Fair Wages: Another Example of the Ideological Rhetoric of Canadian Unions, Part Two: Unifor

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 … Continue reading Fair Wages: Another Example of the Ideological Rhetoric of Canadian Unions, Part Two: Unifor →

Identity Politics, Personal Pronouns, the Exploitation of the Working Class and the Union Cliche of Fair Contract

I had a debate, of sorts, with a so-called Marxist here in Toronto. I referred to J.P. Hornick, leader of the Ontario Public Employee??? Services??? Union (OPSEU): Over the years we have turned the LCBO [Liquor Control Board of Ontario] from a majority casual workforce, over 85% in 2017, to one where we now have … Continue reading Identity Politics, Personal Pronouns, the Exploitation of the Working Class and the Union Cliche of Fair Contract →

Fair Wages: Another Example of the Ideological Rhetoric of Canadian Unions, Part One: The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW)

Economics for Social Democrats–But Not for the Working Class, Part Six: Collective Bargaining

In the following, I provide a series of examples taken from the Internet that illustrate that Mr. Stanford, a former economist for the Canadian Auto Workers union (now Unifor) and author of the book Economics for Everyone: A Short Guide to the Economics of Capitalism, expresses a social-democratic or social-reformist position. It is meant to … Continue reading Economics for Social Democrats–But Not for the Working Class, Part Six: Collective Bargaining →

Fair Wages as a Socialist Goal? The Limitations of the Organization Socialist Action

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 … Continue reading Fair Wages as a Socialist Goal? The Limitations of the Organization Socialist Action →

Another Example of Union Ideology Concerning a “Fair Contract” and “Fair Wages”: The Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 831

I came across the following, which provides further evidence of how unions use the concept of "fair wages" to paint over the oppression and exploitation of workers (see https://springmag.ca/municipal-workers-in-brampton-are-striking-for-fair-wages): By Santiago Moran-Izquierdo On November 7, after nine months of negotiations and nine proposals rejected by their employer, City of Brampton workers started their strike. CUPE … Continue reading Another Example of Union Ideology Concerning a “Fair Contract” and “Fair Wages”: The Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 831 →

Another Example of Union Ideology Concerning a “Fair Contract”: the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 3903

I came across the following, which provides further evidence of how unions use the concept of "fair contract" to paint over the oppression and exploitation of workers ( https://3903.cupe.ca/2024/02/05/clock-ticking-toward-strike-deadline-at-york-university/ ): Clock ticking toward strike deadline at York University Posted on February 5, 2024 by Comms Officer TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–After six months of negotiations with York University without significant progress, the … Continue reading Another Example of Union Ideology Concerning a “Fair Contract”: the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 3903 →

Fair Contracts or Collective Agreements: The Ideological Rhetoric of Canadian Unions, Part Five: The Ontario Public Services Employees Union (OPSEU)

Introduction Since in this blog I have often referred to particular union reps referring to collective agreements as fair in some way, I thought it would be useful to provide further examples of this rhetoric to substantiate the view that unions function as ideologues for the continued existence of employers--even if the unions are independent … Continue reading Fair Contracts or Collective Agreements: The Ideological Rhetoric of Canadian Unions, Part Five: The Ontario Public Services Employees Union (OPSEU) →

May Day 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada: The Case of the President of the Ontario Public Services Employee Union (OPSEU), J.P. Hornick, Part One: A Fair Contract

Introduction I did not attend the May Day rally here in Toronto. I did however attend it in 2014 (I had moved to Toronto at the end of August 2013). At the time, in 2014, it looked mainly like a protest of the fringe left who were not supported by organized unions. There were a … Continue reading May Day 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada: The Case of the President of the Ontario Public Services Employee Union (OPSEU), J.P. Hornick, Part One: A Fair Contract →

The Rhetoric of Unions and Social Democrats or Social Reformers

I read the following on Facebook. It is quite typical of social-democratic or reformist unions and social democrats or social reformers in general: The use of rhetoric to justify their activities without engaging in any form of discussion or debate. All bolded words or phrases are my emphases: Support OPSEU Local 5119 ON STRIKE at … Continue reading The Rhetoric of Unions and Social Democrats or Social Reformers →