By Abram Lutes, YCL-LJC member in Fredericton
On Sunday October 25th, trade unionists from across Canada gathered over Zoom for a meeting of the Action Caucus, an organization of trade unionists committed to a progressive, class-struggle vision for the labour movement in Canada. Many rank-and-file members, leadership, and staff of unions like the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), and the Longshoremen were in attendance.
Dubbed Labour Resists: Organizing out of the Crisis, the gathering marked the first Action Caucus meeting in many years, and is part of a concerted effort by socialist and progressive labour activists to respond to the interlocking economic, health, and social crises in Canada and the greater world. The event was chaired by Rozh Emadi, a longtime YCL-LJC organizer and a member of the BC Teachers’ Federation who provided an outline of the history of the Action Caucus. Emadi emphasized the need for unions to break with the conciliatory model of union activism, which compromises the interests of workers, and to pursue a more militant path in defending and expanding workers’ rights.
A crucial topic of the conference was what vision of a post-pandemic recovery the labour movement should put forward. Political economist Ricardo Tranjan of the Canadian Center for Policy Alternatives highlighted in his presentation how the COVID-19 pandemic has forced capitalist governments to abandon austerity and to spend liberally on a whole host of programs; he added that, in the recovery period, governments will use the excuse of “fiscal responsibility” to defund social programs, unless there is a concerted effort by labour and social movements to resist. Tranjan argued that redistribution is too limited a program, and that labour should push for economic planning, expansion of social investment, and the nationalization of key industries.
Breakout sessions at the gathering focused on specific aspects of labour organizing. Activsts Nick Estes and Aminah Sheikh led a workshop on the connection between anti-war activism and labour organizing. Organizers with the Simon Fraser Teaching Support Staff Union (TSSU) led a workshop on how to activate rank-and-file workers during union drives, strike votes, and other crucial labour actions. Tiffany Baladucci gave a talk about the importance of local District Labour Councils as tools for organizing solidarity actions and building collective power.
Organizers from CUPW shared their experiences of organizing both rural mail carriers and Foodora couriers, two unconventional workplaces that, through the innovative use of electronic communications, CUPW connected and helped build up to a unionization vote. CUPW also presented on the union’s ongoing “Delivering Community Power” campaign, which echoed some of Tranjan’s recommendations for a post-COVID recovery platform.
A statement of principles for the Action Caucus was voted on, with the wording to be finalized by an elected coordinating committee. The Action Caucus stressed the need for an expansive, inclusive, class-struggle strategy for labour that goes beyond individual workplace issues.
Recently, Canadian Labour Congress President Hassan Yusuf endorsed Bill Morneau for leadership of the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) alongside the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. The leader of Canada’s organized labour movement endorsing a former Liberal cabinet minister — one who has done nothing to help workers in Canada, let alone his own riding of Toronto Centre, which has one of the highest child poverty rates in Canada — in collaboration with an organization representing Canada’s business interests is the kind of collaborationist approach sharply criticized by the Action Caucus.
Rates of unionization have been steadily declining in Canada, and many service and “gig economy” jobs staffed by a younger, more diverse cohort of workers needs to be organized and brought into the labour movement’s struggle for full employment, decent wages, public services, and an end to privatization and free trade. As such, the Action Caucus presents an opening for young workers who have been largely excluded from the labour movement.