Labour Day Amidst a Trade War

Labour Day this year is being celebrated at an important time for the labour movement. Not only are we experiencing record income inequality, we are locked in a trade war with the United States, our largest trading partner. Labour leaders warn that the economic pressures we are facing must not be used by our leaders to deny or roll back hard won labour rights.

The Toronto Star reports today, Andrea Babington of Toronto and York Region Labour Council, said at the Labour Day Parade: “Workers need to focus on what’s happening right now within the nation’s borders… Opposing Trump does not make Carney or Doug Ford labour allies. We will not accept privatization, attacks on collective bargaining, or attempts to turn workers against migrant workers and racialized communities,”.

OPSEU has been experiencing strike action and is slowly updating collective agreements. Their Labour Day message warns: “The public services our communities rely on are being purposefully crushed by cuts and chronic underfunding – the predictable crisis used as an excuse to pave the way for privatization. Rights that generations fought for are being systematically eroded by a [provincial] government looking to dismantle decades of progress no matter the cost.”

A joint September message from five teacher’s labour unions states: “The Ford Conservatives’ push to centralize decision-making at the provincial level…Moving these items to the central table would: strip local autonomy; weaken the ability of our locals to address the specific needs and circumstances of our members, students, and school communities; and further concentrate power at Queen’s Park at a time when publicly funded education is already under immense strain.” These teachers unions have been patient with the provincial government, their contracts have expired and the government had promised they would be renewed over the summer. Back-to-school season is here and they are still waiting.

The Canadian Labour Council in a September statement has concern that the newly elected Newfoundland PC Government has cancelled an election promise for a referendum regarding the Churchill Falls hydro station. Apparently: “in the interests of securing what his [Tony Wakeham’s] government views as a better deal than the one previously negotiated.”

On this labour day workers should remember that, the rich never stop advocating for themselves, workers must do the same.