Another Example of the Ideology of Union Leaders that Needs to Be Criticized: The Case of Marvin Alfred, President of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113, Toronto

There was a threat of a transit strike in Toronto as of June 7, 2024, but a tentative agreement (called a framework agreement) was established near midnight on June 6. There will be a vote on June 20 to see if the members of the union will ratify (agree to) the proposed collective agreement. In … Continue reading Another Example of the Ideology of Union Leaders that Needs to Be Criticized: The Case of Marvin Alfred, President of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113, Toronto →

An Interesting Response from Barry Weisleder, Canadian Federal Secretary of Socialist Action, located in Toronto

I just had an interesting experience with a Socialist Action Conference held online at the 4:00 session: There were three presenters at the 4:00 session: Lisa Kreut (Hospital Employees Union in British Columbia), Corey David (machinist and member of the Municipal Socialist Alliance) and Julius Arscott, former executive member of the Ontario Public Service Employees … Continue reading An Interesting Response from Barry Weisleder, Canadian Federal Secretary of Socialist Action, located in Toronto →

Further Oppression of Protesting University Students by University Administration and the Police: The Case of York University in Toronto

The following was posted on the Socialist Project website: `Statement on Morning Encampment Raid at York University ANTI-RACISM, PUBLIC GOODS, SOCIAL MOVEMENTS • June 6, 2024 • York Federation of Students [Content Warning: The following statement references police violence and racism, colonialism, imperialism, and anti-Indigenous racism. — YFS] On June 5, 2024, York University students launched the York Popular University … Continue reading Further Oppression of Protesting University Students by University Administration and the Police: The Case of York University in Toronto →

Should Not the Radical Left Take into Account the Attitude of Workers Towards Their Own Jobs? Part Two, The Case of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)

Preliminaries There may be a strike by members of the Amalgamated Transit Union, which represents around 11,000 frontline workers out of a total of 25,000 workers very soon (June 7). There has been some movement by management today, but whether that will suffice for the union bargaining team to recommend ratification remains to be seen … Continue reading Should Not the Radical Left Take into Account the Attitude of Workers Towards Their Own Jobs? Part Two, The Case of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) →

A Series of Strikes by California University Workers in Solidarity with Student Protesters of the Genocide in Gaza and the West Bank and in Opposition to Their Oppression by University Authorities and the Capitalist State

The following was posted on the Socialist Project website (https://socialistproject.ca/2024/06/next-front-in-palestine-solidarity-worker-strikes/): Although such efforts should be supported, it is still unlikely that there will be a wave of real support from organized labour; it is one thing to pay lipservice to such support and another to actually showing practical support in various ways: The Next Front … Continue reading A Series of Strikes by California University Workers in Solidarity with Student Protesters of the Genocide in Gaza and the West Bank and in Opposition to Their Oppression by University Authorities and the Capitalist State →

A Protest Held in Toronto on May 30, 2024, to Oppose the Ontario Conservative Party’s Continued Privatization of Health Care

Introduction Thousands of protesters attended a protest rally or demonstration in Toronto on May 30, 2024, starting at Nathan Phillips Square and ending in front of the Ontario Legislative Building, where Conservative leader, among others, was holding a session. A similar protest rally or demonstration was held in September, 2023. It is difficult to determine … Continue reading A Protest Held in Toronto on May 30, 2024, to Oppose the Ontario Conservative Party’s Continued Privatization of Health Care →

Review of Thier’s Book “A People’s Guide to Capitalism,” Part Five

Introduction I participated in a group called No One Is Illegal here in Toronto last year. The group decided to provide a zoom reading meeting every week to discuss the book A People's Guide to Capitalism, by Hadas Thier, with many participants not belonging to the group but interested in understanding more about capitalism. We … Continue reading Review of Thier’s Book “A People’s Guide to Capitalism,” Part Five →

Further to The Protest at People’s Circle for Palestine / King’s College Circle, University of Toronto, St. George Campus

The Ontario Public Service Employees' Union (OPSEU) and the United Steel Workers (USW) have responded to the University of Toronto's attempt to have the court impose an injunction against students camped out to protest, among other things, non-disclosure of the University of Toronto's investments in companies that aid Israel's genocidal actions: Unions seek intervenor status … Continue reading Further to The Protest at People’s Circle for Palestine / King’s College Circle, University of Toronto, St. George Campus →

The Protest at People’s Circle for Palestine / King’s College Circle, University of Toronto, St. George Campus

Today, unfortunately, it is raining, which probably influenced the small level of support (a few hundred, perhaps) for the student protest that demands that the University of Toronto expose investments in companies that profit from exports to Israel. Some union supporters were present, as I indicated in my last post. The University of Toronto had … Continue reading The Protest at People’s Circle for Palestine / King’s College Circle, University of Toronto, St. George Campus →

Union Organization (the Ontario Federation of Labour) Defends the Right of University of Toronto Students to Protest in Opposition to University Administration’s Attempt to Intimidate the Students

The following is found on the Ontario Federation of Labour's website (https://ofl.ca/ofl-open-letter-to-u-of-t-president/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3EzYdUF_-fzWOFNRtZPBj560Gv9KV7u9QDxtxnNNnxYFAcakK_U6jto2M_aem_AWBY1Jrh-UYX5guct0AlDTRh_cmIOTzCF75qzxar4lgud4er3oIg-SBlZy5KAFKYX1S8tNDNWT3CjhJn4UmGNzHb ). Let us hope that they are more than mere words and that real support for the students' right to protest--like the right of workers to strike--is forthcoming: The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) issued the following open letter to University of Toronto … Continue reading Union Organization (the Ontario Federation of Labour) Defends the Right of University of Toronto Students to Protest in Opposition to University Administration’s Attempt to Intimidate the Students →