For labour and the left, the trade war awakens long-dormant political questions about nationalism, free trade, and class power. The Left must put forward a clear political alternative to the forces of reaction and profit.
Ford’s election call is politically self-serving – designed to get re-elected before the threat of Poilievre’s cuts, and using patriotism to erase the memory of his policies and to divide workers across borders. Nonetheless, the way to respond to Ford’s early election is not to oppose the election, it is to say bring it on.
The federal Liberal government is in the midst of a deep crisis that looks likely to result in an early election call. If the polls…
In July 2019, a couple dozen social movement organizers from four different cities launched the Spring Socialist Network and Spring Magazine. Over the last five…
For workers and riders, much is at stake. If workers are able to win, it would result in better service for riders and blunt management’s privatization agenda. A win for workers would also put Ford on the back foot in his fight with the LCBO workers and maybe even cause him to rethink his plans to call a snap election.
From deep government cuts, ushering in free trade and the GST, slashing taxes on the rich and corporations, bringing in the military to assault land defenders at Oka – Mulroney dutifully waged class war on behalf of big business. And he was widely hated for it.
A humanitarian pause is window dressing. It is not about addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, it is about appeasing the growing worldwide outrage at the brutal siege on Gaza. It is public relations and that is why defenders of Israel support it. A temporary pause in the bombing in reality is about facilitating the ongoing assault on Gaza, not about stopping it.
The attack on Jama and Hahn is just the most high-profile attack on free speech for Palestine. This is unacceptable. Workers have the right to voice solidarity for Palestine. The vitriolic attacks must be challenged. If we can’t defend Hahn and Jama from rightwing attacks over Palestine it will send a chilling message to all workers that we can’t speak up about Palestine either.
This labour day, Unifor members will be marching in Labour Day parades across the country. Workers are building unity from below, it is high time labour leadership follows.
The legacy of the Social Contract is one of betrayal. The NDP sold out its union base to appease capital – pleasing no one in the process. If the NDP is ever elected again in Ontario, unions and social movements should learn that class war won’t diminish, it will intensify.
The mayor’s race offers a chance to defeat the right, but if we really want to advance the left we need to continue organizing beyond the election in the streets and in our workplaces.
The Enough is Enough campaign presents an opening to build rank and file networks of activists across the province via a shared campaign. It is an opportunity to draw new people into struggle and build real class unity. This is why it should be a top priority for activists inside and outside the labour movement who want to challenge Ford and his big business agenda.
