The Air Canada Flight Attendants’ Strike, Union Democracy and the Lack of Concern for the Hidden Exploitation of Workers by the Radical Left in Canada

Introduction David Camfield, a self-proclaimed socialist who uses the rhetoric of Marxian theory, published an article analyzing the strike of Air Canada flight attendants in August 2025 (see https://tempestmag.org/2025/08/more-pay-but-less-union-democracy/?fbclid=IwY2xjawMh6_lleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHvYWjC7j6XQYPpvDZtwOyf-TdSHBi749pLzDUhX8B9y-EA6W5Yq8g7oFulQv_aem_wQoDsDNTG1nJk7nzGQiKCQ). I will not focus on the details of the strike since Camfield provides such details in the link. However, I will focus on some limitations of his … Continue reading The Air Canada Flight Attendants’ Strike, Union Democracy and the Lack of Concern for the Hidden Exploitation of Workers by the Radical Left in Canada

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

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

Solidarity with Air Canada Flight Attendants Does Not Mean that We Should Ignore Critical Analysis

Introduction I was disappointed when seeing the following recent post by John Clarke, former major organizer for the defunct Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP):  Solidarity with flight attendants! I certainly express solidarity with the flight attendants as well--but I would never simply post this without making several critical comments.  Critique of Clarke's Silence Firstly, it … Continue reading Solidarity with Air Canada Flight Attendants Does Not Mean that We Should Ignore Critical Analysis