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

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

Management Rights and the Lack of Criticism of Such Rights Among the Social Democratic Left, Part Twelve, Public Sector, Quebec: Contract Faculty, Bishop’s University

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 Twelve, Public Sector, Quebec: Contract Faculty, Bishop’s University

Management Rights and the Lack of Criticism of Such Rights Among the Social Democratic Left, Part Eleven: Public Sector, Manitoba

Introduction The following is the continuation of a series that illustrates the common power of management over workers in unionized settings (and of course in non-unionized settings). 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 … Continue reading Management Rights and the Lack of Criticism of Such Rights Among the Social Democratic Left, Part Eleven: Public Sector, Manitoba

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

Management Rights and the Lack of Criticism of Such Rights Among the Social Democratic Left, Part Ten: Private Sector, Ontario, Canada

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 Carpenters' Employer Bargaining Agency (E.B.A.) and the … Continue reading Management Rights and the Lack of Criticism of Such Rights Among the Social Democratic Left, Part Ten: Private Sector, Ontario, Canada

Palestinian Trade Unions Call for Immediate Action Against the Ongoing Genocide

The Socialist Project posted the following recently on its website ( https://socialistproject.ca/2024/10/one-year-on-workers-everywhere-stop-genocide/): One Year On: Our Call to Workers Everywhere – Stop the Genocide Labour, War/Peace  •  October 16, 2024 Palestinian Trade Unions Call for Immediate Action Against the Ongoing Genocide One year ago, Palestinian trade unions made an urgent global call to action, imploring workers across the world … Continue reading Palestinian Trade Unions Call for Immediate Action Against the Ongoing Genocide

Management Rights and the Lack of Criticism of Such Rights Among the Social Democratic Left, Part Nine: Private Sector, Saskatchewan

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 Construction Labour Relations Association of Saskatchewan Inc. … Continue reading Management Rights and the Lack of Criticism of Such Rights Among the Social Democratic Left, Part Nine: Private Sector, Saskatchewan

Critical Education Articles Placed in the Teacher Staff Lounge While I Was a Teacher, Part Thirty-Two: The Attack on Unions by Employers and the Government

This is a continuation of a series of posts on summaries of articles, mainly on education. When I was a French teacher at Ashern Central School, in Ashern, Manitoba, Canada, I started to place critiques, mainly (although not entirely) of the current school system. At first, I merely printed off the articles, but then I … Continue reading Critical Education Articles Placed in the Teacher Staff Lounge While I Was a Teacher, Part Thirty-Two: The Attack on Unions by Employers and the Government

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