The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA): A Conserative Organization with an Inadequate Response to the United Conservative Party’s Draconian Measures of Back-to-Work Legislation and the Use of the the Notwithstanding Clause of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Introduction The recent strike by Alberta teachers highlights the conservative nature of some teachers' organizations (see my post Manitoba Teachers’ Society and Its Social-Democratic or Reformist Ideologyfor a similar characterization of another teachers' organization, the Manitoba Teachers' Society). The Alberta teachers' strike was over wages and working conditions, including class size, the increasing complexity of … Continue reading The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA): A Conserative Organization with an Inadequate Response to the United Conservative Party’s Draconian Measures of Back-to-Work Legislation and the Use of the the Notwithstanding Clause of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms →

Fair Wages: Another Example of the Ideological Rhetoric of Canadian Unions, Part Five: The Toronto & York Region Labour Council (TYRLC)

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 Five: The Toronto & York Region Labour Council (TYRLC) →

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

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 →

Expressing Solidarity with the Striking Air Canada Flight Attendants Involves More than Referring to Their Just Rewards

Introduction John Clarke, former major organizer of the defunct Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP), recently posted the following: Solidarity with the Air Canada flight attendants and full support for their just demands. Radical leftists should certainly support the flight attendants' struggles, including being paid while working for an employer. Radical Leftists Need to Link Visible … Continue reading Expressing Solidarity with the Striking Air Canada Flight Attendants Involves More than Referring to Their Just Rewards →

Fair Wages: Another Example of the Ideological Rhetoric of Canadian Unions, Part Four: The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU)

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 Four: The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) →

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) →

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

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

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 One: The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) →

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 →