an article from Kiri Vadivelu (December 31, 2024, “No to Legislative Strikebreaking! Victory to Postal Workers!”) in The Red Review, a “Socialist Action journal.” [Socialist Action is an allegedly socialist organization]. Vadivelu was a candidate for mayor in the last municipal elections in Toronto–and I voted for him since he seemed to express some of the views that I share.
Idealization of the Social-Democratic or Social-Reformist Slogan “Fair Wages”
For this reason, I was surprised to read his article on the recent postal workers strike in Canada by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) and the federal government’s forcing the workers back to work. I certainly agree that such a move by the federal government should be criticized, but this hardly justifies Vadivelu’s implicit idealization of his use of the social-democratic slogan “fair wages”:
By weakening CUPW, Ettinger [CEO of Canada Post] is attacking the very bench mark CUPW sets for fair wages in the entire delivery sector. This is nothing short of class warfare….
Postal workers set the benchmark for fair wages and rights in this industry. Attacking our union isn’t just an attack on CUPW—it’s an attack on every logistics worker in Canada.
Historically, CUPW was a militant union. As a consequence of Vadivelu’s use of this trade-union cliche, I decided to see whether CUPW used this social-reformist or social-democratic cliche as well (or its equivalent, such as “fair compensation”). Indeed, it does (see Fair Wages: Another Example of the Ideological Rhetoric of Canadian Unions, Part One: The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW)). Such cliches need to be persistently criticized by socialists.
This post continues by providing evidence that, like CUPW, the Toronto & York Region Labour Council (TYRLC) uses the cliche “fair wages” without justifying such a cliche or even specifying what it means by the cliche.
What are fair wages? Since workers who work for an employer are necessarily means or instruments for purposes defined by employers (a minority), and those workers do not determine those purposes, how can any wage be fair (see The Money Circuit of Capital)? Perhaps some “leftist” can explain it. More likely, though, the so-called left will remain silent about the issue.
Usually, in collective agreements there is a management rights clause (and even when there is not, such rights are impicit and recognized by arbitrators). Such rights usually include such management rights as hiring, firing, disciplining and directing the work ofworker s–subject to the limits of the collective agreement and relevant legislation. Such rights hardly are “fair” since they permit management to control workers’ lives in various ways and, ultimately, to treat them as means for purposes undefined by the workers themselves (see The Money Circuit of Capital and Employers as Dictators, Part One). How can wages in any way compensate for the loss of freedom of Unifor workers (and workers who work for employers in general)?
My argument from another post also applies to the issue of “fair wages”:
As shown in the last post, unions persistently claim that, through collective bargaining and a collective agreement, there can arise somehow (by magic?) “a fair and equitable collective agreement.” There can be no such thing as long as there exists a market for workers, where human beings are treated as things and as means for purposes over which they have little control. To claim otherwise is to bullshit workers–and workers deserve much better than this.
The Rhetoric of the TYRLC : Fair Wages
- From August 26, 2024 (https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/08/26/2935344/0/en/Media-Advisory-Labour-Day-2024-Press-Conference.html):
Media Advisory – Labour Day 2024 Press Conference
Workers Shape Our Future
Source: Toronto & York Region Labour Council
Labour Day is more than just a holiday—it represents the hard-won victories of workers who fight for fair wages, safe working conditions, and respect on the job. Join us for this year’s 2024 Labour Day press conference, as we show how “Workers Shape Our Future,” and build a better society for everyone.
Who: Toronto & York Region Labour Council.
More unions TBAWhat: Workers Shape Our Future – Labour Day Press Conference 2024
When: Monday, September 2nd at 8:30AM
Where: Queen Street West & University Avenue, South Island
Why: 25,000 workers across all sectors throughout Toronto & York Region will be marching in this year’s annual Toronto Labour Day Parade. This year focuses on how “Workers Shape Our Future” as the Labour Movement stands up to divisive far-right politics, pushes back against austerity, and upholds collective bargaining rights for working people.
- From July 23, 2024 (No url since the document is in pdf format, and I use Chrome extension to access pdf documents):
Re: PH14.14 Medical -Office Facilities/Affordable-Seniors Residential Project in Continuum of Care Setting
To Toronto City Council: Mayor Chow and Councillors, through the Office of the City Clerk,
This process has repeated itself over the decades in Toronto. In the 1990s, approximately 14 % of land in the city was classified as employment lands. This declined to about 13 % by around 2020. The last round of conversions has reduced employment lands further, to somewhere between 10 and 12%. This number never increases, which means industry and related jobs are permanently lost to the City. These jobs are typically good unionized jobs, with benefits, fair wages, and which are often filled by those living in the local community who will now have to travel further for that work, thus increasing road congestion.
