CUPW strikers and migrant workers lead the fight

We enter the new year with many challenges. We are seeing the far right organizing around the world. Many who are fed up with the misery of their day to day lives, are unfortunately opting to what they see as the only alternative on offer. But it is an alternative which will only bring more misery for the working class and the poor in all our diversity, using scapegoating, racism, sexism and homophobia to divide us one from another, blaming each other rather than the corporations and governments who are making life harder and harder for all of us. It is only the billionaires and the millionaires who will benefit while they increase their profits on the backs of the vast majority.

 

We are seeing the rise of the Alternative for Deutschland in Germany, the strength of Le Penn in France, Tommy Robinson leading thousands of neo Nazis into the streets in the UK , far right governments  in Hungary, the Netherlands, Argentina, the Philippines, and of course the victory of Donald Trump in the recent US election.

 

In Canada a right wing Conservative party went from nothing to almost topple the New Democratic Party (NDP) government in British Columbia because of the deep dissatisfaction among voters. Poilievre is leading the polls to be the next prime minister, pandering to his far right base. The Trudeau Liberals left the door open for them because of their anti worker and anti-immigrant policies, with the NDP  propping them up. 

 

The NDP, the official opposition in Ontario, also angered both party members and the broader public by tossing MPP Sarah Jama out of the caucus when she spoke her mind supporting the Palestinian cause. She is running as an independent candidate in Hamilton Centre in the next election, and the party is refusing to agree to stand down and allow her to run unopposed. Riding associations are in a furor, and unions such as the United Steelworkers are speaking out strongly in her support.

 

At the same time we are seeing the working class on the move. More than 1.4 million workers have struck since 2022. 55,000 members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers fought a month long strike against Canada Post. Solidarity on the picket lines and at rallies across the country was strong with many union members coming out. They were fighting for decent wages and against the reorganization of Canada Post with the use of many more part time workers, using the Amazon model. The Minister of Labour ordered strikers back to work through the Canada Industrial Relations Board but many initially refused the order in in St John’s, Halifax and other cities across the country. 

 

Local labour councils organized support on the lines and at MP’s offices building public support but the Canadian Labour Congress and provincial federations of labour could have done much more. There should have been a call out for a mass rally in Ottawa against Canada Post and a united stand against the back to work dictum. We saw that happen in Ontario when the provincial government ordered education workers back threatening a $4000 a day fine for each member, but they defied it, and the labour movement threatened a general strike if the legislation wasn’t rescinded. The government backed down.

 

The postal union was born out of a wild-cat strike in 1965 and the members on the line showed the same courage and resistance. They went back angry but with their heads held high. It was the bureaucracy of the trade movement that let them down.

 

Another example of workers fighting back is the encampment set up by international workers and students who are being threatened with deportations by the federal government. Canada promoted the international student program as a pathway to permanent residency in this country.” Study, Explore, Work, Stay” was the slogan used to attract them. They worked through the COVID epidemic in essential jobs that kept the economy going and now, pandering to the anti-migrant rhetoric on the rise, the federal government wants them gone. They contribute $31 Billion a year to the Canadian economy working in construction, retail, trucking, warehousing and food services. The minister of immigration even blamed them for the housing crisis and high rents, leaving the developers and government’s lack of action on affordable housing off the hook! Rents rose 20% in the last two years while the population grew by only 3.9%.

 

They are demanding an immediate extension of their work permits and a fair pathway to permanent residency as well as other supports for international students. They took up the model of the Palestinian encampments on campuses across North America and have gained support in the labour movement and the broader community in Brampton.

 

Rallies, marches and press conferences have taken place and they are braving the Canadian winter in tents to show their resolve. These young workers must be allowed to stay in this country and are putting up a strong fight. We must all rally around them and fight back against anti-migrant racism.