Introduction Kiri Vadivelu, a member of Socialist Action, posted the following on his Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/reel/2156080044871135): For long time, Liberals and their counterparts betrayed Canadian workers coast to coast under the disguise of democracy. Mark Hancock, National President of CUPE showed everyone how to confront political and legal thuggery in the true Canadian way. Enough … Continue reading Mark Hancock, President of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE): A Consistent Social Democrat or Social Reformer as Witnessed by His Stance During the Air Canada Flight Attendants’ Strike
Tag: Canadian Union of Public Employees
The President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) Opposes the Visible Exploitation of Workers but Does Not Oppose the Hidden Exploitation of Workers: The Case of the Striking Air Canada Flight Attendants
Introduction Bea Bruske, president of the Canadian Labour Congress (the largest national federation of unions in Canada representing more than 3 million workers), has recently criticized the open exploitation of flight attendants, who work for free when they greet and help passengers board the plane, instruct passengers on safety procedures (such as the use of … Continue reading The President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) Opposes the Visible Exploitation of Workers but Does Not Oppose the Hidden Exploitation of Workers: The Case of the Striking Air Canada Flight Attendants
York Region paramedic fired over Israel comments speaks out, wants to know if politicians played role
A York Region paramedic who expressed her opposition to Israel's bombing of Gaza was fired spoke out about the situation and about the grievance against her firing (see https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/york-region-paramedic-politician-comment-1.7598487). (see also, for a videoclip, https://globalnews.ca/news/11314675/ontario-paramedic-fired-for-criticizing-israel-hopes-to-be-reinstated/?utm_source=chatgpt.com). The report from that link is as follows: Julia Alevato · CBC News · Posted: Jul 31, 2025 5:18 PM EDT A York Region paramedic … Continue reading York Region paramedic fired over Israel comments speaks out, wants to know if politicians played role
Management Rights and the Lack of Criticism of Such Rights Among the Social Democratic Left, Part Seventeen: Public Sector, Alberta
Introduction Collective agreements limit the power of the employer (aka management) to do what it wants. They are better, generally, than not having a collective agreement. However, the limitation of managerial power is itself very limited. Management still can use the collective group of workers for purposes not defined at all by those workers. Is … Continue reading Management Rights and the Lack of Criticism of Such Rights Among the Social Democratic Left, Part Seventeen: Public Sector, Alberta
Another Abstract Slogan or Cliche of Unions: Employers or Corporations Paying Their Fair Share of Taxes, Part Two: The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
I have pointed out that the major Canadian unions use cliches like "fair contracts" and "fair wages." Another cliche that they (and social democrats or social reformers) use is corporations paying their "fair share of taxes." Let us look at this phrase for a moment. For corporations to pay their "fair share of taxes," it … Continue reading Another Abstract Slogan or Cliche of Unions: Employers or Corporations Paying Their Fair Share of Taxes, Part Two: The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
Fair Wages: Another Example of the Ideological Rhetoric of Canadian Unions, Part Three: The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
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 Three: The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
Management Rights and the Lack of Criticism of Such Rights Among the Social Democratic Left, Part Thirteen: Public Sector, Alberta
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 the City of Medicine Hat and the Canadian … Continue reading Management Rights and the Lack of Criticism of Such Rights Among the Social Democratic Left, Part Thirteen: Public Sector, Alberta
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
Review of Socialist Action’s Spring Education Conference 2024: What Socialists Do in Unions, Part One
Introduction As I indicated in an earlier post, I attended the second session spring 2024 education conference of Socialist Action (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DA-mVbaSSOc&t=4354s) since the issue of what socialists should do in unions is of prime importance- but was excluded from it after I asked a couple of questions in the chat and responded to Barry Weisleder's … Continue reading Review of Socialist Action’s Spring Education Conference 2024: What Socialists Do in Unions, Part One
The Abolitionary 