- From February 1, 2024 ( https://www.facebook.com/LabourCouncil/posts/813655164139302/):
February is Black History Month. This year, we celebrate Black Resistance together with the Black workers who have always been at the forefront of the labour movement, fighting for better working conditions, fair wages, and equal rights.
- From December 16, 2023 (https://www.facebook.com/LabourCouncil/posts/781312004040285/):
TODAY: Join the National Day of Action in Solidarity with SEIU Local 2 Workers on Strike at Sobeys!
CEO’s are making millions while workers have trouble making ends meet. Tell Sobey’s to pay their workers fair wages! Join the solidarity picket tomorrow in Toronto ⤵
⏰ Sat, Dec 16th at 12PM
📍2451 Danforth Avenue
Want to get more involved? Contact Sobey’s Corporate, Take a Selfie, and Join the Action. More details on how ⤵ - From 2022 (https://www.labourcouncil.ca/2022-municipal-election/):
TORONTO COUNCIL REPORT CARD
Our Labour movement works hard to improve the quality of life for the people of this city. That quality of life is built on a foundation of strong public services for every neighbourhood, and programs that sustain healthy communities. We depend on those who work both on the front lines and in supporting roles. Those workers deserve fair wages and working conditions. The city also has valuable public assets which need to be defended.
- From 2021 (https://www.labourcouncil.ca/labour-150/):
150 Years of Working Together for Justice
But what about the world of work today? Will there be decent jobs, with dignity and fair wages?
- From July 16, 2021 (https://www.facebook.com/LabourCouncil/posts/just-a-few-photos-from-yesterdays-rally-to-support-fair-wages-and-working-condit/4158769060836094/):
Just a few photos from yesterday’s rally to support fair wages and working conditions for workers and PSWs who are being exploited by UHN. President Andria Babbington joined in solidarity along with CBTU Ontario, Canada, CUPE Ontario, Ontario Council of Hospital Unions, and more
- From December 18, 2020 (https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/12/18/2148001/0/en/SEIU-Local-2-Toronto-s-Unions-Demand-MPs-Ensure-Tropicana-Fulfills-Its-Duty-to-the-Black-Community-Reach-Fair-Deal-With-Striking-Staff-Before-Christmas.html):
SEIU Local 2: Toronto’s Unions Demand MPs Ensure Tropicana Fulfills Its Duty to the Black Community, Reach Fair Deal With Striking Staff Before Christmas
“Tropicana continues misusing public funds on strike-breakers and anti-union consultants instead of providing fair wages for frontline staff. Management’s behaviour can only be interpreted as an attempt to deny these workers their right to join a union and improve their lives,” says John Cartwright, President of the Toronto & York Region Labour Council. “Given that conduct, how can the Federal government entrust this organization with the role of overseeing public funds for the community?”
- From October 11, 2018 (https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2018/10/11/1620258/0/en/Hands-Off-Labour-Laws-Hands-Off-15.html):
Hands Off Labour Laws, Hands Off $15!
Union voices raised to protect $15 minimum wage and worker rights
TORONTO, Oct. 11, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hundreds of union members across Toronto are expected to gather on Monday October 15 to let the Ontario Minister of Labour know about the widespread support for a $15 minimum wage and strong worker rights. …
Second, why should billion dollar companies be allowed to pay poverty wages in 2019? People need fair wages and laws that work for them, not putting corporate profits first,” said John Cartwright, President of Toronto & York Region Labour Council.
- From October 5, 2017 ( https://www.facebook.com/greatertorontoareacouncil/posts/personal-support-workers-deserve-fair-wages-paid-travel-time-share-this-message-/2041209059441883/):
Personal Support Workers DESERVE fair wages & paid travel time Share this message! #TOpoli makeitfair.ca labourcouncil.ca for more information
Conclusion
The TYRLC uses the cliche “fair wages” or its equivalent, likely to justify its unions attempting to “sell” certain collective-bargaining proposals to union members as well as to criticize the employer’s intransigence if the employer refuses to meet the bargaining team’s target wage. Nowhere does the TYRLC specify what it means by “fair wages” or how fair wages can be fair in the context of the domination of the class power of employers.
The Abolitionary 