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 →

Management Rights and the Lack of Criticism of Such Rights Among the Social Democratic Left, Part Five: An Australian Collective Agreement

Introduction I was unable to find a specific management rights clause in an Australian collective agreement. However, such rights are implicit in it. For example, in the 2019-2022 Enterprise Agreement between Geoscience Australia and two unions--the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) and Professionals Australia--it is implicit that management ultimately establishes the standards used to … Continue reading Management Rights and the Lack of Criticism of Such Rights Among the Social Democratic Left, Part Five: An Australian Collective Agreement →

Management Rights and the Lack of Criticism of Such Rights Among the Social Democratic Left, Part Four: School District No. 57, British Columbia

Introduction At the beginning of writing this blog, I wrote up some posts that focused on the management-rights clause of collective agreements between a union and an employer in order to demonstrate the limitations of collective bargaining and collective agreements. I then integrated the issue of management rights into an anlaysis of the rate of … Continue reading Management Rights and the Lack of Criticism of Such Rights Among the Social Democratic Left, Part Four: School District No. 57, British Columbia →

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 →

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 →

Management Rights and the Lack of Criticism of Such Rights Among the Social Democratic Left, Part One: Regional Cancer Centres Employers Association

Management Rights Clauses in Collective Agreements: Air Canada and Unifor Local 2002

Introduction At the beginning of writing this blog, I wrote up some posts that focused on the management-rights clause of collective agreements between a union and an employer in order to demonstrate the limitations of collective bargaining and collective agreements. I then integrated the issue of management rights into an anlaysis of the rate of … Continue reading Management Rights Clauses in Collective Agreements: Air Canada and Unifor Local 2002 →

Social Reformists Making Any Assertions They Want: Should Marxists Tolerate This?

On a Marxist listserve, I recently started questioning the sincerity of a writer. He made many unsubstantiated assertions--like Trump. I find such an irresponsible attitude to be insulting, given the nature of human suffering in this world dominated by the class of employers. First Insult to the Working Class: Providing No Evidence that Unions Openly … Continue reading Social Reformists Making Any Assertions They Want: Should Marxists Tolerate This? →

Management Rights in a Spanish Collective Agreement: An Expression of “Free Collective Bargaining” or the Dicatorship of Employers?

There are undoubtedly variations in the rights of workers from country to country, but the fundamental principle of the power of employers as a class is constant. This power is often implicit but also often is expressed more explicitly--even in collective agreements between employers and unions. For example, the following is taken from the collective … Continue reading Management Rights in a Spanish Collective Agreement: An Expression of “Free Collective Bargaining” or the Dicatorship of Employers? →

Solidarity with Union Members–and an Occasion for Discussing the Limitations of Collective Bargaining: The Ontario Ford Government’s Legislation to Force CUPE Education Workers to Abandon Their Strike

The recent passing of legislation to force Ontario education workers to abandon a strike that they had not even yet started deserves to be opposed energetically. Ford, the Ontario premier, furthermore, justified the law practically by invoking the "notwithstanding" clause of the Canadian Charter of Rights. This clause involves the following: The notwithstanding clause — … Continue reading Solidarity with Union Members–and an Occasion for Discussing the Limitations of Collective Bargaining: The Ontario Ford Government’s Legislation to Force CUPE Education Workers to Abandon Their Strike →